ABSTRACT
There are many different forms of young adult (YA) literature, from fiction to the graphic novel, spanning a plethora of popular genres, usually combined with a coming-of-age narrative. Perhaps partially stemming from this diversity, YA literature has often been associated with the margins, sitting somewhat outside the traditional literary canon. Similarly, within the academy, YA scholarship has sometimes been perceived as less serious or important than the study of literature for adults. In contrast, this chapter demonstrates that YA literature, and its study, has never been more urgent, especially in the context of trans texts, representation, and experience. YA fiction is a space for transgressive genres and alternative stories—stories that fall beyond the “mainstream,” beyond “normative” cultural values. By combining the study of YA literature with trans studies, we can trace how trans YA literature disrupts and reimagines cisgender narratives. Building on Jody Norton’s work on trans children’s literature, Tom Sandercock’s recent work on trans youth fiction, and Eric A. Stanley’s discussion of representation and violence, this chapter explores what is at stake when it comes to trans visibility and representation in YA literature. Focused mainly on YA fiction (including Aiden Thomas, Ray Stoeve, and M.E. Girard), and with some exploration of memoir (Maia Kobabe), I argue that representation is an imperative, potentially life-changing issue for LGBTQ+ youth. This chapter offers a consideration of the different structures that make trans YA fiction visible and accessible to LGBTQ+ youth, including The American Library Association’s Rainbow Book and Ray Stoeve’s YA/MG Trans & Nonbinary Voices Masterlist, as well as the importance of safe spaces to read these texts—namely, libraries. At the same time, it charts the legislative barriers to accessing LGBTQ+ fiction, including censorship and increasingly conservative attitudes to sex education in the US and the UK. My focus is broad and inclusive, including trans, nonbinary, and genderqueer experience to demonstrate the vital role of YA literature can play in a society that is increasingly and dangerously divided.
