The rise of diversity in young adult fiction

Abstract

This thesis examines the rise of diversity in young adult fiction in the 21st century. Developments in the literature genre are analyzed to account for the embrace of diversity by readers, writers, and publishers. Muslim Iranian-American Tahereh Mafi’s novel A Very Large Expanse of Sea is the case study in this research and serves as a representative of ways in which diversity can be approached in the 21st century. The novel’s success has paved the way for other successful Muslim-oriented novels. The findings of this thesis indicate that the current genre trend of contemporary realism and the increased usage of social media have resulted in the rise of diversity in the young adult literary landscape.