YOUNG ADULT LITERATURE (FOR A YOUNG AUDIENCE)

The article examines the features of Young Adult (YA) literature as a significant phenomenon of contemporary mass culture. It analyzes the reasons for the rapid growth in popularity of adolescent and youth prose since the late 20th century, as well as its thematic, genre, and poetic characteristics. Special attention is paid to the transformation of the target audience, the expansion of age boundaries, and the increasing complexity of thematic issues. It is demonstrated that YA literature goes beyond the limits of “teen reading,” addressing universal questions of identity, socialization, and value choice, which ensures its relevance among readers of different ages.