Here at PirateCat Publishing, we specialize in "clean YA fiction." But we also realize that these terms can be nebulous, so... we decided to do a post about it!
Today, we're going to talk about Clean YA Fiction in its various facets: What "clean" means, what makes something "YA," and more.
Here we go!
What is "clean" fiction?
Clean fiction is a term that is used to describe books that are free from explicit content. This typically includes language, sexual content, and graphic violence. These books are often marketed to readers who prefer a more "wholesome" and uplifting reading experience, or who prefer not to read books that contain profanity or sexual encounters. Clean fiction can be found in a variety of genres, from romance to mystery to science fiction.
While some people use the terms "clean," "wholesome," and "sweet" interchangeably, there are actually important differences (although subtle) between these terms:
"Sweet" fiction usually refers to the overall feel of a book--in short, it's a book that elicits warm-fuzzies and awwww moments. While this term used to be almost interchangeable with "clean," it's no longer used in that way. If you search online, you'll see plenty of romances marketing themselves as "sweet" while still containing loads of sexual content. (If you see them referred to as "steamy" or "spicy" alongside sweet, that's almost certainly the case.)
"Wholesome" fiction is generally family-friendly, and often with a feel-good moral message. (I think of things like Full House--the original version from the 1980s-1990s--when I hear this term.) "Wholesome" books generally avoid morally grey characters and heavy subject matters, though they can touch on them in a wholesome context (as Full House did with death/loss/grief, in at least one episode). Fiction can be "clean" without necessarily being qualified as "wholesome"... but I think the reverse (wholesome but not clean) would be difficult to justify.
"Clean" fiction's definition can vary based on who's using the term (in fact, none of these have 100%, across-the-board, industry-standard definitions in practice), but generally, it is fiction that is free of sexual content, profanity, and extreme violence.
Here on PirateCat, we define "Clean" as no on-page sexual content, romance kept to "just kisses" only, and language and violence kept to PG-13 level or less (no profanity and no extreme gore).
Not everything in PirateCat's portal is "wholesome" even though it's all "clean" (we do have some YA stories that address difficult topics, or that grapple with morally grey characters), however, everything does have a clear content rating and a warning for any difficult subject matter, so that you can choose the reads that are the best fit for you or your teen.
What is YA (young adult) fiction?
Young adult fiction, or YA fiction, is a category of literature that is targeted at readers between the ages of 12 and 18. (That's a wide age range, covering a wide developmental range... which is why we believe wholeheartedly that age-appropriate content and appropriate content ratings matter.)
Young Adult (YA) books typically feature teenage protagonists and deal with issues that are relevant to this age group, such as identity, relationships, and personal growth. YA fiction has become increasingly popular in recent years, with many books in the genre becoming bestsellers and even being adapted into successful movies and TV shows.
PirateCat focuses on the intersection: Clean, young adult fiction.
Clean young adult fiction, then, is a subgenre that contains books and stories that are clean while also being appropriate for a teenage audience.
When it comes to clean young adult fiction, the emphasis is on creating stories that are appropriate for younger readers while still exploring the complex issues that are relevant to this age group. These books may include elements of romance or adventure, but they are presented in a way that is appropriate for a teenage audience. The characters in these books are often navigating the challenges of growing up and coming of age, but they do so without resorting to explicit or graphic content.
Why this matters so much that we built a whole portal for it:
In recent years, there has been a growing demand for clean young adult fiction. In fact, both myself (Crystal Crawford) and my collaborator on this project (M.J. Padgett) had readers and/or parents mention it again and again in conversation to us in the weeks/months leading up to my decision to launch PirateCat. They wanted clean YA fiction, and it was surprisingly hard to find among all the mainstream publishing content.
We wanted to do something about that.
Here on PirateCat Publishing, you'll find only pre-vetted, indie-authored books and stories that are engaging and thought-provoking, appropriate for a teenage audience, and which promote positive values and messages, with no explicit content.
It's what we do here at PirateCat, and the entire reason we created this reading portal.
We're still in the growth stages here, with only a couple of authors' content (totaling about 30 full books and 30+ short stories) inside our portal right now. But we want to grow! If you believe in this mission, we would love your support! The best way to support us is to (1) subscribe monthly or yearly, so we can fund our growth and bring on more authors, and (2) spread the word so we can get even more subscribers!
(If you're interested in making a one-time donation inside, please email us!)
Thank you so much for stopping by to read this post, and we hope to see you inside the portal!
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