Finding Hope in the Pages: How Clean Fiction Helps Teens Navigate Life's Challenges

Clean fiction has become increasingly popular in young adult literature over the past few years, and for good reason. Not only does it provide a refreshing alternative to the more explicit content that is often found in traditional young adult books, but it can also be a valuable resource for teenagers who are struggling with difficult life situations.

Here's a quick run-down of 3 core ways that clean fiction can help teenagers navigate challenging life situations.

1. Helping them feel less alone in their struggles

Teenagers may feel like they are the only ones going through a difficult situation (we all feel this way, sometimes!), whether it's the loss of a loved one, a struggle with mental illness, or a family crisis. Clean fiction can help them feel less alone by providing them with relatable characters who are going through similar struggles... within the safety net of age-appropriate content (rather than age inappropriate content that may damage their mental health in other ways).

When teenagers see themselves reflected in the pages of a book, it can be a powerful reminder that they are not alone.

2. Providing hope and inspiration

This is one way that perhaps not all clean fiction is equal... because clean doesn't necessarily mean hopeful. However, here in PirateCat, we give special attention to the worldview and overall messages communicated in our stories, and we never want to promote stories that only leave readers feeling a sense of despair.

When clean fiction shows a positive outcome for characters facing hard struggles, the effect can be very powerful, even--or perhaps especially-- if those positive outcomes come at a high price for the characters. Because, let's face it, positive outcomes in life often come at a high personal cost (a sacrifice of time, effort, or otherwise), too. When teenagers see characters overcoming obstacles and finding strength in themselves, it can inspire them to do the same.

3. Providing a safe escape

Clean fiction can also provide a sense of escapism for teenagers who may be struggling with anxiety or depression, or difficult life situations. It allows them to take a break from their own problems and enter into a world where they can see characters overcoming similar obstacles. Sometimes, in addition to hope and inspiration, we just need this little bit of rest.

Interested in reading some carefully vetted, high-quality clean YA fiction? That's what PirateCat Publishing is here for! Find out more about what we do at http://piratecatpublishing.com/join.