This study examines the progress of young adult (YA) literature in the twenty-first century, as influenced by Web 2.0 social networking technology and sliding structural temporalities of age and maturity in these digital times. The context is Stephenie Meyer’s popular Twilight saga, a pioneering example of an author purposefully engaging with online social networking communities and there encouraging derivative creativity, including Twilight fan fiction. This successful integration of YA literature with Web 2.0 is considered by first appraising tensions between traditional theoretical notions of the genre (and its readers) and contemporary manifestations of the same. Second is an investigation of the genre’s evolving readership and textual practices using the Twilight series, focusing on literary activities of Digital Natives (young adults) in online social arenas. A concentration on the integration of national identity into Canadian Twilight fan fiction examines such evolving practices in reference to an American product (a threat of Americanization) being re-coded in a Canadian reader’s personal, public and online spaces.

Behaviouralists consider adolescence a time for developing autonomy, which accords with Michel Foucault‘s power/knowledge dynamic that recognises individuals‘ assertion of independence as a crucial element within society. Surprisingly, however, twentieth-century New Zealand Young Adult (YA) fiction tends to disempower adolescents, by portraying an adultist version of them as immature and unprepared for adult responsibilities. By depicting events through characters‘ eyes, a focalising device that encourages reader identification with the narratorial point-of-view, authors such as Esther Glen, Isabel Maud Peacocke, Joyce West, Phillis Garrard, Tessa Duder, Lisa Vasil, Margaret Mahy, William Taylor, Kate de Goldi, Paula Boock, David Hill, Jane Westaway, and Bernard Beckett stress the importance of conforming to adult authority. Rites of passage are rarely attained; protagonists respect their elders, and juvenile delinquents either repent or are punished for their misguided behaviours. ―Normal‖ expectations are established by the portrayal of single parents who behave ―like teenagers‖: an unnatural role reversal that demands a return to traditional hegemonic roles. Adolescents must forgive adults‘ failings within a discourse that rarely forgives theirs. Depictions of child abuse, while deploring the deed, tend to emphasise victims‘ forbearance rather than admitting perpetrators‘ culpability. As Foucault points out, adolescent sexuality both fascinates and alarms adult society. Within the texts, sex is strictly an adult prerogative, reserved for reproduction within marriage, with adolescent intimacy sanctioned only between couples who conform to the middle-class ideal of monogamy. On the other hand, teenagers who indulge in casual sex are invariably given cause to regret. Such presentations operate vicariously to protect readers from harm, but also create an idealised, steadfast sense of adultness in the process.

Thesis (M.A.)--Missouri State University, 2008. / "May 2008." Includes bibliographical references (leaves 67-68). Also available online.

Zugl.: Osnabrück, Universiẗat, Diss., 2004.

Thèse (M.Ed.) -- Université du Québec à Chicoutimi, 2006. / La p. de t. porte en outre: Mémoire présenté à l'Université du Québec à Chicoutimi comme exigence partielle de la maîtrise en éducation (M.A.). CaQCU Bibliogr.: f. [76]-81. Document électronique également accessible en format PDF. CaQCU

Thesis (doctoral) - Universität, Osnabrück, 2004. / Includes bibliographical references (p. 317-376).

Thesis (M. Ed.)--University of Melbourne, 1996. / Includes bibliographical references (leaves 104-114).

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Bakgrund: I Sverige vårdas barn och ungdomar med långvarig sjukdom som är i behov av sjukhusvård oftast på enheter speciellt anpassade för unga personer. Vid 18 års ålder flyttas ansvaret för dessa patienter från barnsjukvården till vuxensjukvården. Dessa två vårdformer skiljer sig åt i arbetssätt, framförallt gällande hur familjemedlemmar involveras i vården. I barnsjukvården läggs stort fokus på att involvera och vårda hela familjen, medan de unga vuxna i vuxensjukvården ofta förväntas fungera självständigt och ta fullt ansvar för sin vård. Att vara ung, ha en långvarig sjukdom och genomgå byte av vårdform är faktorer som tillsammans skapar en sårbar situation. Syfte: Att belysa hur unga vuxna med långvarig sjukdom upplever övergången från barnsjukvård till vuxensjukvård. Metod: En integrativ litteraturöversikt baserad på tolv kvalitativa vetenskapliga artiklar. Resultat: Fem teman framkom: känslor och förväntningar i samband med övergången, upplevda hinder för en lyckad övergång, upplevd beredskap inför övergången, upplevda skillnader mellan barn- och vuxensjukvård, samt upplevda förändringar i rollfunktion i samband med övergången.  Diskussion: De mest betydande delarna av resultatet har diskuterats i förhållande till Roys adaptionsmodell, tidigare forskning och till unga vuxnas rättigheter. / Background: In Sweden children and youths with chronic diseases commonly receive hospital care in pediatric clinics. At the age of 18 these patients are transferred to adult care. One main difference between pediatric and adult care is that in pediatric care there is an ambition to involve the whole family in the care of the young person, whereas in adult care the young person is expected to be independent and to take full responsibility for his or her own care. Being young, having a chronic disease and to undergo a transition of care are factors that together make up a vulnerable situation. Aim: To describe the experiences of young adults with a chronic disease transitioning from pediatric to adult healthcare. Method: An integrative literature review based on twelve qualitative scientific articles. Results: Five themes emerged: emotions and expectations associated with the transition, perceived barriers to a successful transition, perceived readiness to transition, perceived differences between pediatric and adult health care, and experiences of changes in role function associated with the transition. Discussion: The main findings were discussed in relation to the Roy adaptation model, previous research and the rights of young adults transitioning to adult care.

Despite the success illness novels have acquired in the last decade, the misrepresentation of chronic illness in the Young Adult genre is still going unnoticed. In an ableist society that still needs to be educated about invisible disabilities, most of the contemporary YA writers insist on finding miraculous solutions and questionable happy endings to their stories. The aim of this thesis is therefore to study the different ways in which YA writers fetishize and understate invisible disability and to find a way to subvert it. By focusing on the miracle cure trope and romanticization in the case of Nicola Yoon’s Everything Everything, it attempts to highlight the characteristics of low-quality disability fiction and demonstrate why and how the use of disability biases can affect negatively both disabled and nondisabled young readers. In addition, through the scrutiny of the author’s first YA novel, Nothing Wrong with Snails, it then illustrates how the in-depth analysis of past disability literature improved the author’s personal craft and enabled them to portray chronic illness and invisible disability avoiding stereotypes, biases, and tropes. In conclusion, it argues that writers ought to rely on disability studies in order to reach higher standards in the representation of invisible disability in YA fiction.