Naming to Survive in the Face of Powerlessness

Young Adult (YA) fiction presents readers with teen protagonists struggling to overcome real-world, adult-like troubles. These dark themes are on the rise as the genre has embraced plotlines related to issues of diversity, inclusion, and social justice. Such a trend has been both criticized and applauded in the media. This article examines the positive ways that the genre, through treatment of naming schemes, offers young readers models of self-advocacy, social activism, and hopes for a more just world. Four contemporary novels are considered. Searching for, insisting on their true names, the teens in these books survive dire circumstances and grow. The books’ authors not only depict teens fighting for their true selves, but they also supply young readers with abundant resources to tackle such issues as health crises, both mental and physical, the trauma of school shootings, and suffering often inflicted on disenfranchised populations. This article provides insights into the role of naming in YA fiction by examining the journeys of these teen protagonists trying to navigate a world of oppression and disempowerment.