Genre Spotlight: YA Fiction

By Megan Coote and Tessa Thejas Thomas

Young Adult (YA) fiction is more popular than ever, with BookTok (TikTok’s book community) playing a significant role in boosting the genre by not only spotlighting new releases but also rekindling interest in older titles through recommendations. Although primarily aimed at the 12 – 18 age group, these books include a diverse range of characters and delve into universally relatable themes such as friendship, love and identity. As a result, they can resonate with readers of all ages. YA book covers strike a balance between a playful and youthful feel while incorporating a more mature edge to appeal to older teenage readers. These are some designs that have particularly caught our attention.

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson

A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder by Holly Jackson is a YA mystery book about teenage student Pippa Fitz-Amobi, who chooses to investigate a local murder case for a school project. The book gained traction on BookTok, tapping into the widespread interest in true crime with a relatable teenage protagonist at the centre. In July 2024, a six-part BBC adaptation was released, generating a fresh wave of interest.

The cover design for the first book is simple and effective, successfully setting the tone for the series by clearly tying back to the book’s mystery theme. The design features red string and pins reminiscent of a detective’s evidence board, signalling to the reader that the book is centred around an investigation. While this could indicate a formal police investigation, the notepad paper background combined with the handwritten-style font evokes a student’s notes, aligning with Pip’s choice to investigate the case of Andie Bell for her school project and reinforcing the book’s appeal to the YA target market. Overall, the design captures the essence of A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, making it a fitting introduction to the mystery inside.

Where Sleeping Girls Lie by Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé

Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a 2024 YA thriller from the author of Ace of Spades, Faridah Àbíké-Íyímídé. The story revolves around Sade Hussein, who enters a boarding school only to find that her roommate, Elizabeth, has suddenly gone missing. Something deeper and darker is happening at the school behind closed doors, and it is up to Sade to uncover what secrets lie hidden.

The cover design depicts Sade with a bird covering one eye. Her face melts into the title text like blood. Red is the primary colour used for the writing on the cover, evoking a sense of darkness and horror. Below the title is a building representing the boarding school that Sade joins – Alfred Nobel Academy. A single, ominous light can be seen coming from one of the windows. The surroundings are engulfed in fog, which also serves as the background for the cover design.

There is no doubt that the cover is alluring; it strikes the perfect balance between creativity and maintaining an air of mystery. Suspenseful and intriguing, Where Sleeping Girls Lie is a must-read for fans of Young Adult Dark Academia.

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda by Becky Albertalli

Simon vs. the Homo Sapiens Agenda is a classic in the YA fiction genre, having first been published in 2015 and later adapted into a film titled Love, Simon, which was released in 2018. The story follows sixteen-year-old Simon as he comes to terms with his sexual identity while navigating high school. The narrative revolves around Simon’s secret email correspondence with another closeted classmate, who goes by the pen name Blue, and the complications that arise when their emails are discovered by a classmate.

The novel’s heartfelt exploration of identity and friendship resonated with readers, and the release of the film adaptation furthered its impact on LGBTQIA+ representation in both written and visual media. The book and film have been praised for their authentic portrayal of teenage life and the challenges of coming out.

The cover design reflects the book’s central themes. It features a faceless figure dressed in casual clothing, who could represent either Simon or Blue, the anonymous correspondent with whom Simon exchanges emails. The facelessness of the figure symbolises the anonymity both characters maintain throughout their correspondence. This design choice allows readers to project themselves onto the character, making Simon’s journey more relatable and personal.

The book title is presented in a simple, handwritten-style font, enclosed within a large speech bubble. This speech bubble directly represents the email exchanges between Simon and Blue, which are central to the plot. By layering the speech bubble over the anonymous figure, the cover emphasises this as their central mode of communication throughout the book. The bright, bold background and handwritten feel of the font add a personal touch. The overall design of the cover has a youthful aesthetic, capturing the novel’s tone and younger target audience.