I want to talk about the tension between messaging and storytelling for a moment. That tension is especially present in the Young Adult space, I think. And understandably—children are still developing their point of view, and their understanding of morality, action, and critique. https://twitter.com/AlyssaJennette/status/1264385579254456322

We teach most concepts by starting with the simplest ideas: for example, pure Right versus pure Wrong, and slowly, over time, we introduce nuance. Ideally we keep developing and refining that sense of nuance all our lives.

I think a LOT about this wonderful quote from, ironically, the YA hit SISTERHOOD OF THE TRAVELING PANTS by @AnnBrashares (which was my favorite contemporary YA series as a teen reader):

There's a perceived "requirement" in YA, particularly (but not exclusively) contemporary YA, that a protagonist should not only be Likeable, but Like Me.

The protagonist has to have all the correct ideas about the hot-button issues of the moment; they have to be kind, but not foolish; tough, but relatably/justifiably so. That, to me, is Messaging. And there are a lot of good things about it from a teachable moment perspective.

But I think storytelling tends to get sacrificed for the sake of it. Frankly, this is where first-person narration has done YA a massive disservice, because first-person POV eliminates any metanarrative that might interrogate a character's problematic opinions or perspective.

I think it's significant that YA has found a lot of success in Fantasy, ensemble casts, and murdery contemporary books—I think because it's easier for readers (adults and children alike) to distance themselves from that "requirement" and just...enjoy the story.

"Enjoying the story" doesn't mean liking everyone and agreeing with what everyone does all the time. It means fully experiencing all of the intentional moments of struggle, discord, and conflict that will—hopefully!—be resolved in triumph by the end.