This is an alphabetical list of elements that are common in YA (Young Adult) stories, focusing on the complexities of youth, personal growth, relationships, and finding one’s place in the world.
A
Abandonment
Alienation
Ambition
Angst
Antagonist
Awakening
B
Best friend
Betrayal
Bullying
C
Coming of age
Conflict
Consequences
Crush
D
Dark secret
Death
Defiance
Destiny
Discovery
Disillusionment
Displacement
Dreams
Dysfunctional family
E
Empowerment
Enemies
Escape
Estranged parents
Exploration
F
Fear
First job
First kiss
First love
Forbidden romance
Friendship
G
Generational divide
Guilt
H
Heartbreak
Hero’s journey
I
Identity
Illness
Independence
Injustice
Innocence
Isolation
J
Jealousy
Journey
Judgment
L
Lies
Life-changing decision
Loneliness
Loss
Loyalty
M
Miscommunication
Mistakes
Moral dilemma
Moving away
Mystery
N
New beginning
Nostalgia
O
Oppression
Outcast
Overcoming adversity
P
Parental expectations
Peer pressure
Personal growth
Popularity
Power struggle
Protagonist
Q
Quest for identity
R
Rebellion
Reckless decisions
Redemption
Relationship drama
Rivalry
Romance
S
Sacrifice
School
Secret admirer
Self-discovery
Self-doubt
Social hierarchy
Stereotypes
T
Temptation
Transformation
Triumph
U
Uncertainty
Unexpected friendship
Unrequited love
V
Vulnerability
Y
Youthful optimism