Common Themes In War and Young Adult Novels

**OneOnOne1162** · 06-19-2012, 07:54 PM

Can anybody tell me what they believe are very common recurring themes in war novels and/or in young adult novels (separately)? Also if possible what some recurring themes in literary fiction are?
Sorry if I somehow posted this question incorrectly, it's my first time. Feel free to correct my mistake.

**Calidore** · 06-19-2012, 10:18 PM

Rather than ask other people for your homework answers, hit a bookstore. Read the book flaps and backs in those sections you're asking about. Heck, even just the titles might give you ideas.

"Literary fiction" seems pretty broad. Do you have any context for the question that might help narrow it down?

**OneOnOne1162** · 06-20-2012, 10:26 AM

Originally Posted by Calidore

Rather than ask other people for your homework answers, hit a bookstore. Read the book flaps and backs in those sections you're asking about. Heck, even just the titles might give you ideas.

"Literary fiction" seems pretty broad. Do you have any context for the question that might help narrow it down?

It's not for any homework assignment, I'm writing a novel and I wish to obtain clear answers to these questions. Something "official" rather than from my own deduction, something you'd learn in a literature course and since undoubtedly some of the people here must attend a literature course, I thought this would be a good place to ask.

Admittedly it is pretty broad yes, I didn't expect any clear answer to the question, but was hoping for some kind of general answer.

**kelby_lake** · 06-20-2012, 10:58 AM

Common themes for war novels would be survival, fraternity, the nature/point of war...

**Calidore** · 06-20-2012, 12:34 PM

Originally Posted by OneOnOne1162

It's not for any homework assignment, I'm writing a novel and I wish to obtain clear answers to these questions. Something "official" rather than from my own deduction, something you'd learn in a literature course and since undoubtedly some of the people here must attend a literature course, I thought this would be a good place to ask.

Admittedly it is pretty broad yes, I didn't expect any clear answer to the question, but was hoping for some kind of general answer.

Ah. Please don't take offense; we get lots of people logging in just to post obvious homework questions for us to answer for them, and "what are common themes in..." sure sounds like one.

Just curious, what's the novel about?

**Scheherazade** · 06-20-2012, 01:59 PM

Resilience

Discovery

Growth

You get a novel like All Quiet on the Western Front, you get all those themes wrapped up in one nice bundle.

**OneOnOne1162** · 06-20-2012, 03:49 PM

Deleted By Author

**Calidore** · 06-20-2012, 10:21 PM

That sounds very interesting. To what Kelby and Scher have posted, I'd add the effect of the violence and hardship of war on the soldiers, their loved ones, and the civilians caught in it.

YA themes would pretty much be YA stuff: Discovering oneself and how the world works and trying to fit oneself into it.

Though if you're looking for "official" themes, as you call them, the best people to talk to would be publishers and agents. They'll tell you what's wanted/expected.

Reading your description, however, I wonder about both things. It seems like you're writing about a special-ops kind of team, which tends to be more action-adventure than war in feel. Your characters are also kind of old for YA, with the bottom of your range being around the top of most YA books. Most (?) real soldiers are in the range you're giving (though 18+). If your team were recruited young and trained in their powers, then you might want to check out early X-Men comics. No, really--they're about a school for teenagers with powers, and their interactions with each other and civilians are a big part of the story.

I can also recommend Heinlein's Tunnel in the Sky, about a military school survival class final gone bad.

**OneOnOne1162** · 06-20-2012, 10:34 PM

Originally Posted by Calidore

That sounds very interesting. To what Kelby and Scher have posted, I'd add the effect of the violence and hardship of war on the soldiers, their loved ones, and the civilians caught in it.

YA themes would pretty much be YA stuff: Discovering oneself and how the world works and trying to fit oneself into it.

Though if you're looking for "official" themes, as you call them, the best people to talk to would be publishers and agents. They'll tell you what's wanted/expected.

Reading your description, however, I wonder about both things. It seems like you're writing about a special-ops kind of team, which tends to be more action-adventure than war in feel. Your characters are also kind of old for YA, with the bottom of your range being around the top of most YA books. Most (?) real soldiers are in the range you're giving (though 18+). If your team were recruited young and trained in their powers, then you might want to check out early X-Men comics. No, really--they're about a school for teenagers with powers, and their interactions with each other and civilians are a big part of the story.

I can also recommend Heinlein's Tunnel in the Sky, about a military school survival class final gone bad.

Thank you for both.

Figured as much, still nice to have it validated though. I still hope I have all the themes I need to know about though.

Hmn, that would be handy. Of course getting into contact with these people could prove difficult, still seems like a good idea though.

Something like that, but I'm trying to still get the war part of it down and represent it as well as I can, which may take time and a lot of effort. I figured knowing the common associated themes would help with that. I know they are, but using people younger than that I'd have to bring up themes related to child soldiers and such which would derail my novel I think, plus I think I can still get the YA themes across this way. I mean after all I'm 18 and I'm still not done finding exactly who I am or fitting into the world. I'm not really a big fan of comics though.

Hmn, seems interesting. I do like Starship Troopers.

Anyway, thanks for the help.