Young Adult Appeal and Thematic Similarity in Urban Fantasy

ABSTRACT The mythic fiction and urban fantasy genres take and adjust old legends to create significant meaning for their teen readers. Although topically quite different, thematic similarity at the core of these tales highlights a captivation with these central ideas. A comparison of twelve contemporary young adult novels with historical folk and fairy lore from Ireland and Scotland illustrates that these genres, through the modification of traditional folklore into contemporary literature, appeal to a current YA audience through several key factors.