Ask the Expert: YA Literature as a Tool for Navigating Digital Life
Published: September 10, 2025 | Author: Clare-Estelle Perkins | Read Time: 3 minutes
As social media and digital platforms increasingly shape the lives of young adults, Southern Utah University expert, Dr. Jean Boreen, Dean of the College of Humanities and Social Sciences, suggests that turning to young adult (YA) literature can be a powerful way for students to navigate these modern challenges. Dean Boreen, a scholar in YA literature, maintains that books can offer valuable insights into identity, self-worth, and social dynamics in today's digital world.
"YA literature gives teens and young adults an opportunity to explore how other young people react to the life situations they find themselves in," Dean Boreen said. "This often helps readers think through how they might have responded in a similar situation. The value is in giving adolescents situations to consider where they have to think through their responses to characters, plot twists, and so on."
According to Dean Boreen, YA novels allow young people to safely explore complex issues like identity formation and self-esteem. They provide a diverse range of characters and experiences, showing students that there isn't one definitive way to respond to life's challenges. The variety of genres within YA literature, everything from historical fiction to fantasy, also helps engage different readers and encourages them to consider situations from new perspectives.
"Reading a book is a safe way for teens to think through the challenges they may face in the future," Dean Boreen added. "There are so many books that show how people with vastly different personalities, life experiences, and backgrounds respond to what life tosses out to them."
In a world of carefully crafted online personas and endless digital comparison, young adults can find a valuable resource in YA literature. By exploring the lives of characters who navigate similar or even unfamiliar struggles, young readers can build resilience, develop empathy, and gain a stronger sense of self.
Dean Boreen recommends several authors who are particularly effective at helping students reflect on themselves, including Chris Crutcher, Jason Reynolds, Ruth Sepetys, and Sarah Dessen.
For historical fiction, she recommends Ann Rinaldi and Ruta Sepetys, whose books often feature strong female characters and are well-researched. She specifically praised Sepetys' Fountains of Silence, a story set during the Franco dictatorship in Spain, and Varian Johnson's The Parker Inheritance.
YA literature as a distinct genre began in 1942 with Maureen Daly's Seventeenth Summer. The genre evolved significantly with books like Paul Zindel's The Pigman and S. E. Hinton's The Outsiders, which began to tackle more serious, grittier issues in the lives of young adults. This history underscores the genre's long-standing role in helping young readers navigate the complexities of their world.
"We have to get kids reading," Dean Boreen said. "Parents, grandparents, and teachers can help by encouraging a love of reading and making books available, introducing them to different authors and genres in a fun and engaging manner."
The College of Humanities and Social Sciences is dedicated to fostering cultural and intellectual growth through various humanities and social science disciplines. The college offers departments such as Communication, English, History, Sociology, Anthropology, Languages, Philosophy, Political Science, Criminal Justice, and Psychology, providing educational opportunities that promote critical thinking and prepare students to become responsible citizens. The college encourages student growth and development by providing opportunities to broaden perspectives through campus and community involvement.
About Southern Utah UniversitySUU is a welcoming campus community where students thrive through personalized mentorship and career-focused learning. Located in a beautiful natural setting, SUU offers a wide range of affordable and highly valued undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs, preparing students to excel in their future careers. At SUU, students truly soar.
Tags: College of Humanities and Social Sciences CurStu Health and Wellness English
Contact Information:
Brooke Heath
435-586-5400
brookeheath1@suu.edu