Teens and the New Religious Landscape

How are the religious experiences of teenagers expressed in today's young adult literature? How do authors use religious texts and beliefs to add depth to characters, settings and plots? How does YA fiction place itself in the larger conversation regarding the post secular? Modern YA fiction does not shy away from the dilemmas and anxieties teenagers face today. While many stories end with the protagonist in a state of flux-if not despair-some authors choose redemption or reconciliation. This collection of new essays explores these questions and more, with a focus on stories in which characters respond to a new (often shifting) religious landscape, in both realistic and fantastic worlds.