Characteristics of Polish Literature for Young People in the Early 21st Century: The example of “Fanfic” by Natalia Osińska

Abstract

The aim of this article is to characterize contemporary young adult literature and the influence of social media on its development. The article highlights the profile of Generation Z, which shapes the current publishing market and serves as the target audience for this literature. It also discusses the trends in youth reading that have shaped the present book market. In particular, the article analyzes, within a cultural studies framework, how the teenage reading community and publishers use new media to discuss and promote literature. Additionally, through cited sources, it addresses the role of LGBTQ+ literature, which has gained popularity in recent years and allows for more realistic and diverse models of relationships in young adult literature. The final part of the paper focuses on the book “Fanfik” by Natalia Osińska, which serves as an example of queer young adult fiction.