Unraveling the Odd Mischief of Fictional Young Characters
Young adult coming-of-age stories often feature criminal activity, serving various crucial purposes in these narratives. In a genre that routinely explores real-world issues and human development, crime offers an engaging backdrop that resonates with many young readers.
One example is author C.L. Montblanc's novel, "Pride or Die." The story centers around a group of high-schoolers embroiled in an attempted murder mystery, with instances of illegal activities like purchasing alcohol and hosting unsupervised parties reminiscent of the film "Superbad."
While such criminal acts are not typically associated with Agatha Christie's mystery novels, they are an expected feature in the realm of young adult literature. Icons like the characters from The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Ferris Bueller are synonymous with skirting the law and avoiding punishment for their transgressions.
Interestingly, the portrayal of criminal behavior in coming-of-age stories often trivialize these acts, even though they form the basis for much of the tension in the narrative. For instance, the police in "Superbad" are portrayed as eager to be seen as cool and end up committing additional crimes, essentially facilitating the characters' criminal activities and lawlessness.
Breaking the law represents a form of rebellion against authority, which is a major element of any coming-of-age story. Teenagers, eager to assert their autonomy, often find crime a more dramatic and dynamic way to express this struggle compared to repeated conversations with parents about going out with friends.
The sociopolitical landscape of the 2020s has amplified feelings of disillusionment and powerlessness in young people. As they face obstacles like pandemics, recessions, and rising fascism, many teenagers are angry and are turning to acts of defiance and rebellion, reflected in the increasing popularity of what has been termed "coming-of-rage."
Many recent coming-of-age media include a crime of some sort, such as underage drinking or mild violence, even in generally lighthearted productions like Heartstopper. This can be attributed to the acceptance of certain criminal activities within the process of growing up, or to the idea that flirting with danger is a rite of passage.
Young people today are grappling with feelings of powerlessness and rage, and the arts have begun to reflect this. As Havana Rose Liu asserts in Bottoms, "I'm getting revenge. I'm going to f*ck up some football players and I'm buying a gun." While youthful joy and innocence are valuable and worth preserving, stories that grapple with the anger and frustration of young people are becoming increasingly pertinent.
In her book "Pride or Die," C.L Montblanc tackles the challenging combination of mystery, thriller, and teen comedy by placing her characters in situations of injustice and mistreatment at the hands of authority figures. The central mystery revolves around an attempted murder, exacerbating the characters' struggles with being villainized and mistreated due to bigotry.
Although the story gets darker and heavier than films like Ferris Bueller, it still manages to find humor in the chaos. Breaking rules often leads to humorously chaotic situations, and what might be scary in a different context can turn into something hilarious under the right circumstances. The line between funny and frightening is thin, but striking that balance is essential for creating compelling, relatable teen stories.
Crime fiction, movies-and-tv, and books often intersect in the world of young adult entertainment, with crime stories serving as an engaging backdrop for coming-of-age narratives. For instance, author C.L. Montblanc's novel "Pride or Die" combines crime mystery with teen comedy, showcasing a group of high-schoolers embroiled in an attempted murder mystery, similar to the film "Superbad" in its portrayal of illegal activities like purchasing alcohol and unsupervised parties.
