The 5 Kinds of Characters in Almost Every YA Book (That I'm Tired of)

The 5 Kinds of Characters in Almost Every YA Book (That I’m Tired of)

Before we start, I would like to make sure you know that this is based on opinions, not facts. If you don’t feel the same, I understand. Now, onto the clichés.

1.   The Popular Girl

Don’t tell me you’ve read a book set in High School without this character. She’s mean, annoying, and hates the main character for no reason in particular. Usually, she’s blonde with blue eyes and is super rich.

Why am I tired of her?

Because no one bothers to write a good one. Why is she mean? Why does she hate the main character? If she’s such a jerk, why does she have a posse? This isn’t explained. She has nothing to do with the plot. She’s basically there to be annoying.

2.   The Dark, Edgy, Mysterious, Handsome, [adjective] Boy

He’s Miss MC’s love interest. He hides so much, he’s so dark… She needs to find out more. As we go along, we find out he has a bike, a tragic past, and a 24 pack. I mean, most teen boys don’t have abs to speak of. I’m not sure how Mr. Dark gets away with it.

Why am I tired of him?

I don’t like him because, really, he makes no sense.

I already pointed out the teen boys and abs thing, but now there’s the romance factor. What girl wants a boy who’s unwilling to say anything about himself, ignores her, and, usually, is rather cold? No one. No girl wants that. So why does the main character? Because the author might not remember that, in her girlhood, she wanted to kick that kind of guy in the nuts.

Also, he just gets boring. Yeah. Got it. He’s mysterious. It was interesting the first sentence, but now? No. Just no.

3.   The Super Average Main Character (Except They’re Not)

This is the MC with stick-straight brown hair, an average body, brown eyes, and over-average grades. Because they can be average in every sense but grades. Oh… GASP They have a super mysterious and weird past?! Never saw it coming, they’re just so average!

Why am I tired of them?

Well, does the author really, really have to emphasize that they’re just that average? I mean, sure, there are lots of average people out there, but they don’t narrate themselves as average. It’s just annoying.

4.   The Paranormal Love Interest

This guy is a vampire, an alien, a demon, etc. So, basically a monster by all means. That, most likely, would not look human (okay, maybe the vampire, but whatever). Yet somehow, this one does. And he speaks perfect English. And is the only one with a heart of whatever. Because he’s special.

Why am I tired of him?

Well, I don’t hate all of them. It’s just the ones you know don’t make sense. Angel/Demon love story, and the demon looks human. Okay, I guess that’s okay for Christian demonology, but so there are so many other cultures to choose from! Why can’t he be a Wadget, huh? HUH?

Cough So, uh, yeah. Aliens, they probably won’t look human at all. Starfish are from our planet and look nothing like us, what would an alien be like? It just makes me feel cheated. I understand the needs-to-be-relatable thing, but really?

Vampires I’m just bored with. After (and during) Twilight, they kind of lost their shine.

This goes for any kind of non-human creature.

5.   The Tragic Past Character

This doesn’t go for all of them. I’ll clarify.

This is the character that angsts all day long. Their parents died at three (they probably don’t even remember it), they lost someone else they loved, their parents are neglectful or abusive. Something like that. Yet the author completely forgets to bother with the whys and hows and what it has to do with the plot.

Why am I tired of them?

They’re overused, one. I mean, there’s probably more characters with sob stories than ones without in the YA world.

Also, as I mentioned, it rarely has to do with the plot. The character just angsts annoyingly and mentions their past all the time. It gets in the way. That’s why.

~ Corinne