Young adult realistic fiction on bullying: theme and narrative techniques

Abstract

Bullying has become a recurring topic in current Spanish young adult narrative. In this paper some of the most representative titles have been selected in order to analyze their common characteristics and determine their possible literary and educational values. The analysis reviews the contextual elements that explain the creation and reception of those works, the narrative techniques used in their composition and the treatment of the topic. The proliferation of novels about bullying is determined by their social interest and their easy accommodation in youth realistic narrative schemes.
However, the poor quality of some titles or the idealized and sensationalist treatment of the subject involves a reflection on its educational value.