Description
Have you noticed that while YA literature is thriving globally, Chinese YA is keeping silent? The phenomenon is not because of the clash of multicultural influences. In fact, YA literature is disappearing from the Chinese market as well.Chinese YA literature appeared first in the 1990s, after China’s shift to a market economy. Readers determined book sales, resulting in an unprecedented publishing pattern: “reader-author-publisher,” with readers exerting a vital influence on authors and the publishing industry (Cui 105). At this period, Yu Xiu, a 17-year-old high school student’s book, is selling 3 million copies. Her success stimulated teenagers and publishers to catch the trend and actively support emerging young authors. These young authors, led by Han Han and Guo Jingming, are called “post-80 writers”, whose works are the initial Chinese YA literature (Coats 320). However, gradually, their attitudes of rebellion, self-identification, and anti-mainstream led to their exclusion from the mainstream Chinese YA literature, transforming them into a subculture.
This article examines the historical background of Chinese YA literature and analyzes its development trajectory following the disappearance of post-80s writers from the mainstream children’s literature publishing market. It explores the reasons for the gradual decline of Chinese YA literature, focusing on three key factors: the absence of a categorizing system in the Chinese children’s literature publishing market, the increasing studying pressure on the one-child generation, and the vicious cycle of live streaming and consumerism in the Chinese children’s book market.
| Period | 29 May 2025 |
|---|---|
| Event title | centre for book cultures and publishing |
| Event type | Conference |
| Location | United KingdomShow on map |
| Degree of Recognition | International |