In The Discursive Material: Constructions of Femininity in Young Adult Speculative Fiction, author Tharini Viswanath underscores the importance of examining depictions of feminine adolescent bodies in young adult literature. Drawing from theories of material feminism and young adult literature scholarship, she supplements existing discussions of gender and sexuality in young adult literature by demonstrating how language and embodiment are essential for young feminine characters to develop a sense of agency. That is, characters must be adept at navigating their worlds’ linguistic systems and accept their respective embodiments—however unique or marginalized they may be—to have the power to enact social change. Viswanath also demonstrates how, in addition to strong feminine characters, young adult narratives need to prioritize sustainable female friendships and reliable communities to truly inspire a shift in patriarchal culture. The Discursive Material offers an in-depth analysis of changing and liminal feminine adolescent bodies across a wide range of speculative young adult literature and film such as Marissa Meyer’s Lunar Chronicles, Tracy Deonn’s Legendborn, the new Ms. Marvel comics, and Disney-Pixar’s Turning Red. The Discursive Material makes a vital contribution to scholarship on social and material constructions of adolescent bodies in young adult literature and, in bridging the gap between theoretical analysis and classroom application, it offers a compelling model for feminist pedagogy in higher education.
