So many main characters in YA books seem to have the same central emotional conflict: They shut their emotions off, do not allow themselves to feel them, do not allow themselves to be vulnerable. And basically, their character development is that they need to learn to accept them and allow themselves to feel their feelings, need to learn that having emotions doesn’t mean you are weak.
Which, cool, I’m sure there are people who can relate to that.
But what about characters who are too emotional? Who are constantly drowning in their feelings and need to learn how to control their emotions and push them down at least a little bit? Characters who are constantly having emotional break-downs, crying in public, feeling sadness or grief so much they can’t even function anymore? Can we please get some representation for that?
Because honestly, I’m reading “This Coven Won’t Break” at the moment and Hannah’s reaction to grief is that she is shutting her emotions off, but if it was me, I would just be crying too much to do anything and I would really like to read about a character learning to cope with their own intense emotions. To me, “allowing yourself to feel emotions” has never been the issue, quite the opposite, and I really feel like this problem is overrepresented in the media.
Also, any recommendations for YA books with characters who feel too much and need to learn how to deal with that would be much appreciated :)
