Ranking Popular YA Genres: A Comparison Across Tiers
The vast world of YA literature is both rich and diverse, teeming with a wide range of books and series, each with its own unique appeal and loyal fanbase. From epic fantasy adventures to heart-racing thrillers to heartwarming high school rom-coms, the universe of YA has captivated and riveted readers with its myriad of different genres. This article delves into the rankings of popular YA series, comparing how they stack up across tiers of popularity, literary quality, and cultural impact.
YA Rankings
Tier 1: Most Popular and Most Well Known YA Series
Section 1
Rank 1: Harry Potter - Fantasy
Rank 2: The Hunger Games - Dystopian
Rank 3: The Twilight Saga - Paranormal Romance
Rank 4: Percy Jackson & The Olympians - Urban Fantasy
Section 2
Rank 5: Divergent - Dystopian
Rank 6: Game of Thrones - Epic Fantasy; Political Intrigue
Rank 7: The Maze Runner - Science Fiction; Dystopian
Rank 8: The Mortal Instruments - Urban Fantasy
Tier 2
Rank 9: Shadow and Bone - High Fantasy
Rank 10: The Lunar Chronicles - Science Fiction; Fairytale Retelling
Rank 11: The Infernal Devices - Steampunk; Fantasy
Rank 12: Noughts and Crosses - Social Commentary
Tier 3
Rank 13: Alex Rider - Spy Fiction
Rank 14: The 5th Wave - Science Fiction, Survival
Rank 15: The Renegades Trilogy - Superhero Fiction
Rank 16: The Delirium Trilogy - Dystopian
Which Genres Are The Most Popular?
Tier 1 Genres: Fantasy; Urban Fantasy; Paranormal Romance; Dystopian; Epic Fantasy, Political Intrigue; Sci-Fi; Urban Fantasy
Tier 2 Genres: High Fantasy; Sci-Fi; Steampunk; Social Commentary
Tier 3 Genres: Spy Fiction; Sci-Fi; Superhero; Dystopian
Observations
Dystopian is present across all three tiers, so is Sci-Fi.
Political Intrigue, Paranormal Romance, Steampunk, Social Commentary, Spy Fiction and Superhero Fiction are only present once.
Despite romance being a very popular genre, it is only present once as a primary genre across all 3 tiers, at Rank 3.
Fantasy appeared 5 times across Tier 1 and 2 represented in four distinct subgenres: Traditional Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy and High Fantasy.
Conclusions
1)
Dystopian and Science Fiction are both very popular genres that engross readers of all ages, from tweens to adults. Judging by the ranks, Dystopian appears to be the more predominant of the two.
Dystopian and SF are closely interlinked, sharing common themes like rebellion, societal critique and survival.
Since both Dystopian and SF have high ranks across the tiers, it would be logical to assume that YA audiences are allured to series that explore dramatic themes like rebellion, apocalyptic scenarios, and high-stakes action. This trend showcases the appeal of fast-paced, thought-provoking stories.
2)
The least popular genres (from these results) are:
Political Intrigue
Paranormal Romance
Steampunk
Social Commentary
Spy Fiction
Superhero Fiction
[Note that these results can vary depending on context.]
These genres are highly specific and cater to niche audiences rather than the broader YA readership. Genres like Steampunk and Spy Fiction rely on specialised world-building that may not attract casual readers.
While superhero stories dominate in film and television, they haven’t achieved the same popularity in YA literature, possibly because readers associate the genre more with visual storytelling rather than novels.
3)
Romance often plays a significant role in series across various genres but is rarely the main focus. For example, whilst Divergent is primarily a dystopian trilogy, its romantic subplot is a key element of the story.
4)
The prominence of fantasy in popular YA literature highlights its versatility and appeal across diverse audiences. The presence of multiple subgenres—Traditional Fantasy, Epic Fantasy, Urban Fantasy, and High Fantasy—-shows how the genre evolves to cater to varied tastes.
Final Ranks: The Most Popular and Least Popular Genre
Least Popular Genre: Superhero Fiction
Superhero Fiction appears at Rank 15 and the genre isn’t present again throughout the tiers.
Most people associate superhero fiction with movies and television rather than novels, which is probably why it hasn’t achieved the same level of excitement and popularity in literature.
Most Popular Genre: Fantasy
Fantasy appears at Rank 1 and is present 6 times across all three tiers.
The genres that follow are Dystopian, appearing at Rank 2 and being present 4 times across all three tiers and Sci Fi, appearing at Rank 7 and being present 3 times across all three tiers.
What are your favourite YA series?
My personal favourites are …
Harry Potter
Noughts and Crosses
The Lunar Chronicles
Tell me in the comments below!