Young adult problem novels confront teens and young adults with various societal topics, which are a part of their expanded social environment. Although we supposedly live in a tolerant and accepting society, certain topics remain undiscussed. In this Master’s Thesis, we therefore analyze six young adult problem novels – Sin, Na svidenje, Lara!, Poglej skozi okno, Kit na plaži, Bratov kožuh and Vpij potiho, brat!, with which both Slovenian and foreign authors seek to introduce young readers to the themes of death and special needs. At first glance, these two themes seem incompatible with one another, but further analysis reveals that the literary protagonists of all six novels find themselves facing grief, which is shown through expressing various negative emotions. Although professionals still claim that taboo themes are no longer an issue, there appears to be a renewed avoidance of certain topics, despite them being a natural part of our cycle of life. Using literature, we can encourage teens and young adults to think about the topics and experiences that they have not lived through themselves. Through the experiences of literary protagonists, readers can better understand these topics and attempt to contextualize them. Reading young adult problem novels allows individuals to discuss their own experiences, with the help of bibliotherapy. Slovenian language teachers are being recognized for their role in exposing young readers to problem literature in a controlled educational environment, to foster students’ empathy and encourage discussions leading to enhancing tolerance and the acceptance of all individuals in society. Using a theoretical basis, we wish to prove that the negative emotions of literary protagonists can induce positive emotions while reading. Even calling attention to the lives of marginalized individuals (in this case people with special needs), can enable readers to discover new worlds and develop skills for critical, creative and experiential reading. We must also note that the emotional intelligence of the literary protagonists, as well as that of the readers themselves, is important.
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