| Summary: | Liminality is a state of existing between, in which the subject is not inhabiting one particular space or another. In the context of contemporary young adult grief narratives, the liminality of the deceased characters allows them to transcend death in order to communicate with the narrator, literally or figuratively, and shape the narrative. The deceased, referred to in this article as the liminal entity, has an impact on the narrative through reflection on the past, troubles in the present, and a loss of representation in the future. This article examines the presence of liminal entities in three young adult grief narratives: Long Way Down (2018) by Jason Reynolds, Goodbye Days (2017) by Jeff Zentner, and A Short History of the Girl Next Door (2017) by Jared Reck.
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