A survey of acclaimed Australian teenage novels, conducted by three
child psychiatrists, has suggested a
disturbing trend towards nihilism. The survey has found that 64% of
novel characters have experienced severe trauma such as rape or a life-threatening car accident, 87% suffered a severe loss such as the death of someone
close, and 2/3 of books mentioned psychiatry, though few characters benefitted
from it. A case of progressive realism run amok, an attempt by
the authors to be relevant to NIN/Limp Bizkit-listening young rebels, or
just some official "experts" keeping themselves in a job?