How to write Young Adult & Coming-of-Age

First everything, and a world getting larger than the self. Track the friend group, the adults who help or fail, and the identity the protagonist is still assembling.

Includes

Young Adult, YA Fantasy, YA Contemporary, Middle Grade, Coming-of-Age

Beats readers look for

First Time
Friend Group Scene
Adults Fail
School Beat
Identity Beat
Betrayal
Rebellion
Growing Pain
Reckoning
Stepping Up

Story structures that fit

Hero's Journey: A transformation arc. Best when the story is about who the protagonist becomes, not just what happens.
Story Circle: Eight steps around a loop, comfort to change and back. Best for character-led stories and tight, repeatable arcs.
Save the Cat: The most prescriptive of the set: fifteen beats with percentages attached. Best when you want to be told where things go.

Worth keeping track of

Friend Group
Firsts & Milestones