Finally got through diving into Laura Nowlin's "If He Had Been With Me" for my coming of age novel analysis project and wow the literary devices in this book is incredible! How Nowlin uses autumn symbolism ya novel imagery throughout the narrative to represent transition and the fleeting nature of youth is masterful - notably how Autumn's identity itself becomes this symbolic device that weaves through the entire YA romance symbolism. Can we talk about that crown moment though? The symbolism there with the tiara representing childhood's end was so powerful and I think it's one of those literary devices that makes this ideal for teen literature studies. Anyone else notice how the recurring autumn imagery develops as we move through the story? This novel should get more critical attention because the symbolism breakdown is seriously underrated.
