intertext

A great example of the "runaway" theme turned on it's head is Garth Nix's Shade's Children. It deftly discusses issues not only of trauma, death, and those pesky coming-of-age hormones, but also explores TONS of other issues in a disturbing way. It's one of my favorite books, with "heroes" who are a far cry from perfect, indeed a far cry from adults, and there is very little romanticising - I suppose that's kind of an oxymoron considering it's sf, and has a romantic element to it. Although written for young adults, there are scenes in that book that will stay with me forever.