But as I’ve read more and more contemporary YA, I find myself unconvinced by the constant, consistent refrain of the same ’80s/early ’90s music of the indie rock persuasion. I’ll admit that as a kid, I too grew up with cassette tapes and records by artists that were introduced to me by my parents instead of the radio. Some of those songs have remained my favourites, and led me to other singers and bands over the years. That didn’t mean I was immune to pop music on the radio, or any of the other countless genres out there. Music shifts and changes so often, and mine isn’t the first generation to both be influenced by acts from the past and be interested in looking for as-yet-undiscovered talent.

Knowing that has made me ask: Where are the teens who are unapologetic about the music they love, and the books that don’t use specific bands as the barometer for whether or not we should appreciate a specific character? Don’t get me wrong: there’s nothing bad about liking The Smiths, or bands similar to them. But like many other literary motifs, they don’t and can’t be representative of all teens’ musical tastes. So when a teen character rattles off The Smiths as one of their favourite bands, and it doesn’t actually add to their characterization in any way, I get frustrated.