The involvement of social issues in young adult literature is not a wake-up call for modern society. New Realism, which first occurred around the 1960s-70s, led to the evolution of the appropriateness of social issues in the young adult literary genre. (Robinson) In Wolf by Francesca Lia Block, the author addresses the taboos of sexual violence and domestic abuse and pairs them with the idea of ​​female self-empowerment and the age-appropriateness of young adult literature for young adults . Block's wolf, the unnamed young protagonist and heroine, runs away to his grandmother's house after being repeatedly sexually assaulted by his mother's boyfriend. "They don't believe me. They think I'm crazy. But let me tell you something: It would be a wicked, evil world out there if you didn't already know." (Block 40-45) From the first sentence onwards, the reader can deduce through the thoughts, actions and motivations of the protagonists that something is wrong. She doesn't come from a nuclear family, nor is she the "little redhead" we expect. Her abuse is no longer hidden under the delicately cloaked guise of a lost little girl in a red cape, but is explicitly stated. "I started screaming because he raped me for years..." (Block 40-45) The protagonists see his only comfort in escape, and even this is not guaranteed; because his abuse has been going on for so long, she fears it will forever haunt her as a "...red flag." (Block 40-45) An example of this is found with the boy he meets on the bus, as he runs towards his grandmother's house; “I'm scared that if I get close to a guy he'll somehow find out what happened to me, like it's a scar he'll see or smell... middle of paper... in the house and the harmful aspects of both. Through the protagonists' plight, self-empowerment, and ultimately enacting revenge on her attacker, Wolf, sheds light on the age-appropriateness of this so-called young adult story for young people adults. Although this story has many of the characteristics of a piece of young adult literature, the themes of the content could be considered for adults. Works CitedBlock, Francesca Lia Concise, Canada: Broadview Press, 2011. 40 -45.Reida, Jeanie Scudamore, Judy, Personal Interview, Elizabeth. "Francesca Lia Blocks and Ronald Dahl Class Reunion.".