Resilience and Recovery: Analysing Davis in Brave Enough through the PERMA Model of Positive Psychology

Young adult fiction is aimed primarily at readers between the ages of twelve and eighteen. It often centres on themes that are highly relatable to teenagers. Illness narratives in young adult fiction explore themes of personal struggle, resilience, and recovery. These narratives can mirror real-life processes of healing and personal development. The character’s recovery can be depicted as a process of growth rather than just a struggle. This research paper applies Seligman’s well-being theory, particularly the PERMA model of positive psychology, to analyse the character Davis in Brave Enough by Kati Gardner. The PERMA model emphasises five core elements, including positive emotion, engagement, positive relationships, meaning, and accomplishment. This paper explores how the portrayal of Davis’ journey from addiction to recovery reflects positive transformation through these five elements. This paper aims to show how positive psychology can offer deeper insight into character development in young adult fiction, particularly while overcoming adversity.