The diploma thesis presents interpretations of the thematic complex of contemporary children's and adolescent novels by Maja Brajko-Livaković. The introductory part of the paper includes the definition of a contemporary children's/adolescent novel with an emphasis on contemporary themes and the positioning of Maja Brajko-Livaković in contemporary Croatian literature. The main part of the work includes a literary-theoretical interpretation of a fantastic and realistic novel. Narrative figures are placed in the center of the thematic-motive analysis: psychic, social and onthemic (Peleš, 1999). Most of the literary heroes of the realist oeuvre are placed in contemporary dysfunctional families, exposed to the vices of the contemporary social context (loneliness, misunderstanding, addiction, violence). In the fantastic novel, shaped by a dynamic, adventurous narrative model, there are heroes from the world of nature, who promote the values of the coexistence of nature and civilization on an ontem level, deftly balancing between good and evil. Co-creating the poetics of contemporary Croatian children's and adolescent novels, the thematic complex of Maja Brajko-Livaković's novel is aimed at criticizing society, broken family, alienated social and disturbed natural relationships. Optimism, reliability in true values, such as friendship, loyalty, love, empathy, faith in a fairer society and harmony of relationships in nature are the determinants of positive, affirmative literary heroes who can help young recipients in the sensitive period of their maturation.