I'm realizing this happens a lot in (mostly) Young Adult books, but I think there is a reason for it. I am not deep into my teenage years, but I have been immersed in this feeling for a while (I think).
I remember after reading 39 Clues, and thinking about writing on my own, how there weren't parents. Well, I wasn't really thinking about how there weren't parents, I was thinking about how to get rid of parents in the story. Until recently, I didn't see the flaw in this thought, and then I did, and thought how stupid it was, and then I realized my thought process.
Okay, so there weren't parents present in the books I had been reading at that time (which were Middle Grade). The most important stories in my life didn't involve parents- Harry Potter, The Series of Unfortunate Events, The White Giraffe series (I don't think that's the official name for it), and 39 Clues- didn't have parents as a large part of the stories. For Middle Grade, I think this should be in the minority, because at that age you are still very dependent on your family, and especially your parents. The characters in the books I was reading were put into extraordinary circumstances that furthered the plot by not having parents, and this was how I thought all books had to be.
I didn't realize it until just now actually, but some of my favorite books of all time have parents as a huge part of the story- The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate, Inside Out and Back Again- because their parents are more or less controlling their lives. In The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate (Inside Out and Back Again would be a better example, I just know The Evolution of Calpurnia Tate so much better), she becomes very close with her aloof Grandfather because she has a driving passion to learn about Botany and Biology, but as it is set in 1899 Texas, her parents are not supportive of her dreams. They want her to learn how to play the piano, how to cook, how to sew and knit, and clean properly, and she stands up for herself as much as she can, but she is still forced into things that she would rather not do. That had something to do with the era, but it also had to do with the fact that she is very young, and that's how you are treated when you are young (this is MG, so it may not apply as much).
As you get older, though, you want to escape more. I realized this maybe a year of so ago, because I really wanted to get away from my family for a while. That is why I think so few Young Adult books have present parents- because it's not what you want to be thinking about when you're a teenager. You want to think about the things that are huge themes in YA literature- overcoming repressive powers (in normal circumstances, probably things such as parents and school), finding love and friendship, and finding yourself.
The Chocolate War, I think, is a good example. Jerry's mother died and his father was very distant, and I think he was depressed. He wanted to break the monotony that was his life. He wanted to disturb the universe. In the end, he realized he shouldn't have done that, and his parents helped him up. And that is what I think parents are more important for in teenage years- picking you up when you fall. When you are younger (MG), they are trying to steer you in the right direction so you don't fall as hard, but then need to let go sometime, and should be there when you need them.
For example- Harry Potter. His parents weren't a part of his life, but when he needed someone to talk to, especially in the later ones, he would go to his friends, which I think is more true for teenage years that MG ones. He had the Weasly's, Dumbledore, some of his teachers, and for a short while Siruis to talk to, and they took the role of helping him where his friends couldn't. This is clearly an extraordinary circumstance, but for most of The Deathly Hallows there aren't any adults around, only his friends, and that's what happens in real life. They needed someplace to go, so they went to Bill and Fluer's house, which isn't like going home, but it's still finding refuge in those who are wiser.
This has probably lost many people, and seeing as I am typing this up at 10:12 at night, and still need to do so many other things tonight, I am not going to edit, and instead try and conclude with one sentence that I think really exemplifies what I am trying to say.
Parents aren't as present in Young Adult books, because parents aren't as present in a teenagers life. They are Young Adults, and they want to be treated that way- I certainly do. For example, I got a ride with another High Schooler to Cross Country today, and then a ride home from her as well. Then, I showered and stuff, and made myself my own lunch. I dictated what I was going to do until my mom asked me to help her. Then I did so, and went back to the things I needed to do. My brother went and fixed his own problem, then went off with his friends, then didn't get back from work until eight o' clock, and which time he had dinner and went to sleep. My parents made him dinner, and did what they should do as parents, but they weren't telling him what he needed to be doing.
This is going on for much longer than I intended, and I am feeling as if I am losing the validity to my point, but I still think it is there. Parents are present in lives of teenagers, but not in the same was as they are at different parts of their life.
Divergent, for example- Tris's mom made a huge impact on her, even though she was there for the bare minimum of the story. This didn't keep Tris from changing her life because of her mom, it encouraged her, and that is what I think parents in stories are there to do.
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