This week’s musing asks:
Why do you think that the Young Adult genre is so popular with even the adult readers? Do you read YA books, yourself?
I hardly read YA fiction although I’m aware how popular it is among adult readers. YA fiction focuses on life of teenagers whose scope in life is yet fully mature. But stories told through their perspective could remind us of how we all used to be before the world and its problems, worries, entanglement have their claim on us. Reading YA fiction could be a breath of fresh air and a respite from our daily problems. Childhood (at least for me) has a long memory and much of my adolescent years associate with books and music from the respective years. Sentimentality aside, YA fiction has an army of promoters and backers outside the book industry: teachers, librarians, and specialist booksellers are keenly aware of the difference the right book can make to the right kid at the right time, and they spend a lot of time trying to figure out how to convince kids to try out a book. These watchdogs give YA fiction undivided attention and their devotion to this specific genre could wield an influence far more substantial than say, a traditional book tour of adult fiction. We all read for entertainment, no matter how old we are, but kids also read to find out how the world works. If a book catches on fire among the kids’ social circle, you bet it will become the their lingo. Harry Potter would be the prime example.
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I love reading YA, but only when I have a lot of “adult” literature in between. It never makes up all of my reading or even a majority, but every five books or so it’s a perfect palate cleanser. Not that that means every YA book is easy or simply “fun.” A lot of them are truly worth reading. They make you think and they entertain.
I like YA every now and then. Some of it is very well written and entertaining. Also, people ask me for suggestions for younger readers, so it’s nice to give them something targeted toward a younger crowd.
I dont make a habit of reading it, but when I do it is either of the Harry Potter variey (ie, something fun to read before bed that isn’t going to keep me awake all night) or else something that deals with bigger issues. Books like Jasper Jones by Craig Silvey which deal with issues of race relations, discrimination, sexual abuse (sounds depressing, but its a great Australian book), or Salvage the Bones by Jessmyn Ward which deals with poverty in America, teen pregnancy, Hurricane Katrina. Those sorts of YA books can be valuable for teen and adult readers alike
I seldom read YA fiction, but when I do, I like to revisit the Harry Potter series, the Northern Lights trilogy, and the Narnia books (although I suppose they’re really children’s books). YA fiction that’s not sci fi or fantasy is difficult to relate to and really enjoy, I find. In fact, I’d much rather go back to childhood favourites than try to put myself in a teenager’s mindset again.
I used to shy away from reading YA since I thought I was too old and wouldn’t relate to it or enjoy it. I was so wrong! Based on recommendations from other bloggers I have enjoyed numerous YA novels these past 3 years. Some themes transcend age!