Why We Like YA

So I couple days back I asked you guys why you like YA, and though many of the answers (“I can relate to it/am a teenager”) were expected, I still found it very interesting since the topic of YA – how it is defined, what it is, and why someone would choose to read it – are things I’ve been thinking about lately.

On a personal level – in six months I’m going to be twenty (the big 2! O!) and already I’m at least a year older than the typical YA protagonist. Some of my favorite YA books have main characters who are fifteen or sixteen and are going through much different things than I am, but still I don’t see myself leaving the genre anytime soon. It’s what I read (primarily, though not exclusively) and what I write and thus I HAVE OPINIONS.

You said:

[The writers] don’t keep themselves in one genere; they tackle multiple ones at a time! (via TypesetJez)

I agree. I know there are some adult authors who tackle multiple genres, however YA authors definitely have an edge when it comes to this because whether there’s less chance of dividing their audience. Whether they write Sci-Fi, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, or all of them, the books will still be shelved near each other. So I’m not sure that it’s that they’re more willing to tackle multiple genres, or that it’s just more feasible than it is for adult authors, who might be shelved in different areas or have a fanbase that only reads one genre.

because it’s fun and isn’t presumptuous about serious issues (like some adult books), even though many do cover them. (via Jennila)

I think this is a good point: I haven’t read enough adult books to take on that issue, but many YA authors who tackle serious subjects or themes also have an amazing amount of humor. John Green is the first author to come to mind but others also have found a way to cover either add humor into serious-themed books or cover serious themes in funny books. It’s a great talent and possibly one of the best things about YA literature is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously.

A lot of the adult novels I’ve read are similar to YA but the main difference is it has some really detailed sex scene just to have a sex scene, not because it made the story better but because the author was allowed to write it. (via Genevieve)

This is an interesting point. Sometimes you hear that really at this point there are no “boundaries” as far as what you are/are not allowed to write in YA novels as far as sex is concerned, and maybe that’s true, but adult novels definitely have more sex in them and the majority of times it’s not really needed. And I don’t think this is limited to the sex issue – one of the things I’ve noticed about YA is that it’s really pared down. Possibly due to the shorter word length (though there are also some longer books published) or the teenage-esque fast pacing, everything that happens in a YA novel (at least a good YA novel) is needed in some way. Either it pushes the story forward, helps the characters develop, or is there for some other purpose. And isn’t that how good books are supposed to be?

Alright folks, that’s it for now, though this discussion of YA is not over. I have more thoughts that will come in a future post. But for now, what do you think about what I said? Agree/disagree/have a different viewpoint?