Too old to write YA?

Today I read this, an ARC of Andrew Smith's forthcoming novel "Stick." Unless I get to go to a conference, I don't get many ARC's, and it's been awhile since I've begged for a book from my publisher. But given that Andrew's The Marbury Lens was one of my absolute favorites of 2010, I called in any favors I had to get ahold of this. ( Honestly, I get so annoyed when people go on and on about books that won't be out for months, almost like it's a cool club we can't be in, so I'm more than happy to send this ARC on a tour. Lemme know if you want in.)

I read it in one sitting, interrupted at one point by cupcake baking and dinner making, so I guess it was two sittings. Generally, I tend to avoid contemporary YA because I get tired of the whole "issue" thing. Sometimes I feel like a writer reads about a hot new issue, does some research, and writes a book, Granted, sometimes this works remarkably well, Other times the story is so less than authentic. And really, by the time you get to be my age, you've seen it and done it all, especially when you have teenagers in the house. And when some of the issues in books are ones my teens or their friends are going through, well, I really don't need to read a hopped up fictionalized version of something I had to live through in the real world.
Which leads me to an enlightening moment I had today while reading Stick.
There's been a lot of talk over whether a certain age of people is better at writing YA. Yeah, I'm old to a lot of people, especially that group of young authors who are 18-25 and seeing much success in this genre. I get the idea they think those of us over 40 should hang it up. So yeah, it's been a long time since I've seen my teen years, and really, lately, I'd been wondering if the young people are right, But today it hit me: not only was I once a teen, I am raising teens. I'm living the teen years twice, and seeing them from two angles. My age isn't a crutch when writing YA, it's a tool. And Andrew Smith, who I'm pretty sure was in high school the same years I was, and has teens, is in the same boat. And man, is he using all his frickin' tools.
The character of Stick, for lack of a better word, is TRUE. True and authentic and real and I felt like he could walk in my door at any moment. He is an 8th grade boy who broke my heart. So many parts of this story were just OMG moments. I read a lot. A lot. And I think some authors are only willing to take you so far, then let you off the hook. Maybe people even think that about me. But Andrew Smith doesn't do that. He takes you to the flippin' edge of the cliff and makes you jump off.
I loved this book.