Heroes

I read a lot (as anyone who has taken a look at the range of my reviews might attest to). I probably read two or three books a week when I’m home and not on a writing splurge. I seldom buy books, mainly because my book shelves are already packed tight, but I do use my local public library.

I read a lot of adult non-fiction: history, crafts, homesteading, alternative living. But the lion’s share of my reading time goes to middle-grade and YA fiction. Why? Part of the reason might be that this area is where I write myself. The simpler, straight-forward problems that teenagers believe they must face is easier to get through than the twisted, less-believable plots of adult fiction.

Truth in fiction can be a hard sell. The reader has to be able to accept that the actions and thoughts of the characters are consistent with reality—even in a fantasy work. Too often I find that the actions of characters in adult fiction are too weird to believe.

But then, “normal,” conventional families and people are boring. Right? Perhaps that is true for most readers, but I prefer to read about regular people being forced to confront irregular events. Do they rise to the occasion? Do they find new or unknown strengths? All too often the heroes discover that they are not normal but special, given special powers or chosen for a special task. This can work, but I prefer to read about young people like I was myself, confronted with a crisis and being brave and strong anyway.