Why Do You NOT Read YA?

[Tiffany]

I don't mind YA. Adult fiction at times can take itself a little too seriously. YA, for me, is a nice palate cleanser from more wordy prose. It is like any other genre. There are going to be books that don't appeal to everyone, but you can find something good if you try.

[Diana]

Interesting thread, and I'll put my two cents in. Now I can't say that I hate YA, but I definitely don't read as much of it as I used to. The reasons?

One pet peeve of mine, and this doesn't apply to all YA is the simplicity of of the main characters, their struggles and the way they cope with them.(not to mention the lack of depth to the supporting char.) In YA you have this sense of innocence, of trying to reach a certain maturity that never gets there. There is a lack of layers regarding both story and character state of mind. (yes, it makes sense for its purpose, but it alienates the more mature audience). Honestly lately I have only picked up two types of fiction, heavy scifi/fantasy novels that I can truly sink in, and 'comfort food' romances. (and if those are combined, even better :)

My second point, and this is something I see many people tackle this month, is whether YA qualifies as a VF book. I think the issue is that VF has such a wide audience it becomes impossible to meet everyone's expectation. Mine? YA doesn't. While I enjoy all VF books, my taste would levitate towards the sometimes mislabeled 'bodice rippers', and that is something YA simply doesn't have.

[Gary]

I think the YA description is much like a film getting a PG-13 rating. It doesn't really tell us much (or anything) about the book/movie, but it does come with a lot of assumptions. I admit, I fall prey to this. When I see a PG-13 rating, I automatically think, "Well, that's probably not for me. I'll just watch Henry and June or something."

I have read a lot of YA, but mostly because those books have been recommended to me in one way or another. It's not really fair. In fact, I'm sure it's worse than "judging a book by it's cover" on several levels, and I should know better. Nonetheless, I walk right past the YA section in a bookstore, and I don't even consider it when shopping around on-line. Thank goodness for recommendation engines and Internet book clubs....

[Cara]

@Gary, have you read any of Terry Pratchett or Neil Gaiman's YA?

[Leslie]

I'm very picky about what I read. YA especially because I don't have a lot of time on my hands to read. As others have said, the "teen angst" can get wearisome, especially if it's laid on thick. Also, sometimes I feel as if the writing is dumbed down because the author believes he/she is writing for their idea of kids which are "dumb adults". You'll find some really good stories in YA, especially at local libraries. A lot of Cory Doctorow is put into YA in the Kansas City public library.

I also like to read stories about adults, with kids, and jobs. All of those which are normal for grown-ups, but portrayed as tragic in the YA genre.

I read YA, but sparingly.

[Gary]

Cara wrote: "@Gary, have you read any of Terry Pratchett or Neil Gaiman's YA?"

I'm with you 100% on Gaiman. I'm embarrassed to admit that I just started getting into Gaiman's work recently. I read Coraline, and enjoyed it. He's one that instantly passes the "smell test" that I unfairly associate with YA fiction. I'll be getting around to more of his stuff sooner rather than later.

I remember reading one of Pratchett's books a long time ago--the title escapes me--and I didn't much care for it, so it's put me off reading other stuff with his name on it. Again, probably not fair. I should give him another shot.

[Cara]

@Gary
Gaiman's Graveyard Book was fantastic. You don't have to like Terry Pratchett, I just suggested him because his YA doesn't tend toward the angsty.

[Gary]

Cara wrote: "Gaiman's Graveyard Book was fantastic. You don't have to like Terry Pratchett, I just suggested him because his YA doesn't tend toward the angsty."

I'll have a look. Thanks.

I don't mind a little bit of angst, or even a lot if it's well written or particularly important to the plot. The angst in Daughter of Smoke and Bone gets to be a bit much, for instance, but it makes sense as it is two characters dealing with (view spoiler)[a past life event (hide spoiler)] which is integral to the plot. In that context, it makes sense to have them angst it up because they are dealing with a combination of magic + experience + social pressures + pain and torture + betrayal + war. So, yeah, I'll go with that. In fact, looking at it on the screen like that... maybe she even played it down a bit. Hmm.

Anyway, I'd probably not be so wild about the angst of two people who can't get together until the pimple fades....

[Jady]

I think a major issue with YA books is that YA is such a major age gap. It includes content from 12 - 18 (in my understanding of YA), and that's a huge maturity gap for kids. At 12 I was reading Goosebumps, at 18 I was into Anne Rice novels. There shouldn't be an entire genre dedicated to that kind of range.

I do read YA, but there is good YA and bad YA. Most of the turn-off factors are the maturity of the language, the writing style, and the maturity of the characters and their decisions. I adore Hunger Games, but Twilight is awful, yet they are targeted at the same group.

I think it's bad idea to ever completely disregard a genre entirely. There are good adult books and bad adult books, same with YA.

[Cassie]

I read heaps of YA as both a kid, an actual YA and now as an adult, enjoyed most of the books. Its only been the last few years I've been disliking more and more YA. I feel like there's a trend coming through in those books now. It seems like all the ones I pick up have been about two beautiful people who catch a glimpse of each other and LOVE happens. Unfortunately there is sometimes an interesting background story or other likeable characters so I have to keep reading.

Its the excessive romance I that gets in the way of a good story. I don't know if its just the books I keep happening to pick up or most YA is that now days.

I used to love Tamora Pierce books! I still think they are the perfect fantasy with some romance. Most YA now seems to be romance with some fantasy.

[Laurie: Almost Faemous]

I generally avoid YA now and I never really read when I was a young adult either. I like characters with flaws and some depth, I like character who make mistakes, who have inappropriate sex, who drink too much, who smoke too much, who swear too much. I like characters that are interesting and for me most not all YA fiction lacks any of that. Another reason I avoid YA is the angst it drives me batshit crazy. I find YA just too clean, which probably makes no sense to anyone but me...but whatever. That being said I have reviewed a ton of YA books and some of them were really good but are far exceeded by the books that I didn't really like. The believablilty is an issue for me too; a 17yr old saving the world...um yeah no. I have 3 teenage kids most days they can't even find their damn shoes.

[Tegan]

Cara wrote: "@Gary, have you read any of Terry Pratchett or Neil Gaiman's YA?

I would like to note that Gaiman wrote Coraline b/c it's hard to find horror stories for a 5 year old (and they look at you really funny when you ask in the book stores).

[Redrosevertigo0]

There is 1 series that turned me from YA for years, Twilight

I know that this series is hugely popular and I will probably get a lot of crap for this but I hated it. The writing was poorly done, the secondary characters more interesting than the primary ones and the main relationship in the books abusive and unhealthy. To see teenage girls going gaga for the series scares and sickens me. I would hand the books to my own daughters saying "this is a bad relationship, don't ever have one like it." After getting the Twilight bad taste out of my mouth I read Wicked Lovely and Ink Exchange and really enjoyed both. I also really liked The Raven Boys and Dearly, Departed I like young adult novels without a lot of angst, weak female characters and immaturity.

[The]

Tiffany wrote: "I don't mind YA. Adult fiction at times can take itself a little too seriously. YA, for me, is a nice palate cleanser from more wordy prose. It is like any other genre. There are going to be books ..."

This sums up my penchant for YA perfectly. There's a group on goodreads called Rated YA - MA and its adults reading YA. Through this group I've found some really good reads that have been highly addictive!

[BonnieBew Rutledge]

I have a hard time reading about romance or mature themes in relation to teenagers or children. Period.

Whether it's romances where young protagonists are meant for each other, or characters who have extraordinary powers or skills, I have an extra hard time suspending disbelief without some meat or sense in the plot. Because I am an adult woman, I am more sympathetic to adult protagonists and their adult experiences. Given a choice, that's what I choose.

Even with a sci-fi classic like 'Ender's Game,' I was a little squicky throughout. The story world was built around the training of the children, and I was still thinking, "These are children." There's an inherent disconnect and dissatisfaction for me. This happens often for me when I try to read YA novels, so I don't purchase these books outside of this book club.

[Cheralee]

@Laurie:Almost Faemous. I couldn't agree more! I have a 14 year old son and I originally would pick up books we could read and discuss, trying to find something we could do together. At one point, though, I think I pointed out how a character had made a really great choice when confronted with what seemed like no-way-to-come-out-unscathed options. My son looked at me and said, "Yeah, and you notice his mom wasn't trying to make him clean his room, get A's in class or shower regularly, either. Right? I don't even think he HAD a mom." Touché, kiddo.

[Cara]

I recall the books as being on the younger end of YA, but I enjoyed Cornelia Funke as well. I haven't read any of the newer stuff, just basing this on the Inkheart books and the Thief Lord.

[Sapphire]

I started reading adult books when I was 13 or 14. I was never in to YA. I'll read some YA occasionally, but all the YA I read has more mature characters. Hunger Games and The Chemical Garden Trilogy I really enjoyed. I did read Twilight, but can't stand it now. Since, I've stayed away from high school drama type books.

[Julie]

There are a lot of aspects of YA that I could relate to when I was a teen that I just can't relate to anymore. Problems that seemed so huge to me at that age are not any more, and lot of it makes me roll my eyes.

Also, I find the vampire ones especially creepy. And I say this as someone who devoured LJ Smith's Vampire Diaries when they first came out and I was about 14. When you're that age it seems a great idea for a dreamy centuries old vampire guy to fall in love with you. Now I find the idea to be ... offputting. I just can't help but think these guys have no business picking up high school girls.

That being said, I'm giving Daughter of Smoke and Bone a try. I wouldn't have chosen it on my own but I hate to reject it out of hand with just "Ewwww, its YA"

[Martina]

I don't read it much, because it's usually too obvious. And if there isn't interesting story, than there must be something else that would get me - main character, for example. But I've never met a girl that would be like those in many YA and I've never encountered a YA book that would have a heroine with whom I could blend at least a bit.

The last time I gave YA a chance I was quite surprised in a good way, though. It was Seraphina and even though there will be a love triangle, I enjoyed it. I liked the characters, I liked the story, I liked the piture I got in my mind.
But that's just one book I found very randomly. Most YA books that are said to be awsome are boring to me.

[Katie]

I love YA however I am probably still considered in that category by most people. I think that you have to be careful what you choose when it comes to YA. If you don't like love triangles then stay away from books that have a repressed girl or headstrong one. If you want a complex story then you need to pick the right book. If it doesn't grab you during the cover flap why take the book home.
I totally understand that YA isn't for everyone but that's why people write for different age groups and genres. I like YA and I still have moments when reading a book saying "that's so high school" and I am still in high school.

[Gary]

I went to my local bookstore yesterday and specifically checked out the YA shelves just to see what was up in the genre. I found very little there to interest me. Lots of saccharine titles and very hackneyed plot devices. So... I think I'm going to stick with my plan. If someone recommends it then I'll have a look, but most of the YA material looks like it's not going to interest me. There are plenty of gems in the genre, but I just don't I have a lot of time for mining.