How to get adults to read YA books?

[Maria]

I'm going to be on an author panel at Balticon at the end of May, and the panel topic is about how to get adults to read YA books. I've been a member here for a while and have seen some great discussions, so I thought since everyone here enjoys YA books and are mostly adults? - I would love to get some feedback as how you "discovered" them or how you hook your friends or others who are reluctant to pick up a book because of the YA label. (I do plan to reference the discussion about people "looking down" on YA books :)

Thanks in advance!

[Becca]

Funny you should ask. I've been hooked on YA from a very young age, so I grew up without the stigma. However, my husband did not. The best way for me to introduce YA to an adult is find out what they like to read about, then find an exceptional YA novel along the same lines and recommend it. Usually they trust my opinion, try it out, and my work is done.

Another thought is having the people who review adult novels do reviews on YA novels and recommend them to the general population.

[Alan]

It would be nice, though it won't happen just as in real life, to stop labeling everything! That would be the biggest help. I read Pullman's series because it was in the SciFi/Fantasy section in my local bookstore instead of YA. Yes, the MCs are young, but it was not something I'd considered "Young Adult" reading.

If a story is good, it's good. That's all we, as readers, should be concerned about.

I think a vast number of women are being drawn to YA for the romance aspect. Traditional romance novels must have run their course regarding plot. I mean, how many ways can the "boy meets girl" storylines be done? But YA romances often feature fantastic or paranormal twists that I doubt have been seen in the traditional books. That's just a personal theory anyway! : )

[Ann]

I think the widespread popularity of books like Harry Potter and Twilight has really introduced a lot more adults to YA books. (At least that's what got me reading them). I didn't read YA books before, not because I looked down on them, but because I didn't realize how good they are! They don't seem to be marketed for adults. Even in bookstores you see a complete separation of adult fiction and children/YA fiction. With better marketing and less division between adult/ya fiction, more adults would start reading these great books and get hooked, just like I did.

[Peep (Pop! Pop!)]

I started out reading Twilight after my little SIL (14) insisted that I read it. I've seen people say, if you liked Twilight, then you'd like this book. Others would say, if you think Twilight is good then here is a better book. Or even, if you hate Twilight, then you will like this book. I just followed those recommendations and read those books.

I also went to the ALA's top 10 YA nominations list. That helped me get a good idea of popular YA books.

I also get a ton of recommendations from this group.

[Heidi]

I read all the Harry Potter years ago, but did not start getting into a ton of YA books until joining this group. I think Becca is right - find YA books simular to adult books people read. If they like history recommend The Book Thief, if they like fantasy recommend Hunger Games, etc...

[Teresa]

I got into YA when I needed to preview them before letting the tweeners read them. I read HP before I even knew it was a children's book. I read a lot of YA because they are good writers using orginiality to tell a story. I read a lot of murder mysteries and even with twists sometimes I just need to break the pattern.

[Jaimie]

I look for recommendations on groups, amazon, and book lists.It's sad but covers and the blurb on the back are crucial for my YA choices. Sometimes I can't bring myself to read a YA book if it feels too, I don't know, fluffy?

[Becca]

Another idea is to get well-known adult genre writers to endorse YA books that are similar to what they write. When I have a hard time finding a book that really interests me, I go to my favorite authors' websites, fanpages, or newsletters and see who they're recommending now and generally, they're spot on and I find another author that rocks.

[Jaimie]

ooo, Becca I do that too.

[S.S.]

To me, it is a matter of bookstore marketing.
If there are no YA crossover books displayed in the adult sections, browsers won't consider them.
*Get the bookstores on board.
*Promote YA for older adults in adult venues.

Just my .02.

[Jaimie]

My bookstore puts a lot of the more adult oriented YA books in the adult sections. I didn't know before I started reading both the Jessica Darling series and the Study books that they were YA - I mean I new the main character was younger but because they weren't in the YA section I figured something was up. I don't know if that makes more adults pick them up or not b/c I don't have a problem with the YA title but I would think it cuts back on the stigma.

[Becca]

Ya, she's nineteen when she starts working for the king and she turns twenty somewhere along the line.

[Heidi]

I did not realize Poison Study was YA?? I hope to start it tomorrow :)

[Peep (Pop! Pop!)]

It isn't Heidi. Most people who like YA read it and consider it YA though.

[Heidi]

OK thanks Peep. I was wondering, since it did not have the YA label on it that the library uses.

[Peep (Pop! Pop!)]

Have you started it yet? I can't remember.

[Michelle]

I agree with whoever said that Harry Potter and Twilight brought YA into a new light. It's great to have those as jumping points for adults who like them. Another technique I use is when I'm in the library and have adults asking for adult author recommendations I tell them I typically read YA, since I don't read the "popular" adult books. This draws them into a discussion about YA books and I usually can find an YA author similar to one they like and recommend a book based on that. It's nice how it opens up a new world for them that they might have missed by just sticking to adult books.

[Jaimie]

My bad I thought it was, Oh another YA that was in adult in my book store was Elphames Choice but when Brighids Quest came out they moved them back to YA. Not sure what was up with that either.

[Jess]

Becca wrote: "Another idea is to get well-known adult genre writers to endorse YA books that are similar to what they write. When I have a hard time finding a book that really interests me, I go to my favorite a..."

Also-suggesting authors that adults like that have crossed over into the lucrative YA market-Rick Yancey, Rick Riordan, James Patterson, etc.-use their books to your advantage!

[Heidi]

Peep - I plan to start it tomorrow if I finish Hunger tonight.

[Maria]

Thanks for the great comments - keep them coming ;>

As for the Poison Study YA debate - I could clear that up since...I....er....wrote the book. I wrote it for adults and it was published and marketed to adult SF/F readers. But I kept getting a ton of emails from YAs who really enjoyed the book.

When my publisher decided to start publishing YA books, they re-released a few older titles as YA books with new covers and a cheaper price and Poison Study was one of them. So were P.C. Cast's books. My publisher is now releasing new YA books, like Rachel Vincent's My Soul to Take, and my latest Inside Out (the main protag is 17, so no confusion here, I hope!).

[Peep (Pop! Pop!)]

Thanks for clearing that up! I was wondering when you were going to say that you wrote them :) See Heidi? It's a sign.... Read them!

[Brittany (finally graduated and can once again read for fun)]

Heidi, did you say you are liking Hunger more than Gone. I'm almost finished with Gone, and it's good but not great. Wondered what you thought of it. (Although the book is definitely picking up as I'm reading it.) Only about 100 pages left.

[Jaimie]

I thought my copy said YA and that she was 17 but then I thought I must need to do a reread - any excuse will do! Love the Study and Glass books by the way; I am always plugging them! And I am not crazy about the Partholon books being in two different sections - whew what a relief.

[Heidi]

Hello Maria, thanks so much for the personal answer,and for clearing that up :) I forget authors are on Goodreads, so I must be more careful with my sometimes overly opinionated remarks! p.s. I am excited to start your book tonight.

[Heidi]

Brittany wrote: "Heidi, did you say you are liking Hunger more than Gone. I'm almost finished with Gone, and it's good but not great. Wondered what you thought of it. (Although the book is definitely picking up ..."

Brittany - Gone was good, but not great. I think in my review I said it was a 3.5 for me (you know I am picky). I love the Hunger Games so much that I have a hard time not comparing it, and if I compare the two, Gone is just not as good. With that said, after some reflection, Gone grew on me after I finished it, and yes, I liked the second book more than the first, but it is still no Hunger Games.

[Jaimie]

Heidi - you opinionated? Never! You had better watch it or the S. Meyer is going to find you on goodreads and have a bone to pick. Ha! Actually she would probably appreciate your honesty.

[Heidi]

By the way, I hope Michael Grant is not in this group!

[Heidi]

Jaimie wrote: "Heidi - you opinionated? Never! You had better watch it or the S. Meyer is going to find you on goodreads and have a bone to pick. Ha! Actually she would probably appreciate your honesty."

I think S. Meyer has better things to do than to worry about my comments. You know, like write poorly edited books.

[Jaimie]

I can see you going and upping all your ratings a star now.

[Heidi]

Jaimie wrote: "I can see you going and upping all your ratings a star now."

No, but I did just look though all my books to see which authors are "Goodreads Author's"!!

[Jaimie]

Or not as seems to be the case. But when you have half books sitting on your computer that you can release every couple of years, why not?

[Jaimie]

half-written - was what that was supposed to be

[Heidi]

Jaimie wrote: "Or not as seems to be the case. But when you have half books sitting on your computer that you can release every couple of years, why not?"

Very true. I can't believe she edited herself enough to write that short novel!

[Jaimie]

Sorry, Maria for taking your thread way off topic here. It has just kind of started happening in this group lately. Okay, so always but you know...

[Jaimie]

Yeah, I know. I will still read it because I have fallen for the dark side but I get that it is kind of lame.

[Heidi]

Jaimie wrote: "Sorry, Maria for taking your thread way off topic here. It has just kind of started happening in this group lately. Okay, so always but you know..."

Ditto - sorry!

[Peep (Pop! Pop!)]

Don't believe them, they aren't sorry! It's what they do here, stray off-topic. I was beginning to worry when this thread stayed on-topic for so long.

[Jaimie]

Pot meet kettle.

[Peep (Pop! Pop!)]

*frownie face*

[Jaimie]

truth hurts Peep.

[Teresa]

Heidi wrote: "Hello Maria, thanks so much for the personal answer,and for clearing that up :) I forget authors are on Goodreads, so I must be more careful with my sometimes overly opinionated remarks! p.s. I ..."

I think authors would welcome our opinions on their books.If everyone just said a book is GREAT read it, then the reviews would mean nothing. I stumbled on this site about a year ago, I know I will never read all on my TBR shelf but I have read so many books, I never would of given a thought too. By being honest about how we feel about a book, the author can really relate to the reader.

I figure if Reader A thinks book_________________ is the greatest thing since the invention of the wheel and Reader B thinks the same book isn;t worth the paper it is wrote on, they could get a good conversation going and the author could see why Reader A loved it and Reader B loathed it.

[Teresa]

To get back on topic,One reason I read YA is to relate to the teenagers in my life, and to be able to recommend books to my 11 yr old. We read The percy jackson series together, and I think Faberhaven may be the next one we tackle. He has already read the whole HP books numerous times,but still reads books on a 5th grade level, because the grade level books for him, I can't find any he likes : (

[Heidi]

Don't worry Teresa, I am way too opinionated to filter my thoughts :)

[Teresa]

Heidi wrote: "Don't worry Teresa, I am way too opinionated to filter my thoughts :)"

LOL : ) we should get along just fine : O

[Maria]

LOL - Getting off topic happens in many discussion threads :)

The reason I wasn't as quick to say I wrote the book is I started this discussion to get insightful feedback about how to interest adults in YA. And I wasn't looking to promote my books - but I couldn't resist clearing up the debate :)

Heidi - authors are on Goodreads, but you shouldn't worry about what you say. You're entitled to your opinion and as long as it is honest and not outright mean or nasty no one should be upset. I say as I avoid bad reviews like the plague - lol - mixed reviews are the most helpful to me.

And I always enjoy when my readers argue over something from one of my books - they care enough to argue and debate - that's way better than a 5 star review....well....almost ;>

Back to the topic...uh... Do you think having the books in the YA section of the bookstore prevents adults from browsing?

[Teresa]

Maria V. wrote: "LOL - Getting off topic happens in many discussion threads :)

The reason I wasn't as quick to say I wrote the book is I started this discussion to get insightful feedback about how to interest..."

I get books from the library and we have what the call the Teen Area, I browse it, not sure if I have seen other grown ups do it. I was perturbed by a parent the other day though, she had two toddlers with her, and a 4 yr old and she traveled through this area, her son grabbed a comic book ( maybe spiderman) and she said we MUST get out of this icky area, this is not for you. I HAD to turn and glare. I kept my mouth shut but I wanted to say, you CHOSE to walk this way ( children's section is BIGGER and more easily avialable down the main path instead of wandering through this area) and this is a TEEN section and they are NOT yucky.

[Becca]

Maria V. wrote: "LOL - Getting off topic happens in many discussion threads :)

The reason I wasn't as quick to say I wrote the book is I started this discussion to get insightful feedback about how to interest..."

I think it depends on the adult, but for the most part the answer is yes, it does prevent them from browsing. Personally, good literature is good literature no matter where its housed, but a lot of people don't see it that way.

[Heidi]

I get my books from the library, but I do feel like all the young teens are staring at me when I get a book from the YA section, and I am not very self conscious, so I would guess it does stop other adults from browsing in YA sections.