Young Adult Book Reading Challenges discussion
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Why do you think so many age groups like YA books?
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Angie, YA lovin mod!!
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Jun 10, 2008 02:53PM
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Aside from being more innocent than other books YA books usually make you think about things and usually about things that as an adult you might take for granted, or think of as basic. The last few YA books that I have read have had this in common. Personally, I read them first as a way of finding books that my kids might like to read or in some case I want them to read. I find myself enjoying them for myself and so they are a large part of my reading.
Lately I have been getting and reading a lot of YA books. I dont know what attracts me to them. I guess if the the story sounds fun and interesting, I'll read it.
I have to say that as an adult reading and writing YA, I think that YA is way tighter than most adult fiction I read -- particularly genre fiction. The ideal length for a YA is 75K words as opposed to around 110K for an adult. Well, tell me there isn't as much or more plot and character development packed into your average YA? We just don't have room for fluffy plot filler or anything not really necessary to move the story forward. Plus YA can bend genres as it likes, since it's all shelved under YA, instead of under mystery, romance, fantasy, etc. I can go to the same shelf and find a huge variety of novels, all with great voice and tight writing. What more do I need?!
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Fishpond wrote: "I enjoy YA adult books because they get right to the point. Writers know if you don't get them from the beginning they'll put it down. I also enjoy the minimal amount of cussing and sex (some book..."That's why my mom reads YA with me. She hates how most of the adult books she reads revolve around sex.
She hates Stephen King because she says he gets too descriptive.
Me? I read YA because I can't stand the lengthy descriptions either.
I, too, appreciate the more innocent themes. This said, I thing good YA can deal with some really in-depth intellectual subjects. Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter - these aren't overly gory, are pretty innocent, but still make you think and deal with some great moral, ethical, political and cultural themes.I also like the fact that so many YA books are great fantasy stories!:D
And I agree, Maggie - I hadn't thought about that "ability to bend genres" but it does make things much more fun;>
I think cuz they r good, flexible books and every1 gets something different out of them
they're addicting XD and adult books tend to be so ... depressing ... i need a break sometimes. lolz.
Young adult books kind of have this action and suspense that adult books just can't grasp. Also, alot of adult books are romance novels, and things some people just don't want to read about.
YA books tend to be written with a stylle not as complex as adult books therfore you can enjoy the plot instead of the actuall writingDoes that make sense to y'all?
I enjoy them because I don't have THAT much time to read but I enjoy reading A LOT. YA books tend to be a little shorter and a little more action packed, whether or not they are about action, so I kind of get "more bang for my buck". Plus sometimes I feel like I have enough adult problems of my own, I don't need to read about other peoples all the time, fiction or not! LOL
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Well, I am still a young adult, and I enjoy them just as much as the next person!
Technically, I'm not a young adult either... but, often I feel like I am!!! ;D
Well, it has that "high school feel" to it. Most are still young and innocent and are facing problems that teenagers go through everyday. I love reading them because it gives me some sense of what to do when i'm lost in a situation. Sometimes i even ask myself "well what would (character from a book) do?"
Shope116 you made a good point about the ‘high school’ feel. For me, I think YA reflects a lot of the ‘firsts’ a person experiences in their youth. There is so much discovery, learning, getting to know things for the first time. Life changes quickly in your teens and emotions are undependable.
Then there’s the first kiss, first date, first really late night out and of course the first real getting into trouble because of said first (or last) really late night out. All those things are what we all go through as teens so it just makes for relatable reading. Plus, it’s neat to feel like I’m going through it all again. Without being grounded, this time.
I love this thread, and everyone's opinions. I agree with all of you! What I like about YA is not so much that it is "innocent" as that it is unafraid to ask the primary questions: what is love, what is family, what am I supposed to be doing here? Adult novels address these issues, to be sure, but not with the directness and verve of YA. And to Maggie, there is no higher calling than to write for children and teens, because the books you love when you are young shape your world for ever and always. Write well!
Too true. There is not a single book on my most beloved list that I didn't love in the 9th grade.
I find that well-written YA fiction grabs the reader and doesn't let go! Kids & teens aren't going to sit through a 2 page description of a flower. Whether it's realistic, adventure, or fantasy Ya books keep the plot going to keep interest without sacrificing characterization.
I think that a lot of YA books are grabbing and keep you in their grasp. Most of them are really good.
Gosh - these are all such fabulous comments!! :D
