When Malena Lott invited me to blog once a month about Young Adult fiction, I was thrilled to have the opportunity to gush about books from the category I’ve chosen to build a career around.
Maybe you’re already a fan of YA fiction. If not, allow me to list some reasons why teens and adults can enjoy literature from these shelves:
1. Teens make great protagonists because the teen years are inherently full of CONFLICT. (You remember, right? Constant tumult.)
2. During the teen years, many adult things are happening for the first time and thus they are experienced with GREAT INTENSITY. What’s more intense than first love? The first kiss? The first time you really broke the rules? Broke your heart? Gee, even the first time you drove a car was pretty intense.
3. Teens specialize in ANGST and this makes for great reading. Nobody longs to be clinically depressed, but a moderate amount of angst is almost enjoyable. It certainly makes one feel intensely ALIVE. Readers of YA get to experience this vicariously.
4. Teens are less likely than adults to stick with a disappointing book, hoping the pace will pick up or the story will somehow improve. Thus, YA novels tend to have streamlined plots, free of elements that clutter a narrative (like protagonists who endlessly navel-gaze or dwell too intensely on the past). This makes for page-turning momentum!
5. Contrary to what some might think, YA literature is not “dumbed down.” Just like adult literature, YA books come in a variety of genres and are geared toward a variety of audiences. You’ll find breezy reads that leave you in stitches on the same shelves with heftier reads that make you ponder and ache. Something for everyone!
Are you convinced? If so, stay tuned – each month I’ll be recommending a recently published YA novel. Hope you find something new to enjoy!
I had a LOT of teen angst.
Looking forward to hearing what the young whipper snappers are reading these days. 
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I have never outgrown YA literature. Bravo for you! Can’t wait to read your reviews!
Sonia,
Those are GREAT reasons to read YA. Thanks for putting that list together. I’m looking forward to your picks, too. I’d love to read a YA novel a month. Last one I read was BEAUTIFUL CREATURES, which was our first YA top pick on BEB, and I also have Ally Carter’s I’d Tell you I love you but then I’d have to kill you I plan on reading by the pool where all the teen girls hang out.
I LOVE YA lit! I agree with your reasons completely and can’t wait to see your recommendations.
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Our book club recently devoured Beautiful Creatures and we can’t wait for the sequel. YES, ladies, there WILL be a sequel. Weee! *clap clap*
Looking forward to your recommendations.
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Oh, I adore YA fiction. (Though I must say, I’m not a Twilight fan.) Just finished “When You Reach Me,” which I loved. Glad you’ll be blogging about my favorite genre.
Young Adult fiction is so well written and diverse. Great entertainment, yet more than just brain candy. It’s my favorite genre.
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I have never been much on YA but it turned out my perseption was all wrong, I was expecting YA to be childish with childlike language…Boy was I ever way off the mark. We are currently working on a YA novel, yes the thriller writer! My agent urged me to read The Hunger Games before I began writing and I adored it!! Yea for YA!!! Great post!
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