The New York Times asked the question, and several authors, bloggers, librarians, and columnists answered with why they think young adult literature is so appealing, especially to adults.
Let’s face it, most young adult books have content and discuss subjects that would work just as well in an adult book. The primary reason for the categorization of young adult is the age of the characters.
In the series of mostly positive articles, writers discuss why adults enjoy young adult novels. YA author Patricia McCormick writes, “If Harry Potter made it safe for grown-ups to read kids’ books, The Hunger Games has made it cool.” In her opinion, young adult authors are daring and take creative risks.
The NYT’s Joel Stein disagrees:
Let’s have the decency to let tween girls have their own little world of vampires and child wizards and games you play when hungry. Let’s not pump Justin Bieber in our Saabs and get engaged at Cinderella’s Castle at Disneyland. Because it’s embarrassing. You can’t take an adult seriously when he’s debating you over why Twilight vampires are O.K. with sunlight. If my parents had read “Tales of a Fourth Grade Nothing” at the same time as I did, I would have looked into boarding school.
Lev Grossman, author of The Magician King sums it up best, “Statistically speaking, most adults were young adults at some point in their lives, and some of us are still processing that experience.”
You can read all the pieces HERE.
What do you think about young adult literature? Are you an adult who reads it?
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