Why Do Adults Read YA?

[cyn2write]

I love reading YA, actually, probably more now than when I was a YA. And I know so many other adults, do, too.

It got me to thinking about what it is about YA that I like. I love reading about firsts. As adults we have fifty years of the same-old, same-old. We have less than a decade of being a teen. Teens are more willing to take risks, and their

Comments

[ext_433947]

I love reading YA. It's able to connect to anyone, young and old and I love that. I also love the innocence of the characters. Yeah, I remember being obsessive about my bf when I was a teen - maybe not to the extent Bella was. When a YA book has teens that act just like a teenager I'm usually thinking "Yeah, I remember acting JUST like that." Maybe I'm crazy but I'd rather the teen MC be a teen instead of an adult trapped in a teen body.

[cyn2write]

I agree totally!

[ext_434044]

One of the reasons I love YA is because no matter how bad the situation gets, there is always a hopeful element to it. Adult books nowadays feel like a competition to see who can be depressing. I like the acknowledgement of how hard life is while not discounting the fact that things can get better.

[cyn2write]

That is true! It's an unwritten requirement in YA that it has to have a hopeful ending, but not so in adult books. And I think life is depressing and stressful enough that we could all use a little hope in our lives.

[shanawrites]

I agree with this! I often find adult books to be too depressing and I don't want to be left depressed about society or situations when I'm reading. I want that hopeful spark at the end. I like seeing that people can grow and change and make things better for themselves, even in just a small way.

Also, like you, Cyn, I love the firsts. Whenever someone asks why I write for teens, that's the reason I give. I like reading/writing about those first big decisions in life that a teen makes that will change who they are and how they view the world.

[cyn2write]

I think probably the main reason why I write YA is that adult books ARE often too depressing!!

On not chanelling teenagers ...

[ext_434138]

If you're right about YA authors not trying to channel the age/maturity of their characters, then I think it indicates a serious problem in the genre -- good writing needs to be true (which that is not), and good storytelling needs to put the characters before the will of the author (which that does not do).

You mention wondering whether the adult appeal of YA books comes in seeing what a grown-up would do in a teenager's situation. I think that's a spot-on observation, but I disagree with how it's applied. I think the YA books best suited for that exercise are the ones that most faithfully show a less-mature protagonist -- and the disconnect between reader and character is what motivates that "What if I were in her shoes?" question. This is very close to "loving to hate" a character. OF COURSE Bella Swan is irritating to mature readers, but that irritation is part of the point: it affirms the fact that we (older readers) are no longer so lost.

Re: On not chanelling teenagers ...

[cyn2write]

Interesting point. Having a disconnect with and being irritated with the main character may not always create that affirmation, though. Depends on why you're reading, I guess. The people who read for escapism from the irritants in life would probably say the last thing they want is to be annoyed by a character, no matter what affirmation it might give them about their own maturity. And I feel like so many of us are so stressed by our lives, that that is increasingly why people are reading, and reading about a time of life when things like mortgages and paychecks don't matter so much.

[lynseynewton]

I may be older than a teenager but in my head I'll always be 17! LOL I absolutely LOVE reading YA, mostly because of Twilight which is one of the reasons I will NEVER knock that series because it had be HOOKED IN from beginning to end and it got me reading YA books. At first, I felt embarrased about it - especially when I wandered into the children's section of a book store. Now? I'm PROUD to like YA because the books are AMAZING. As a teenager, I was an avid reader and I would have died and gone to heaven if the market back then was the same as we have now.

Why do I read YA? Because every day life for me is normal. Why would I want to read about something normal? I want magic, fantasy, hot guys, stories where the overweight girl gets the guy in the end ;) I read for fun and for escapism. I'm sure we've all fantasised what it's like to get the guy, have a special power etc. Reading a YA book lets you do just that.

[cyn2write]

Hee, I'll always be 17, too. At least, I wish.

You know, that's exactly why I write fantastical books that are maybe a little unbelievable. I don't want realism! Realism is boring and I get enough of it in my own life. I love the escapism, too. But I do like the characters to be real, just put them in fantastic situations.

[tracy_d74]

I read and write YA. I read YA because 1) I work with teenagers and it keeps me in touch with what they're reading and talking about, 2) I think teenagers (and children in general) see the world in very vivid colors (sure, sometimes a bit malodramatic...but they see the reality), 3) teenagers are more likely to act and just be and I like to be reminded of how to do that, 4) it's fun.

[cyn2write]

I agree, it's a lot of fun! Do you work hard to capture a teenage voice, or do you just say things as you would say them?

[tracy_d74]

I try to capture a teen voice..I don't use the trendy language like "OMG," etc, because not all teens talk like that. AND I don't want to date my book. I try to make dialogue sound like a teen (i.e., the reasoning, the general tone.) Lucky for me, most of my friends have teenager and I work with teens.

[cyn2write]

Right... a couple years ago, using the trendy language was considered ok. But now I really stay away from it... I think you can sound like a teen without using it.