When things change in YA stories.

[anngatti]

I have been a little detached of the online activity mostly because I have been sick and working a lot of hours. Now that I'm better I hope to be more active. I haven't been able to do a lot of writing but I have advanced some. Mostly I have been reading.

In my Goodreads account I have a special rating system for books. I copy this idea

Comments

[olmue]

No kidding! I read a book fairly recently where it seemed all set up for this MC to learn to develop normal, strong relationships with people she loved, and then--psych! No, we're not going to burden ourselves down with any kind of loyalty for any reason. Because loving people and being loyal to them is a "weakness." I hated it both on the philosophical level (because to me, a strong character is one who loves and is intelligently loyal, and chopping that out of your life seems pretty stupid and incomplete), as well as a plot structure level. I felt I had been promised one thing by the author and then there was this 180 in the middle, and the promise was rescinded. And yes, this often happens in historical novels. Yes, readers of today need to be able to relate to historical characters, but sometime it's like the author has this sermon they want to stick right in the middle of this book where it totally doesn't fit.

[anngatti]

I hated sermons as a teen, the only place where I was willing to stand hearing one was at church. Even then I never had to because our priest was a funny man that always deliver a funny speech that had a good message in between. Books that make me feel as if I'm being lecture have authors land in to my 'never again' list. It may be a little unfair but I simply can't stand getting lecture.

[meredith_wood]

I agree with you. I'm tired of the whole concept that to love and be loved and to depend on a partner makes you weak. It's human nature so let be.

[anngatti]

One book were people were complaining about this was Willow. An absolutely amazing and wonderful book, that some parents felt that Willow should have resolve her problems without the help of the guy. Ahem... I read that and kept on wondering if they were aware that the girl was a cutter. For someone to overcome that, they NEED help and guidance. That was what the guy was and yet some insisted she do it on her own. Dang the thing I thought reading the reviews... Like you said is human nature to want to connect with other human beings.

[robinellen]

I prefer books with strong women in them -- but that doesn't mean 'independent' necessarily. I'm a huge fan of romance -- of true, giving, sharing, passionate love. I think the strongest women are those who can take that risk :) And I also hate it when an arc is set up to go one way and then it changes, mid-stream -- especially if it's for a reason which doesn't fit the original set-up. VERY annoying! If I'm reading a book which has been set up to be a love story, then it better end that way! (I also will throw books, heh.)

[anngatti]

Yes, the hundred and eighty degree change on the arc it's soo frustrating! It makes you wish you would never have picked up the book in the first place.

[thought_flower]

I'm glad I read this because I have a couple YA novels that include romantic relationships, and I've wondered where to draw the line during revisions. Good to hear that your daughter doesn't want that line drawn at all!

[anngatti]

I think many teenage girls want to read about the things that either bother them or that they dream about. It's normal to want to explore those feelings and see other people's view about the same issues.