Why I Read YA
by Jenny
When people ask me why I’m 23 years old and still reading as much YA as I can get my hands on, I often shrug and quickly try to think of a good, intelligent reason. My answer: YA is just better.
I do read a handful of adult novels, but they’re very carefully chosen and are definitely in the minority on my bookshelves. I love some series – like Sophie Kinsella’s Shopaholic books – but I find the majority of them to be, well, boring. For me, they don’t have the same imagination or flair as YA books, and I don’t identify with the characters nearly as much as I should. Maybe that’s because I’m still a teenager at heart.
When you’re a teenager, you experience so much, including new feelings, people and places. Those years help shape your life: you meet friends you’ll end up knowing for the rest of your life, you get your heart broken, and you find out that your parents really do know best. The teenage years are a time of firsts and self-discovery, which is why authors of YA have, in my opinion, the best material to write with. Even when you’re a 35-year-old married mother, you can still remember your first love or your first break-up with complete clarity. Those memories never go away, which is why it’s so easy to tap back into those teen feelings and enjoy a book written for young adults.
I’m constantly amazed by the range of YA out there. Authors are covering every topic you could ever think of, and some are going where no YA author has gone before. Whether you want to read about fallen angels, abusive relationships, teen pregnancy or that bad boy who’s no good for you, there’s a book out there just waiting to be read.
YA authors aren’t scared to write about harrowing stories, because they know their audience will appreciate their honesty and insight. Take Ellen Hopkins, for example. She writes about realistic topics such as drug abuse, teen prostitution and suicide. While many people would instantly walk past books like this, she knows there will be teenagers out there experiencing exactly the same thing as her characters, and people that are in urgent need of advice or a helping hand. If I was still a teenager and had read a book like that, I’d just be glad to know that no matter what situation me or my friends ever found ourselves in, there would be a book waiting to help me get back on the right path.
I’ll never stop reading YA. I never want to, either. I don’t think there’s any other genre where one day I could be reading about killer unicorns, and the next be learning about one girl’s struggle to escape a suffocating mormon community. Where else would I get to read beautiful writing by Markus Zusak, or get to revisit my favourite vegetarian vampire with bronze hair and a bad case of the sparkles? There’s no other genre with as much variety and talent as YA, and that’s why I’ll never be ashamed to admit that it’s my absolute favourite.
The next time someone asks me why I’m 23 years old and still reading YA, I’m going to tell them it’s because it’s amazing, inventive and completely addictive. And that’s that.
Thanks Jenny!
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Next up on ’10 Fun Days of YA Fiction’: Later today I will be reviewing Shadows, book #1 in the ‘Dark Touch’ series by Amy Meredith.
17 Comments
Thanks so much for the post Jenny, your passion for YA is inspiring!
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Great post, Jenny! I read a variety of adult and YA, but some of my favourite series are YA, and I'm even older than you. Imagine!
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Fantastic post, Jenny! I completely agree with everything you've said. YA really does rock!
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Awesome post Jenny, Totally agree with you on YA authors.Their insight and honesty makes me never want to stop reading YA.
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fantastic post and so true im 23 and prefer YA..
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Wow, great post, very, very inspiring!
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Great post! I completely agree with you. There's no reason why a 20-something person should not enjoy YA novels. I like YA, too, and I'm 24.
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Irena – Hey, what about a 30-something.. ahem
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Thanks for having me, Carolyn! And thanks for the comments everyone
Yay for YA!
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Great post and very true about the intensity of emotion you experience in your teens. You never do forget that.
I find I have to be in the mood to read YA, but when I do, I do enjoy it.
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I was actually thinking about this the other day… I remember going to our local library at home and thinking there is going to be a day that it's going to look weird to read YA novels, but as an adult, I've accepted that sometimes YA novels are so much better and take me back to my childhood which was so enjoyable. This was a great post – thanks Book Chick and Jenny
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Yep, this is basically why I love YA. Great post! You're so right that YA is often more interesting and has more flair
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Brilliant post Jenny! I completely agree with everything you so very eloquently say!
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Loved this. I'm 20 and feel exactly the same as you!
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even though i'm a teenager i understand everthing you're saying…and everything you have said about YA books is soo the truth!! I will never stop reading YA books either.
<3 YA <3
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Jenny, I totally agree with you. Reading YA is like breathing in and breathing out. Having that young, passionate person inside you that remembers what it was like to care deeply for people, places and situations is so very important. I'm an older Teen Librarian, and though I read many other adult books, my very favorite is still YA! So don't apologize for keeping your heart alive and emotionally intact! No one ever outgrows YA fiction–coming of age is something we do all the time in learning how to be comfortable in our own skins and it will enrich your life just knowing that.
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Great post! I agree with you & I'm 23, too!
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