Why I Read (Mostly) Teen Books
Okay, I will admit it. I read almost exclusively young adult books. When my friends start talking adult novels, I’m like, “Huh?” One friend of mine can’t get over the shock that I only read YA. Yes, I am an author of young adult books, but that’s not the only, or most important, reason I read them. I read because they are so different than adult books, and I really appreciate what works for the genre. I love “first moments”—whether that be the intensity of a kiss, the raw emotion of losing someone you love, or the pain of breaking up with someone. I also love the adventures within teen novels. True, literary teens don’t have homework, and seem to have a lot more hours than the rest of us to get into trouble, but still. These books are more fun and plot driven that adult books, in a very general sense. So many adult books are about “grownup” issues that just bore me: divorce, marital problems, family angst. And the endings! They are usually so unhappy! Once I read a highly-acclaimed adult book about a very unhappy family and in the end, someone died, and that was it. I threw the book against the wall. I really dislike books that are solely character driven with little or no plot and then have a tragic end. I pulled my hair out when my mom started giving me Oprah Book selections. Now yes, of course, I generalize. Many adult books have plot and adventure, but they don’t seem to have that magic intensity that’s unique to teen life and its characters. So now that I’ve gone on and on about how wonderful YA books are, let’s go back to your question. I think you read them because they are more interesting to you. People do joke about my reading, but you know what, I don’t care. Why should you? Like food, like shopping, like people—we all have different tastes. Own your love of YA and just know, you are not alone. Many, many people have discovered YA, and those who haven’t are missing out.
