Five Reasons Why It’s Okay To Love Young Adult Fiction
I used to think I was a bit of a nerd for liking Young Adult literature, even though my years as a young adult are long gone.
Not so anymore. Although some may be too shy to admit to it or call it a guilty pleasure, YA fiction has a huge fan base among grownups; in fact, a recent study states that 55% of its readers are actually adults. And while I also choose from a variety of other genres and often crave the more literary and classic offerings as well, I particularly enjoy writing Young Adult fiction, as two of my recently penned novels will attest.
Why do I and so many others love reading YA novels? I don’t believe it implies immaturity, but rather suggests a more “young at heart” sensibility of the reader. And I am careful about not lumping all of them together. As in every genre far and wide, there is great writing and not-so-great writing to be found.
With that in mind, here is what I find appealing about most of the YA and coming-of-age literature I have read:
1. The characters and the plot draw you in and hook you on the first page. There is very little dilly-dallying before you find yourself inextricably pulled into the crux of the conflict.
2. A typical Young Adult novel is usually light on the exposition and heavy on the action and dialogue. You will rarely find long blocks of text or flowery descriptions of characters or setting, but at the same time you will quickly become immersed in the characters’ worlds through what they say and do.
3. The drama is genuine and natural. The teenage years with all of its growing pains and insecurities can often be filled with turmoil, sometimes magnified, sometimes not. Ordinary situations frequently feel emotional, devastating, and even disastrous to the central characters.
4. Teens are well-known to be impetuous and curious, therefore their actions are often unexpected. This unpredictability opens up all sorts of drama which may include acting on violence, sexuality, and other previously uncharacteristic behaviours. (You know, the juicy stuff!)
5. We’ve all been there, so it’s easy for us to identify with many of the common conflicts that arise. Other times, we might enjoy reading YA as an escape into wish-fulfillment: a way of gratifying our own desires, as well as correcting the mistakes and curing the injustices in our own experience.
Still not convinced to give Young Adult a try? Peruse these quotes taken from bestselling YA fiction
“As he read, I fell in love the way you fall asleep: slowly, and then all at once.” — The Fault In Our Stars by John Green
“She wanted to go back. She wanted to be a little girl again, the one who thought getting high meant being pushed on the swing and pain was falling off her bike.” — Falling Into Place by Amy Zhang
“We believe in ordinary acts of bravery, in the courage that drives one person to stand up for another.” — Divergent by Veronica Roth
“And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.” — The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky
What do you think of the Young Adult genre?
Do you have any favourite YA quotes to share?
