Tales From the Young Side
I have long been a fan of the "teen genre", whether it be books or movies. However, I stopped reading young adult books around the time most of my friends started reading them because I was already moving on to more adult fare. While I loved Christopher Pike's scary books, it was not worth it to buy a book I would finish within a couple of hours (happily, he also writes adult novels now).
Recently, I rediscovered the fun of reading young adult books and I hope you will consider reading in this area of literature. Below are some reasons why you should think about exploring a different section of your bookstore:
- YA books are cheaper than many adults books. Even if you take into account the price of the average mass market, many young adult books are cheaper. Looking for a good classic novel like JANE EYRE or WUTHERING HEIGHTS? Check the children's section - they likely have it for less than their adult counterparts. And, if you are trying out a new author, it's not as expensive as in the adult section.
- Beyond price, the stories are just as good, if not better. And, best of all, most YA have the common thread of being about growing up and feeling weird. Everyone went through puberty, and even if you were one of those lucky ones who didn't have any heartache during that period, you are likely experiencing some as an adult. Everyone can relate to YA books because we have all been there at some point.
- If you are busy and don't have a lot of time to read, these (sometimes) shorter reads will fit in your schedule. Publishers have been claiming that readers are wanting shorter books, not the larger 350+ page books I prefer. If you are one of those, many YA series will fit right in.
- Many of your favorite authors are writing YA. Can't wait until the next James Patterson, Meg Cabot or Rachel Caine book comes out? Look no further than the young adult section in your favorite bookstore. Many authors are exploring the realms of YA. Fans of Kim Harrison will be thrilled to know she is starting a new YA series - the first story of which can be found in the recent release, PROM NIGHTS FROM HELL.
- You can share your favorite YA books with the kids in your life. As a parent (or a big sister) sharing books can help bring you together. My 12-year-old sister and I have been bonding over books, including the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine and the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. Many parents want to get their kids involved in reading and sharing a book you both enjoy is one way to do that.
I recently finished the second book of the Morganville Vampires series. A friend of mine introduced me to the series and requested I pass it along to my sister to see what she thought of it. We have all really enjoyed the books and can't wait for the third one, which comes out in October. The series is about a 16-year-old girl named Claire who is starting college in a small Texas town. Another girl harasses Claire to the point of attempting to kill her. Claire seeks refuge in a house with 3 roommates - Eve, Michael and Shane. As she tries to figure out what is going on, she learns that the entire town is run by vampires and that there is no way to escape them.
I love this series in part because of the very real way Claire is drawn. She acts like a 16-year-old would act, even one with a higher IQ than many of her fellow students. Her relationships develop the same way they would in real life. And even though there is a lot of suspense and action, there isn't a lot of violence or terror, still keeping its realism without sacrificing tension.
I have seen a thread on the Forums about reading YA so I know some of you are big fans. If you have any suggestions for authors or books to try, put them in the comments section.
Nicole
Recently, I rediscovered the fun of reading young adult books and I hope you will consider reading in this area of literature. Below are some reasons why you should think about exploring a different section of your bookstore:
- YA books are cheaper than many adults books. Even if you take into account the price of the average mass market, many young adult books are cheaper. Looking for a good classic novel like JANE EYRE or WUTHERING HEIGHTS? Check the children's section - they likely have it for less than their adult counterparts. And, if you are trying out a new author, it's not as expensive as in the adult section.
- Beyond price, the stories are just as good, if not better. And, best of all, most YA have the common thread of being about growing up and feeling weird. Everyone went through puberty, and even if you were one of those lucky ones who didn't have any heartache during that period, you are likely experiencing some as an adult. Everyone can relate to YA books because we have all been there at some point.
- If you are busy and don't have a lot of time to read, these (sometimes) shorter reads will fit in your schedule. Publishers have been claiming that readers are wanting shorter books, not the larger 350+ page books I prefer. If you are one of those, many YA series will fit right in.
- Many of your favorite authors are writing YA. Can't wait until the next James Patterson, Meg Cabot or Rachel Caine book comes out? Look no further than the young adult section in your favorite bookstore. Many authors are exploring the realms of YA. Fans of Kim Harrison will be thrilled to know she is starting a new YA series - the first story of which can be found in the recent release, PROM NIGHTS FROM HELL.
- You can share your favorite YA books with the kids in your life. As a parent (or a big sister) sharing books can help bring you together. My 12-year-old sister and I have been bonding over books, including the Morganville Vampires series by Rachel Caine and the Maximum Ride series by James Patterson. Many parents want to get their kids involved in reading and sharing a book you both enjoy is one way to do that.
I recently finished the second book of the Morganville Vampires series. A friend of mine introduced me to the series and requested I pass it along to my sister to see what she thought of it. We have all really enjoyed the books and can't wait for the third one, which comes out in October. The series is about a 16-year-old girl named Claire who is starting college in a small Texas town. Another girl harasses Claire to the point of attempting to kill her. Claire seeks refuge in a house with 3 roommates - Eve, Michael and Shane. As she tries to figure out what is going on, she learns that the entire town is run by vampires and that there is no way to escape them.
I love this series in part because of the very real way Claire is drawn. She acts like a 16-year-old would act, even one with a higher IQ than many of her fellow students. Her relationships develop the same way they would in real life. And even though there is a lot of suspense and action, there isn't a lot of violence or terror, still keeping its realism without sacrificing tension.
I have seen a thread on the Forums about reading YA so I know some of you are big fans. If you have any suggestions for authors or books to try, put them in the comments section.
Nicole
posted at 11:41 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home