Comments on: What is YA?

By: PJ Hoover

PJ Hoover — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 14:33:59 +0000

It’s so hard to get a finger on this. I read a YA recently that felt like an adult book. I was trying to figure out why and it came down to the plot being way more the focus rather than the characters.

By: Karen

Karen — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 22:10:23 +0000

Thanks for posting Beth’s link. A really good read about YA.

I used to be a MG chick for the longest but started reading and writing YA in the last few years. I really do think it’s a genre and there are some many books that target different audiences. I gravitate towards SF and Fantasy, but I have to admit there a plenty of contemporary YA books that I love too. I don’t think that this is a passing trend. YA as a genre is here to stay.

By: Andrea Vlahakis

Andrea Vlahakis — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 15:37:48 +0000

Anna, you’re right, I can’t see how you can boil MG down to a genre. The spectrum from the youngest end chapter books (think Suzy Kline) to the older end (maybe some Joan Bauer?) is too wide, covers too much, and appeals to such a wide range of readers at various levels. I think it’s why I like it so much.

By: annastan

annastan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:48:31 +0000

Thanks for giving me something to make my brain churn, Beth!

By: beth

beth — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:41:43 +0000

Yay! I am so glad you liked these posts, and humbled as well!

By: annastan

annastan — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:38:27 +0000

Andrea, I’d have to agree with you that I relate more to MG fiction that to YA. I do enjoy YA but you’re right that it tends to focus on relationships the most. I guess this is why I enjoy reading (and writing) MG the most.

I do wonder if MG could also be defined as a genre, though there’s SO much variety that I don’t know if it could be boiled down quite as easily as YA can be. Still, it’s something to think about.

By: Andrea Vlahakis

Andrea Vlahakis — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 14:29:12 +0000

Great post, Anna. I agree, it’s a genre, not an age range.

I’m not sure why I’m not as big of a fan of YA as I should be. For kid lit, both PB and MG (including older MG that borders on YA) draw me like a magnet. I can’t help myself, I have to read whatever I can get my hands on.

With YA, I think it’s that they are mostly relationship stories. I loved this when I was much, much younger. Now, not so much. But I do agree that YA takes more risks than adult fiction, which, because of its energy and freedom may ultimately be its appeal.