“As adults some of us leave YA/Middle Grade behind and some of us continue to revel in it…but what separates us as readers? If you still pick up YA/Middle Grade, what draws you to them instead of Adult Fiction? If you’ve “grown out†of those genres, why do they no longer spark joy in you?”
Literary Lion – http://literarylion.ca/may-2021-schedule-lets-talk-bookish/
YA is such a contentious topic in the book world. I’ll admit that I don’t understand adult readers who never venture out of the world of YA. These people also tend to be the most vocal advocates for “YA is the best thing EVER!!!” and you disagree with them at your peril.
My relationship with YA books is … complicated. I used to think that I liked YA fantasy and didn’t like YA contemporaries. It turns out that this is almost completely wrong. It surprised me when I realized that. It really hit home for me when I was sitting in the nail salon reading Children of Blood and Bone. It was a wonderfully written and very original book but I realized that I absolutely didn’t care what happened in the story.
Why Most YA Isn’t For Me
I’m an old person
You know at the beginning of The Little Mermaid movie when Ariel is yelling at her father that she should be able to do what she wants because she’s 16? Yeah, if you just sighed and perhaps rolled your eyes, you are an old person. King Triton should have sent her to her room and it would have saved a lot of drama. That’s how I feel about a lot of YA. You’re 16 years old and are the only person in the whole world who can save the kingdom even though there are adults around? Sit down.
I don’t do problematic romances
No one has ever thought you were pretty before and now two guys are falling all over themselves for you? *YAWN*
Don’t even get me started on teenage girls dating immortal men.
What YA Do I Like?
YA that deals with teens navigating social issues tends to work for me. It is even ok if there is a bit of magic – more urban fantasy than high fantasy.
What About MG?
I find middle grade books to be an absolute joy. They are super plot driven and low on the angst. No one is pining over their boyfriend/girlfriend when they should be doing something else. Middle schoolers in books get on with what needs to get done.
I think problematic romances are all too prevalent in YA and should really be saved for adult books where readers are old enough to make their own decisions.
I found myself smiling and nodding at your comments on YA books, those are the things that annoy me too. I don’t really read middle grade either as I find problems are often too easily resolved in them. I like a dark, challenging read that isn’t afraid to show me the nastier side of life. And that’s the great thing about books – there is something for everyone!
I love your description of middle grade as getting stuff done because it is so true. YA is full of angst, but so are teens, so it fits. I enjoy YA books, but perhaps it’s because I was a high school librarian for a while. This is My America and books like it are particularly good. I just finished List of Ten, which I liked. It’s about a teen with Tourette Syndrome and OCD and is an #ownvoices novel.