Why I Really Read Young Adult Books

Monday, January 13, 2014

Even after four years of blogging, I'm asked this question almost routinely. Since I spend more time at my office than I do at home right now, I've had any ARCs I receive delivered here and, in all truth, this blog was a big part of why I was hired for the position I've been in (and loved) for a year and a half now. They think it's awesome that I manage to keep up a blog while working a full-time career, but I know that they wonder exactly why I read the books that I do. And, in fact, many of my friends and coworkers have actually voiced these questions.

Here's the thing...I have always been a big reader. I've loved it since I could first make out a word in a book, and I vividly remember my first night reading past my bedtime, hiding under the covers so my mother wouldn't see that I was still up and reading. I am, however, acutely aware of the fact that a lot of kids didn't have the same relationship with reading that I did, and I'm often saddened when I hear people say that they don't like reading because they think it's a chore...especially younger people.

I am of the school of thought that books, when done well, can change lives. 

They can make you think, they can make you feel and they can bring you into worlds that you might have otherwise never had an opportunity to discover.

Most of all though, they provide the purest, most beautiful and timeless form of escapism that there is.

That is why I read and review young adult books. Don't get me wrong. I read adult books for leisure. I read novels that, yes, bore me at times. I read scandalous romance that would make you blush, and I read autobiographies, biographies, documentaries and more. But there is this innate beauty to YA that makes it so wonderful...

Simply put, it captures youth in its rawest, most poignant form, and it doesn't back down.

I'm proud to be a 27-year-old married lady that's a teenager at heart. I'm proud to scan my shelves and see an overabundance of teen books that I readily share with other readers who show any bit of interest. And, most of all, I'm excited to someday pass on this love of books and reading to my children, and I hope that they'll eventually do the same.

Young adult captures a genre and an age that might otherwise not be interested in books, and turning just one or two readers onto a great book that means the world to me is, in essence, why I read and blog solely about YA books.

17 comments:

  1. I get weird looks when people what genre I read. It seems that people don't know how elaborate, creative and emotional YA books can be. They tend to immediately think to books like Twilight (which most people seem to hate). It annoys me but it's what I enjoy reading and like you said, it's great to escape the real world sometimes.
    Great post, Melissa!

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    1. I think you're right, Nick. Twilight created a bit of a poor perception of the genre, but it definitely made it more popular, too. I think, however, the genre offers a lot of power if you really take a chance on it!

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  2. I totally agree with you, Melissa. YA books are life-changing and beautiful. No matter what age one is, I believe that it's entirely possible for people to relate to them because, even if we aren't teens any more, we can relate to teen life. Books have been my form of escape since I was a young child, and I can't imagine a life without them :)

    Kris @Imaginary Reads

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    1. Amen, Kris! I think that there is just an innate beauty to them that transcends age because we've all been there...once upon a time :)

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  3. I hate it when people ask questions like 'why do you read YA?' Not only is it impossible for me to answer, but why wouldn't I? I don't get why some people judge YA so poorly. They should give those books more credit. I've learned things, they made me cry, laugh, fangirl. YA books are everything to me :)

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    1. I hear you, Mel. I've stopped getting angry at the question, and now I just use it as my annoying little soapbox haha ;)

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  4. Congrats on the wedding! I've loved all the pictures you and others have posted on FB. I think I like YA so much, because there's an element of hope in all the books. Even the most depressing YA novel have an underlying theme that it's only the beginning and the future can and probably will be better.

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    1. Thank you, Alison! There's a million more pictures to come, but those are the teaser shots we've seen thus far, and we love them :) And I'm pretty sure you just summed it all up there. It's all about hope!

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  5. I love YA, and no one will ever make me ashamed for heading straight to the teen section when I walk in the bookstore despite the fact that I'm 31. Ditto romance. I think both genres have stigmas attached to them for older readers and women respectively, but why not read what makes you happy? And YA makes me happy:) Yes to first love and kissing and a little angst (but hopefully not too much)!

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  6. I never really read any YA when younger cos there was not a lot around so it's fun now

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  7. Beautifully put Melissa, I've heard that argument a lot about younger people thinking reading is boring, but I'm finding YA these days to be so relatable and accessible, no matter how old you are. I think people will always ask those questions, but once they discover it for themselves they'll realise how great it is. Happy new year Mel!

    Jeann @ Happy Indulgence

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  8. Always good to keep that teenager in your heart! I love the joy, happiness and purity of the stories.

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  9. Ah, this is so true. I am still a young adult myself, but I know that I will never make the swap to adult fiction. Sure, I read some here and there, but on the whole, the YA books I read are a lot more fascinating. They keep me hooked. They have amazing and fantastical worlds, and relatable characters. I also feel like YA books are conveying really important messages through their stories - even if it seems like there wouldn't be anything relatable in a book about a demon from hell who doesn't want to be one. You know?
    I hope that my love for YA is forever. It certainly feels like it.

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  10. Beautifully put, Melissa! I love to read (and write) them for the same reason! Thanks for sharing this!

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  11. Beautifully articulated, Melissa.

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  12. What a beautiful post, Melissa! You captured so perfectly one of the things I love most about YA in this post. Thank you for sharing with us why YOU read YA -- it reminds us other readers that we're not alone in our love for this particular kind of book :)

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  13. I read YA because as a mom I wanted to know what was out there for my dd. Because growing up my YA is different from her YA. But it has introduced me to some wonderful new authors I didn't even know about :)

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