tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post6247848733577361098..comments2024-03-25T14:11:39.165-04:00Comments on i swim for oceans: Let's Talk: Dark Books on the YA Market Melissa (i swim for oceans)http://www.blogger.com/profile/06840790603713851746noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-53433277777520911422013-06-19T23:03:40.903-04:002013-06-19T23:03:40.903-04:00I tend to read lighter books but I still appreciat...I tend to read lighter books but I still appreciate darker YA-Life Is But a Dream was a fantastic read that was absolutely beautifully written.The Insouciant Sophisticatehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03934853089105345052noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-62842486044911490312013-06-16T11:39:16.592-04:002013-06-16T11:39:16.592-04:00I am a huge fan of dark YA. I think books need to ...I am a huge fan of dark YA. I think books need to make you think and expose the ugly side. But more than expose the ugly side, it needs to show the beauty that can be found too. Ashley @ The Bibliophile's Cornerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08643228807730738670noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-14203323309650602112013-06-15T12:39:24.900-04:002013-06-15T12:39:24.900-04:00I'm a HUGE fan of issue books too!
"Some...I'm a HUGE fan of issue books too! <br />"Some of my favourite books are those that are the most painful to read. They make me think. They challenge me to explore some of the most painful and degrading human emotions and conditions. Most of all though, they make me feel." YES! THAT!<br />And I agree, dark/issue books are important and definitely have their -not small!- place in YA as well as in all the other genres.<br /><br />I haven't read any of the books you listed though. (kinda...shocking...?) *goes to add books to her tbr*Caycehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17878030813967203887noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-67777434482955039622013-06-14T20:29:47.728-04:002013-06-14T20:29:47.728-04:00I loved Wintergirls. I'm pro YA issue books, e...I loved Wintergirls. I'm pro YA issue books, especially if it sparks discussion with a teen and his or her parents.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-68729444900350573062013-06-14T20:06:20.276-04:002013-06-14T20:06:20.276-04:00Sure I think dark books have a place. I find the i...Sure I think dark books have a place. I find the idea that young people - even children - should only read about sparkly pink unicorns to be ridiculous. Look at Grimm's Fairy Tales. 100-200 years ago no one bothered to hide the harshness of reality from children. Probably because so many of them witnessed difficult times given high mortality rates. It's silly to think that children will be broken if anyone tries to burst their bubble.Alison Can Readhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17908868606441539344noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-54464450906466161622013-06-14T19:03:35.707-04:002013-06-14T19:03:35.707-04:00While I do prefer the fluff and fun, every once in...While I do prefer the fluff and fun, every once in a while, I really love a strong, deep, dark and painful book to shake things up for me. WINTERGIRLS was one of those major reads -- so heart-rending and fabulous but it was a long while before I read another issue book.Mary @ BookSwarmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04099395167194720599noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-24200236841019601872013-06-14T15:57:50.000-04:002013-06-14T15:57:50.000-04:00I think darker books certainly have a place in YA....I think darker books certainly have a place in YA. Books are an important avenue by which readers can learn about different issues, understand them and truly empathize with people going through such difficult things. I've read Wintergirls, which certainly profoundly affected me. I've also read Speak, which hurt my heart.Alexa S.https://www.blogger.com/profile/13185723439360170259noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-49763456883868036012013-06-14T14:42:51.218-04:002013-06-14T14:42:51.218-04:00I definitely agree that issue books have their pla...I definitely agree that issue books have their place in YA. It's good to educate teens about these kinds of things. It's as simple as that. The only issue book I've read from your list is Raw Blue- which I just recently finished- and while I didn't love it quite as much as some, I did enjoy it and thought it had a great message. <br /><br />Lovely post, thanks for sharing! <3<br /><br />-Aneeqah @ <a href="http://mynotsorealife.blogspot.com" rel="nofollow">My Not So Real Life</a>Aneeqahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13352395407424623520noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-37260517957770724062013-06-14T13:35:39.916-04:002013-06-14T13:35:39.916-04:00I tend to stay away from issue books because I'...I tend to stay away from issue books because I'm basically a giant coward, but Raw Blue is one of my all time favorites, and I HAVE just ordered Life Is But a Dream after reading a friend's review.<br />My last issue book was A Trick of the Light by Lois Metzger... not for everyone since it's a bit weird, but I really liked it. Maybe I'll step out of my comfort zone a bit more often. Then again, maybe not. :DMaja (The Nocturnal Library)https://www.blogger.com/profile/14276646316400863181noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-90463764518225828062013-06-14T12:47:42.863-04:002013-06-14T12:47:42.863-04:00I love darker books simply because when written we...I love darker books simply because when written well, they really reach out to a minority audience and also educate the masses. Not to mention I kind of love having my heart broken, like with Raw Blue, but that's probably just me... ;) Keertanahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01071392026876644282noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-5733204886172920422013-06-14T10:58:05.482-04:002013-06-14T10:58:05.482-04:00Well put, Nick. I think I like the darker books be...Well put, Nick. I think I like the darker books because I actually get a glimpse at something beyond myself, but I definitely understand why some people like fluffier books, too, you know? Melissa (i swim for oceans)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06840790603713851746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-21324383824250856952013-06-14T10:37:50.026-04:002013-06-14T10:37:50.026-04:00Amen to that, Jenny! It's almost like censorsh...Amen to that, Jenny! It's almost like censorship. We have the choice whether or not we want to read them, so butt out of other people's decisions, eh?Melissa (i swim for oceans)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06840790603713851746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-12366769297127765892013-06-14T10:22:36.258-04:002013-06-14T10:22:36.258-04:00I love issue books because I always feel like I le...I love issue books because I always feel like I learn something from them. I do feel like I haven't read too many of them, to be honest and I will look into your list, if ever I want to try more out.<br /><br />While I do love issue books, I feel like I need to be in the mood to be able to read them. Sometimes, reading these dark books leave me in such a bad/depressed mood for days because of how emotionally invested I become in the characters, especially if the ending is not all that bright and shiny.<br /><br />I definitely think that dark YA books are important and they should be classified as YA itself and not just for mature audiences. Like I said, I'm 20 and still learn something everytime I read a dark YA book, so it's important for teenagers as well as adults to be exposed to such material because it could potentially be quite helpful in their lives. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-16408532291081337532013-06-14T10:21:16.297-04:002013-06-14T10:21:16.297-04:00I'm with you Melissa, I definitely think the d...I'm with you Melissa, I definitely think the darker YA reads have a place. Just like the light and fluffy books. Or the LGBT books. I love that there's such a wide range of topics available to people, and the beautiful thing about it is we all have a choice. If you don't think darker books are appropriate? That's completely fine, don't read them. But leave them there for others who might walk away from them having learned something about themselves, or found comfort because someone else understands what it is they're going through.Jennyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14199685365145765394noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-54932909131933071062013-06-14T09:15:59.305-04:002013-06-14T09:15:59.305-04:00I'm an adult that loves YA! Haha but seriously...I'm an adult that loves YA! Haha but seriously, I agree...they're important, and I think they help inspire a love of reading. That's unparalleled. Melissa (i swim for oceans)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06840790603713851746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-60812510677731392122013-06-14T08:55:52.787-04:002013-06-14T08:55:52.787-04:00I agree that dark YA books are important to read. ...I agree that dark YA books are important to read. These are the books that have the most important life lessons and which I'll never tire of reading. I also believe that it's incorrect for people to say that they only target teenagers. I know many adults that love to read YA books :)Kris @Imaginary Readshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13550965344184687023noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-39828589324211789632013-06-14T07:52:26.826-04:002013-06-14T07:52:26.826-04:00Thanks, Hannah! I put your link up in the linky so...Thanks, Hannah! I put your link up in the linky so everyone else can visit your post, as well! :) Melissa (i swim for oceans)https://www.blogger.com/profile/06840790603713851746noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-120760076447564855.post-12557328623297508832013-06-14T04:19:04.224-04:002013-06-14T04:19:04.224-04:00I wrote out a massive comment in reply to this, an...I wrote out a massive comment in reply to this, and then realised I should just post it on my blog! <br /><br /><a href="http://thelemonadelibrary.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/lets-talk-darker-books-on-ya-market.html" rel="nofollow">My Let's Talk post</a>Hannah @ The Redhead Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16934482351677337083noreply@blogger.com