Discussion- The new trend in adults reading YA books

"Hello, My name is Sally,

and I'm a YA-oholic"

This is my confession. I absolutely love YA fiction, and this obsession doesn't show any signs of stopping in the near future. I can't explain exactly why I love these books, I only know I can't get enough of them. It's something about the fantasy, the fun, the romance, and the fact they are easy to read. I read for fun, in my spare time after all. I don't need to be lectured at. 

And I like the love stories in the books as well. I feel like I can relate to these exciting new hope-filled new first romances better than to the disillusioned, often bitter experiences of love in adult chick-lit.
I also like the high-school teenagery settings. I was a teenager once and I know what it's like to be one. I can't connect with these high-powered executive women of adult fiction- quite frankly, they intimidate me. Give me a girl who is still trying to find herself and her place in the world. 

Ya fiction is usually fun, light and easy to read. I know I won't be put-off by wordiness or authors who are trying to show off with pretentious displays of complex linguistic metaphors. It won't be overly political, or trying to make a point. Children's fiction has to be grabbing, because it is aimed at an audience that will not read it if it they are not entertained. 

Recently, someone on Formspring asked me if I had ever been critisised for reading YA fiction. I answered with-

Yes. There are a couple of people at work who constantly make jibes at me for only reading "children's books". When I say that a particular teen book is absolutely fantastic, they sneer at it, and say I should read a proper book.That's one of the reasons that I started stalking Goodreads and ultimately set up my own blog- so that I could share books and get recommendations from people who read the same sort of books that I do.

I initially joined Goodreads because it seemed like a perfect place to get new book recommendations, and to chat about YA books online. I was thrilled and amazed to find so many people who had read the same books that I had. It opened my eyes to a whole new world where grown women like me read YA! I have no-one in my "real-life" to talk about "my kind of books" with, and I started my blog because I wanted to join in with this online conversation. And I love it. I'm in contact with so many people of all ages who love these books and don't judge my taste in books- they share them!

Recently I attended a couple of author signings from some of my absolute favourite YA authors. I was a little bit nervous about going to the first one. I kind of expected it to be just me a bunch of teenagers in line- but I was really pleasantly surprised to find that actually, nearly everyone there was my age or older. If I had to guess I would say that most of the room was in the 25-40 age bracket. This trend in adults reading YA has really taken off in a big way in the past couple of years. I have found quite a few online articles talking about this very thing.

http://suite101.com/article/ya-books-gain-adult-readers-a47267

YA Book Sales Increasing Despite a General Decrease in Overall Book Sales
From a publisher's standpoint, it is clear that YA books are selling better than their adult counterparts. According to the Book Industry Study Group, sales of YA books have increased by 23 percent since 1993 while adult book sales have decreased in the same time period by one percent. Clearly there are a lot of people reading and buying YA books, and for the publishers this is a good thing.

The bottom line is that YA is more a point-of-view as opposed to a particular age demographic. They are fun, light and easy to digest.

 http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-et-young-adult8-2010mar08,0,1082099.story

It used to be that the only adults who read young adult literature were those who had a vested interest -- teachers or librarians or parents who either needed or wanted to keep an eye on developing readers' tastes.
But increasingly, adults are reading YA books with no ulterior motives. Attracted by well-written, fast-paced and engaging stories that span the gamut of genres and subjects, such readers have mainstreamed a niche long derided as just for kids.
Thanks to huge crossover hits like Stephenie Meyer's bloodsucking "Twilight" saga, Suzanne Collins' fight-to-the-death "The Hunger Games" trilogy, Rick Riordan's "The Lightning Thief" and Markus Zusak's Nazi-era "The Book Thief," YA is one of the few bright spots in an otherwise bleak publishing market.

"I think part of the reason we're seeing adults reading YA is that often there's no bones made about the fact that a YA book is explicitly intended to entertain," said Lizzie Skurnick, 36, author of Shelf Discovery. "YA authors are able to take themselves less seriously. They're able to have a little more fun, and they're less confined by this idea of themselves as Very Important Artists. That paradoxically leads them to create far better work than people who are trying to win awards." According to Skurnick, who also reviews adult fiction for publications including The Times, YA books are "more vibrant" than many adult titles, "with better plots, better characterizations, a more complete creation of a world."

 http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/home/890765-264/not_just_for_teens_.html.csp

Books for teens are designed to hook readers and keep them reading. In most cases, the first 15 pages of a YA novel introduce the protagonist(s), plot, and source of dramatic tension, something that can take nearly 50 pages in a book for adults. The emotions and motivations of the characters are front and center.

All of these articles talk about an increasing number of adults reading teen fiction, whether through word of mouth, or from being interested in what their teenage kids were reading. But they all point it as a positive thing, and an exciting new trend. Publishers report an increase in sales, and enthusiastic emails from women in their 30s and 40s who adore the characters in these books. Many books are now being called "crossover" titles, appealing to both young and older readers.
And many novels written for teenagers are now winning prestigious literary awards as well. Surely this proves that they are not only popular, but that they are GOOD, and are worthy of an audience beyond the narrowness of the young adult population.

★★★★★★★★★★★★★★★


However, I also read a blog post from a blogger a couple of weeks back that stunned and upset me. It claimed that adult book bloggers- grown women were influencing the types of books and characters that are meant to be addressed to a teenage audience.
http://bookreviewsandenglishnews.blogspot.co.uk/2012/04/taking-ya-away-from-kids.html

There's a clique of book bloggers who all say pretty much the same thing about the same books: these women (and all the blogs I've seen that fall into this category are run by people who claim to be women) are taking YA away from the kids, and it's causing teachers and librarians problems.
We all know that publishers are in a dither right now to retain their control over their world.  They are up against self-publishing and e-books, and everything's in a whirlwind with no one really able to guess the outcome. They are desperate, and thus they are letting grown women become their "kids."

I'm not sure I completely agree with this statement. I think it hugely overestimates the influence that bloggers have on what publishers choose to publish. But it also the went to say-

Now, it's no secret that lots and lots of women read romance novels for fantasy reasons.  But before Meyer, these romance novels were usually about adult men and women. It is not uncommon now for blogging women to write about "hot" teenage guys.  I've seen discussions about sexy TEEN male characters over and over again.  And we know of the existence of Twilight moms who lust after the young characters in Twilight... And this lusting after sexy fictional teen boys is ruining all the good that Rowling did for kids.Look, I think it's fine if women want to read romance -- even teen romance, even lusting after sexy fictional teen boys.  (I feel a little bad for their husbands/boyfriends, though.)

 Whoa! Hang on! Thanks so much for making me feel like a right pervert now(!). I know in the past I have gushed over characters like Jay in the Body Finder series, Ren from The Tiger's Curse, Adam in If I Stay, and Jacob in the Twilight series, but they are characters! It's not like I go lusting after 17 year old boys in real life! They are fictional characters! I love the way that their personality and actions are described in a fictional novel. I think that Jay is so good for Violet in the novel. Maybe it's more like their essence appeals to my own 17-year old self- that I wish that I had known someone like that when I was that age. I love the fact that in stories we can immerse ourselves in an imagination. I can't explain it, but when I gush over boys in books I am not really connecting them to my real world.

We've got all these women in the book blogging clique influencing publishers now.  They advertise and promote on their blogs, and they all act alike and promote the same things, ignoring other types of YA.  So, desperate publishers kiss up to them and give them more and more of the same stuff.And those publishers are not giving us much for kids anymore.  The kids can go to heck, as far as the desperate publishers are concerned.  If these ADULT women who want to read about sexy teenage boys are buying books and selling books for them, then that is the group to whom they will cater.

What? I actually completely disagree with this statement. But it got me to thinking- am I actually in the wrong here? I love reading YA and I love writing about books I have loved on my blog, and talking and sharing great YA books with other like minded people. But should YA fiction just be for the young adults of the world? Is it okay for an almost 30-year old woman like myself to love these stories? Or should I be listening to the scorn of some of my workmates and go back to reading proper "grown-up books" again? The Man Booker prize titles? But they look so dry!
 Is the new popular trend of YA actually hurting publishing? Are these books worthy, or is the fact that so many adults love these books a sign (as some people have claimed) of "dumbing down"?

Please let me know your thoughts. If you write a response or a discussion post on this subject please leave me a link to let me know.

I personally am going to keep reading the books that I enjoy, regardless. Do you read YA books? Why?

Thanks for reading.

And stop by on Monday, where I have YA author Sherry Soule stopping by, with a guest post to share why she loves YA books, and which authors have had an influence on her.

Married With Zombies scavenger hunt readalong week 3

This is week 3 of the Married With Zombies scavenger hunt readalong. Todays questions are hosted by Loretta at Between The Pages.

Chapters 11-15

1.) In Chapter 11 Sarah, Dave & Amanda were rushed by 4 zombies. At this time Sarah screams something. 

SHOW ME YOURS!! Don't have one? That is ok, show me what you would grab outside to protect yourself!!

I don't have a gun, so if I was fleeing to my car I'd have to use a large branch, or hurl some rocks or something to defend myself.

Or run faster!









2.) At the end of Chapter 12 they are saved by someone looking very "Underworld" awesome. Let me see your best "Slay em' Gear" 
.. don't forget to add your weapons!!




I have skinny jeans, high boots and a leather jacket perfect for slaying zombies.

This is my best Buffy/ Underworld/ Tough Girl pose- honest!
Do I look angry? Grr!

In all honesty I'm more likely to accidentally drop that knife on my own foot than do any damage with it!















3.) Near the end of Chapter 13 Sarah finds something under the seat to help Dave, that she saved for whenever the need gave in.  What was it? "Strike" your best pose!


(Oh, I am woefully under-prepared for when the zombies attack). Again- I don't have lighter- but I do have matches. If only the damn things wouldn't keep going out...

4.) Nothing very "action pic" happens in Chapters 14 & 15. So this is where you can show me what car you would pic to ride around town, trying to survive. This can totally be a "Google" pic or you can go find one!! Think outside the box!


Right- I actually googled this question, "which car would be best for a zombie attack?" and there was actually a lot of good advice- including "You don't want a pick-up truck, because zombies might cling onto the back". Duly noted...
I would go for something like this-

It has to be large to fit in a lot of supplies- you need space to be able to sleep in it too, and we know that the zombies are crafty and will put things across the road to stop you- so it has to be able to cope with some off-road driving. 

5.) How are you enjoying the book so FAR?!!!


Yeah, loving it so far- It's starting to get a lot more action packed, but still funny, and I love how David and Sarah are communicating better and growing closer together.

From The Review Pile #4

From The Review Pile is a weekly meme hosted by Stephanie at Stepping Out Of The Page, where bloggers and reviewers can showcase all those books received for review that we really want to read, but haven't managed to get around to reading yet.

How amazing does this book sound?! It's a steampunk sci-fi novel full of people with strange and peculiar abilities, set in an alternate 1800s world. The main character is part goblin! I love the sound of this book, but I won't get around to reading it for a couple of months yet- my TBR pile is toppling over. (And just look at that cover- awesome!)

The Peculiars by Maureen Doyle McQuerry

Goodreads
This dark and thrilling adventure, with an unforgettable heroine, will captivate fans of steampunk, fantasy, and romance. On her 18th birthday, Lena Mattacascar decides to search for her father, who disappeared into the northern wilderness of Scree when Lena was young. Scree is inhabited by Peculiars, people whose unusual characteristics make them unacceptable to modern society. Lena wonders if her father is the source of her own extraordinary characteristics and if she, too, is Peculiar. On the train she meets a young librarian, Jimson Quiggley, who is traveling to a town on the edge of Scree to work in the home and library of the inventor Mr. Beasley. The train is stopped by men being chased by the handsome young marshal Thomas Saltre. When Saltre learns who Lena’s father is, he convinces her to spy on Mr. Beasley and the strange folk who disappear into his home, Zephyr House. A daring escape in an aerocopter leads Lena into the wilds of Scree to confront her deepest fears.


Published 1st May 2012

Has anyone read it already? What did you think?

Review: City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare

City of Lost Souls by Cassandra Clare



My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Source: Bought


Synopsis from Goodreads:
The demon Lilith has been destroyed and Jace has been freed from her captivity. But when the Shadowhunters arrive to rescue him, they find only blood and broken glass. Not only is the boy Clary loves missing–but so is the boy she hates, Sebastian, the son of her father Valentine: a son determined to succeed where their father failed, and bring the Shadowhunters to their knees.

No magic the Clave can summon can locate either boy, but Jace cannot stay away—not from Clary. When they meet again Clary discovers the horror Lilith’s dying magic has wrought—Jace is no longer the boy she loved. He and Sebastian are now bound to each other, and Jace has become what he most feared: a true servant of Valentine’s evil. The Clave is determined to destroy Sebastian, but there is no way to harm one boy without destroying the other. Will the Shadowhunters hesitate to kill one of their own?

Only a small band of Clary and Jace’s friends and family believe that Jace can still be saved — and that the fate of the Shadowhunters’ future may hinge on that salvation. They must defy the Clave and strike out on their own. Alec, Magnus, Simon and Isabelle must work together to save Jace: bargaining with the sinister Faerie Queen, contemplating deals with demons, and turning at last to the Iron Sisters, the reclusive and merciless weapons makers for the Shadowhunters, who tell them that no weapon on this earth can sever the bond between Sebastian and Jace. Their only chance of cutting Jace free is to challenge Heaven and Hell — a risk that could claim any, or all, of their lives.

And they must do it without Clary. For Clary has gone into the heart of darkness, to play a dangerous game utterly alone. The price of losing the game is not just her own life, but Jace’s soul. She’s willing to do anything for Jace, but can she even still trust him? Or is he truly lost? What price is too high to pay, even for love?

Darkness threatens to claim the Shadowhunters in the harrowing fifth book of the Mortal Instruments series.

Book 5 in the Mortal Instruments series
Cassandra Clare can do no wrong. All of her books are amazing, City of Lost Souls is A-mazing! She has again delivered a novel that is emotional, exciting, funny, heartbreaking and clever.

When I picked up this book I easily slipped back into the world of my favourite demon hunters. This is the new epic battle between good and evil. I love the world of this story, packed with shadowhunters, werewolves, vampires, plotting faeries, and warlocks. And a whole back history, with political intrigue, changing alliances, secrets and mysteries. But all the different pieces of the story fit together so well.

I love that there is a great depth of emotion in this book. The relationships between the characters are developing and growing more intense, and with the dangerous lives they lead there are so many problems and the realisation that everything is so fragile. The feeling throughout the story is powerful.

I love the focus on all the relationships in this book. Alec and Magnus, Isabelle and Simon, Maia and Jordan, Jocelyn and Luke. But most heartbreaking is Clary and Jace. Jace has been kidnapped by Sebastian and is under a spell where he barely recognises his friends and is not himself. I spent a good portion of this book feeling so sorry for Clary as she struggles with losing "her" Jace, even while he is right in front of her. Clary is so much tougher in this book, and prepared to do what needs to be done.

Sebastian in this book proves that he is completely beyond redemption. You can try to understand him up to a point- he had a tough childhood, but no, his actions in this book just show that he is completely evil and needs to be stopped. He becomes the real arch-villian in this book, and his plots and schemes are really diabolical.

One of the best parts of this series for me is the snappy sarcastic one-liners. This book is infused with humour, despite being dark, scary and at times genuinely heart-breaking. There are so many quoteable passages, bits that melted my heart and bits that made me giggle. This series is exciting and so cool- bring on the next book! (And the films!)

Review: Unravelling by Elizabeth Norris

Unravelling by Elizabeth Norris

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Source: Audiobook


Synopsis from Goodreads:
Two days before the start of her junior year, seventeen-year-old Janelle Tenner is hit by a pickup truck and killed—as in blinding light, scenes of her life flashing before her, and then nothing. Except the next thing she knows, she’s opening her eyes to find Ben Michaels, a loner from her high school whom Janelle has never talked to, leaning over her. And even though it isn’t possible, Janelle knows—with every fiber of her being—that Ben has somehow brought her back to life.

But her reincarnation, and Ben’s possible role in it, is only the first of the puzzles that Janelle must solve. While snooping in her FBI-agent father’s files for clues about her accident, she uncovers a clock that seems to be counting down to something—but to what? And when someone close to Janelle is killed, she can no longer deny what’s right in front of her: Everything that’s happened—the accident, the murder, the countdown clock, Ben’s sudden appearance in her life—points to the end of life as she knows it. And as the clock ticks down, she realizes that if she wants to put a stop to the end of the world, she’s going to need to uncover Ben’s secrets—and keep from falling in love with him in the process.

From debut author Elizabeth Norris comes this shattering novel of one girl’s fight to save herself, her world, and the one boy she never saw coming.

WOW!
Loved this- exciting, powerful and cleverly brilliant.

Wow, this book was so good! Unravelling is an absolutely fantastic book that I can only describe as an intense and exciting sci-fi thriller. This had so many unexpected twists and turns that it always shocked me, and always felt like the novel was something new and different.

Janelle's father works for the FBI, and she and her friend Alex are always trying to find out what he is working on, and to offer up theories. When her father's team finds a weaponised device that appears to be counting down, and Janelle has a mysterious near death experience, it originally seems to be linked.

The countdown throughout the book (for the first half of the book we don't know what exactly it is counting down to) gives the story a constant element of tension and paciness. It is always thrilling, and there is always something happening, and some new revelation.

I loved how there was so many different things going on. There are so many different threads of the story- different mysteries, and flashbacks to the past, and I loved how they were all cleverly interconnected as the book went on.

Janelle has had to deal with a lot- her mother's depression, looking after her younger brother, and helping out her dad, all while working hard at school, and working a part time job, and yet she is such a strong character- feisty and smart, and I loved her stubborness and how she tackled each problem head-on. She doesn't seem to let anyone get her down. If there is someone at school who she doesn't like, doesn't agree with, or doesn't respect, she just doesn't pay them any attention. She has her close friends and her family and that's all she needs.

Ben is a character that seems to change and grow as we learn more about him. He is initially described as one of the school's loner pot-heads, that Janelle has never really spoken to, but as his version of events and truth about him starts to come out, he is actually one of the best characters I've ever read. I can't say more about him without giving spoilers, but his stuggle and his guilt for his actions in the past have brought him down very low. He has always kept an eye on Janelle, and looked out for her, even when she wasn't aware of it, and is just a wonderful "rough around the edges" diamond with a good heart.

This story is never what you expect- just when you think you have a theory, it'll turn around and completely surprise you. I loved the love story, the X-Files style investigations, the paranormal twist, and the tension. The ending was both romantic and tragic, and had me in floods of tears- I loved it! If you want a tense sci-fi mystery with an emotional tug- this is the one!

Alternative covers:

US cover and title.