Lost in the Stacks 2: Young at Heart

Marissa, a listener in the U.S., asks: “Is young adult fic something that adults should be reading too?”

An excellent question, Marissa, and thank you for giving me a topic for this month’s episode of “Lost in the Stacks.” The is the kind of listener interaction that keeps me going….

Young adult fiction is big business for writers and publishers these days – kids are reading more than ever, and a lot of them have money just itching to be spent. This is one way to not only get young people interested in reading, but to challenge their minds and opinions on the issues that they face in their lives – divorce, abuse, loneliness, the search for meaning, love and friendship. There are so many topics that apply to young readers that the value of young adult literature for teenagers is almost a given.

But what about adults? Why are there communities of adults who enjoy YA literature, and should they be enjoying it? What does this kind of writing bring to the adult reader that more “grown-up” literature can’t?

For my take on it, take a listen to this month’s episode. If you have thoughts on the topic, I would love to hear them – that’s what the comments section is for, after all!

Enjoy!

References:

• Ernie Bond, The History of YA Literature; Salisbury University
• Michael Cart, The Value of Young Adult Literature; Young Adult Library Services Association, ALA.org, January 2008
• Forever Young Adult
• Cecelia Goodnow, Teens Buying Books at Fastest Rate in Decades; SeattlePI, 7 March 2007
• Industry Statistics 2009; The Association of American Publishers
• The Invention of the Teenager; U.S. History.org
• The Newbery Medal Home Page; The Association for Library Service to Children, ALA.org
• Jamie Reno, Generation R (R Is for Reader); Newsweek.com, 14 May, 2008
• Young-adult fiction; Wikipedia