Young Adult Fiction–Love It Or Leave It?
See that poll over there on the right?  The one about what kinds of fiction you like? Yeah, that one →→→→→→
As of this moment, 68 votes have been cast but only 5—7%— are for young adult/middle grade. Now, obviously 68 votes doesn’t make for a strong consensus and I guess it means most of my readers lean towards the mystery field. No big surprise since
I have more connections with that group of authors and readers than any others (I’d love to have more spec fic folks show up) but it does raise some questions in my mind.
For one thing, it does not reflect the sales we had when the brick & mortar Creatures ‘n Crooks was open. At least a third of our volume was in young adult and middle grade, 
bought by kids for themselves and by adults for kids and for themselves. Granted, a chunk was for Harry Potter and a smaller chunk for Twilight but there was plenty besides those behemoths. The one area where the poll does agree with the 
b&m store is the lack of interest in young adult mystery and science fiction—it was nearly all fantasy and horror/dark fantasy.
Lately, there has been debate around the internet about the validity, the legitimacy of young adult fiction which, for the purposes of discussion here, we’ll assume includes middle grade. Some feel that YA is some of the best fiction out there while others fall into the camp of thinking it’s basically a ripoff of adult fiction and at least one person (Malcolm Gladwell, gladwell.com, April 30, 2006) believes plagiarism of teen literature can’t exist because there is nothing new and
different in teen literature. (If I have misunderstood Mr. Gladwell, I apologize, but I don’t think I have.)
Is some young adult fiction derivative and cookie-cutter? Yes, of course, but so is much adult fiction and some of the greatest reading pleasure I’ve had has been in YA. There have been many times when I’ve felt the writing is lyrical or compelling, sometimes both. An author who comes to mind is Suzanne Collins with her Hunger Games series; the first two books kept me up at night and also sitting in my car for long 
periods listening to the audio because her writing is so fine and her story is “unputdownable”. Waiting for the third book in the trilogy to come out in August is nervewracking and I don’t say that about many series, adult or young adult.
Other young adult authors I find completely entertaining as well as worthwhile, for lack of a better word, include Terry Pratchett, Diana Wynne Jones, Neil Gaiman, John Marsden, Tamora Pierce, J.K. Rowling, Garth Nix, 
Richard Adams, Orson Scott Card, Brian Jacques, Philip Pullman, Charles de Lint, Maggie Stiefvater, Patricia C. Wrede, Caroline Stevermer, Robin Wayne Bailey, Kelley Armstrong, Carrie Ryan, Eoin Colfer, P.C. & Kristin Cast, Louis Sachar, Rick Riordan, Rachel Caine, Lemony Snicket, Madeleine L’Engle, Jane Yolen…well, I could go on and on.
Some of these writers cross back and forth between young adult and adult works while others are strictly young adult. The important point is that I think anyone who dismisses young adult fiction is missing a great big boat.
April 18, 2010
Posted in: Tales of a Bookseller
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6 Responses
I love your list — disagree with some of your choices, but many of those have been fixtures at our house at one time or another. My oldest daughter is now 22 and still loves Tamora Pierce. She came to our Borders many moons ago, and I took my daughter. Personally, she was kind of rude to me (at the book signing) but she was very, very nice to my daughter so I guess that was what counted. And she gave a good talk. No market for teen mysteries? I guess the days of Nancy Drew are finally dead and buried … David Curry Kahn has written YA book of action/adventure and/or suspense (which, to me, is very different from a mystery), “Her Mother’s Diary.” A teen girl (parents killed by drug lords) is on the run, and finds sanctuary, so to speak, with an old man whose wife has died and leaves him devastated. Beyond the story, teens see the value of persevering, and making good choices. Oh, and there’s some romance, too. (NOT with the old man!)
Another thing apropos of nothing — my brother lives in Fredericksburg — I’m going to send him the link to your site. Pretty sure he’ll want to give you a look someday!
This is a great list of books. Motherhood includes helping your child find good books to read. As a grandmother, I’ve already bought several of these for my grandchildren. I remember reading Watership Down and I really enjoyed it.
Liz, the funny thing is Nancy Drew is NOT dead but it’s not usually the kids reading them. We sold Nancy and the Hardy Boys to a few kids but mostly to adults re-living their childhoods and they frequently wanted the pre-politically corrected editions.
I’m shocked that Tamora Pierce was rude to you. I’ve never met her but I wonder if she just does better with teens than adults. Not an excuse, of course.
I hadn’t heard of David Curry Kahn but thanks for the tip—I’ll check him out.
And thank you for recommending this site to your brother
Carol, anything you can get kids interested in reading is a small battle won.
I think Malcom Gladwell is sadly mistaken. Your list of authors is a great one. I would add Heather Brewer, who has completely turned my step-son on to reading at the age of 12, and Judy Blume who certainly inspired me to write as a young woman. There is so much richness and uniqueness in Young Adult and Middle Grade work. I wonder if Mr. Gladwell actually reads young adult literature?
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