This was very informative! I've been a bit confused about who YA is meant for because of what gets mis-categorized, and because of conversations I've seen that make YA synonymous with dark romance - I've even seen adult books described as YA as a pejorative, which feels unfair because it implies that YA has poor or simple writing ... anyway, this video clears up a lot. Interesting observations you made about how a book can have a child or teen protagonist but still be aimed toward adult readers, who are reflecting on that time of life (It and Demon Copperhead sound like they're worth checking out); vs aimed at teenage readers, dealing with themes of identity and evolving as people, and that they thematically differ from children's middle grade books which deal with getting back to the status quo... I don't often seek out YA books, because a lot of them don't look appealing for my current personal tastes, but those three you mentioned at the end (Blood at the Root, Cemetery Boys, Iron Widow) all sound interesting enough that I might give them a try!
@@MissWascallyWabbit thanks! And yeah, it’s an interesting category for sure. I enjoy YA, books, but the online discourse surrounding it can be frustrating, especially when folks assume YA means spicy dark romance.
I'm SUPER selective about the YA books that I read (most of which I have purchased by accident). I tend to stay away from YA and NA in general but occasionally I will revisit a childhood classic, purely for nostalgia's sake (think Winnie the Pooh, Charlotte's Web, The Princess Bride, etc.) But where YA and NA are concerned, I find (of course, I am judging without knowing anything or reading any of them - but I imagine) that I am (or would be) quickly bored with the storylines and character development, being so far removed from that age myself. I think it's also out of a fear of not being able to relate to the tale. When I was in my 20's, I made the mistake of reading Tamora Pierce and I was WAAAAY too old for it at the time, and I did it, because social media instructed me to read children's stories as a way to expand my reading journey. Since that was such a mistake, I have stayed away from it and anything that isn't marketed to adults ever since. Lol. I don't know if there's any hope for me, lol.
@@pallor17 nah, there’s nothing wrong with that! The few YA and NA books I’ve read recently haven’t really resonated with me, much. There are a few books here and there that I do enjoy, but quite often, female protagonists don’t have much agency, and just react to what’s happening too them. I much prefer books where the hero or heroine has a goal, so I usually only dip into YA on occasion
It’s interesting when I was a teen I more chose to read adult fiction - now in my 50s I’m more interested in YA than I was then - although YA wasn’t a category in the same way necessarily back then. Thus the meme about GenXers carrying trauma from reading Stephen King too young (and for girls, also VC Andrews). I think maybe it is important for people to know that Twilight is LDS anti-sex propaganda. That said the author is GREAT at pacing - I just wished she could write dialogue. But it was compelling, no question.
That “new” or “emerging” adult category I’ve heard is essentially YA books with more explicit sex. Like Fourth Wing. Which literally read like YA to the point that while reading it I googled whether or not it was YA (I bought it because of the dragons, I didn’t do extensive research 😂) and then was VERY surprised when the sex was so explicit. But it was explicit between “college age” characters who felt like high schoolers in maturity. And then I read that the author primarily writes YA and it all made sense. Sort of. The male-female relationships in that book felt creepy even aside from the sex.
@@bluecobaltsteph2689 yeah, Fourth Wing and Lore of the Wilds are books that blur the categories. They’re written like YA, but feature 20-something characters and the explicit sex comes out of nowhere, and feels like it was just shoehorned in.
@@bluecobaltsteph2689 Twilight is ABSOLUTELY Mormon propaganda. When I reread it now, it’s mostly to chuckle at it while shaking my head. My favourite characters are Charlie, Alice, and Carlisle. The main trio are just teenage drama explosions, haha
This was very informative! I've been a bit confused about who YA is meant for because of what gets mis-categorized, and because of conversations I've seen that make YA synonymous with dark romance - I've even seen adult books described as YA as a pejorative, which feels unfair because it implies that YA has poor or simple writing ... anyway, this video clears up a lot.
Interesting observations you made about how a book can have a child or teen protagonist but still be aimed toward adult readers, who are reflecting on that time of life (It and Demon Copperhead sound like they're worth checking out); vs aimed at teenage readers, dealing with themes of identity and evolving as people, and that they thematically differ from children's middle grade books which deal with getting back to the status quo...
I don't often seek out YA books, because a lot of them don't look appealing for my current personal tastes, but those three you mentioned at the end (Blood at the Root, Cemetery Boys, Iron Widow) all sound interesting enough that I might give them a try!
@@MissWascallyWabbit thanks! And yeah, it’s an interesting category for sure. I enjoy YA, books, but the online discourse surrounding it can be frustrating, especially when folks assume YA means spicy dark romance.
I'm SUPER selective about the YA books that I read (most of which I have purchased by accident). I tend to stay away from YA and NA in general but occasionally I will revisit a childhood classic, purely for nostalgia's sake (think Winnie the Pooh, Charlotte's Web, The Princess Bride, etc.) But where YA and NA are concerned, I find (of course, I am judging without knowing anything or reading any of them - but I imagine) that I am (or would be) quickly bored with the storylines and character development, being so far removed from that age myself. I think it's also out of a fear of not being able to relate to the tale. When I was in my 20's, I made the mistake of reading Tamora Pierce and I was WAAAAY too old for it at the time, and I did it, because social media instructed me to read children's stories as a way to expand my reading journey. Since that was such a mistake, I have stayed away from it and anything that isn't marketed to adults ever since. Lol. I don't know if there's any hope for me, lol.
@@pallor17 nah, there’s nothing wrong with that! The few YA and NA books I’ve read recently haven’t really resonated with me, much. There are a few books here and there that I do enjoy, but quite often, female protagonists don’t have much agency, and just react to what’s happening too them. I much prefer books where the hero or heroine has a goal, so I usually only dip into YA on occasion
It’s interesting when I was a teen I more chose to read adult fiction - now in my 50s I’m more interested in YA than I was then - although YA wasn’t a category in the same way necessarily back then. Thus the meme about GenXers carrying trauma from reading Stephen King too young (and for girls, also VC Andrews).
I think maybe it is important for people to know that Twilight is LDS anti-sex propaganda. That said the author is GREAT at pacing - I just wished she could write dialogue. But it was compelling, no question.
Legendborn sounds great!
That “new” or “emerging” adult category I’ve heard is essentially YA books with more explicit sex. Like Fourth Wing. Which literally read like YA to the point that while reading it I googled whether or not it was YA (I bought it because of the dragons, I didn’t do extensive research 😂) and then was VERY surprised when the sex was so explicit. But it was explicit between “college age” characters who felt like high schoolers in maturity. And then I read that the author primarily writes YA and it all made sense. Sort of. The male-female relationships in that book felt creepy even aside from the sex.
I would strongly recommend The Bumblebee Flies Anyways and The Boy who Could Make Himself Disappear as short older YA. If you can find them.
@@bluecobaltsteph2689 yeah, Fourth Wing and Lore of the Wilds are books that blur the categories. They’re written like YA, but feature 20-something characters and the explicit sex comes out of nowhere, and feels like it was just shoehorned in.
@@bluecobaltsteph2689 Twilight is ABSOLUTELY Mormon propaganda. When I reread it now, it’s mostly to chuckle at it while shaking my head. My favourite characters are Charlie, Alice, and Carlisle. The main trio are just teenage drama explosions, haha