When I first went to college, I learned that young adult novels were seen by my upperclassmen as cliché and unworthy of time and attention. I had grown up practically devouring books from my high school library, constantly asking the librarian to order new ones. When I found my way to literature buffs at my college, however, almost every other day there was an attack on YA literature. I could understand and respect differences in taste, but I felt excluded from the group during these discussions, where any opinion other than theirs was simply wrong.
I felt bad about the fact that I liked these novels, coming to the conclusion that I was a “bad” English major and eventually coming to call my enjoyment of YA a “guilty pleasure.” However, I have learned that I should never feel bad about the things that make me happy, so here are five reasons why I love YA.
1. The Journey of Self-Discovery
Almost every YA novel is a journey of self-discovery for the main character. Stories for kids are supposed to teach a lesson, and YA books are no exception. By the end of the novel, the main character learns to stand up for themselves or that they do not have to be famous to be important or that the people around them are just people, no matter how mysterious or phenomenal they seem. As I have entered my 20s, I have begun on my own journey of self-discovery, often learning the same lessons as these characters.
2. A Break From College Reading
Some days it's nice to be able to put away my philosophy textbook and 17th century British plays and just read for fun again like I did in high school. Most young adult novels are easy to read, so I can relax rather than think too hard. As YA author Maureen Johnson said, “fun reading should not be underrated.” I still enjoy reading classics and other reading assigned for my literature classes, but everyone needs a break sometimes.
3. They're Easy to Relate To
There are very few books written about college students, and I still feel like I relate much more to teenagers than I do to adults. If I do not see my current self in a character, I can usually see my past self. I have been through many of the same situations as the teenagers in these novels, so rooting for them and crying with them comes naturally.
4. A Good Young Love Story
We all enjoy a good love story, especially a story about someone's first love. The two people are still young and innocent, with whole hearts and open minds. Everything is new territory for them, which makes for much more exciting drama. And when your own love life is falling apart (as it so often seems to do in college), it's nice to see love work out for once.
5. Constant Action
I'm not sure if it is because teenagers tend to have shorter attention spans, or if it's purely coincidental, but I have found that a good YA novel has a constantly progressing plot line, while other genres generally spend a lot more time on detail that seems to drag, causing me to put them down more often and take longer to pick them back up. When I read YA, I am looking to relax for a few hours and enjoy a good story. While I can't always keep myself from analyzing characters and deconstructing text, there is always something exciting to focus on when reading YA.
I have no doubt that there are non-YA novels with these qualities (I have read a few), but when I pick up a John Green or Maureen Johnson or Ransom Riggs novel, I can be assured that it will be tough to put down.
