As with most forms of entertainment, books are divided into categories based upon age and “maturity level”. You have children’s books, middle grade novels, young adult (YA), new adult and adult. Each book has a nice little category that it supposedly fits into that is marketed and for a specific age group.

This age categorization begs the question: can you read outside your age group? Will you even enjoy books outside your age group? Are you dumbing yourself down by reading below your age group?

The answer is: absolutely! As with everything, age is just a number. Two people of the same exact age can have two completely different maturity levels and therefore are able to read different books marketed for different age groups. Maturity is such a personal thing, as is what you wish to read about. It’s perfectly acceptable for a 40 year old women to read YA fiction if that’s what she chooses. It’s all about preference and comfort level when it comes to reading, and not as much about the actual age divisions and distinctions.

And, the great thing about book age ratings is that the rating is mainly based on the age of the main character. Of course sex, violence and language are factored in, but the main determinant is something as simple as protagonist age. An example of this is "A Court of Mist and Fury" by Sarah J. Maas. This book is pretty saucy and has some steamy sex scenes; however, because the main character is only 19, the book is still considered YA.

Despite all this, it really is up to the reader to know their choice of reading material and what they are comfortable reading and what is appropriate for them. If you begin reading something and are not comfortable or okay with the subject matter or content, it is up to you to put the book away. Read what you want and never feel pressured to stick to a certain age group or even to read beyond a certain age group.