Let's be clear: Even if you are an adult there is no shame in loving young adult literature! YA literature is great because of the fast-moving plots and diverse, relatable protagonists.

According to Bucknell University's English literature professor, Virginia Zimmerman, "To come of age is perhaps the most common ground there could be among readers. Adults recognize it as something they've been through, but they also recognize it as something of a fantasy. It suggests some sort of stable existence. And as adults, we know that we continue to change, continue to come of age."

According to a study done by Publisher's Weekly, an estimated percent of YA books are bought and read by adults. The YA world has blown up, especially over the past decade. Over 10,000 YA books came out in 2012 compared to about 4,700 books in 2002. The young adult literature marketplace is thriving!

Here are 6 YA books that have changed how I see things, events, and people. These are the YA books that have impacted my life in some way.