When it comes to literature, there are many different genres. Since there are so many, it can be hard to pick a favorite or to not judge a lot of them. So often I see this appear with Young Adult (YA) literature. The main age range for this genre goes from 12 to about 19 years old depending on the work.

So often I see YA books being discarded or not put on to read lists just because of the genre that they are in. Just because a book may be a YA book, does not mean that the book isn't going to be a great book. YA books have gotten a bad rap because of things like "Twilight" or "Divergent" and have become a genre that is only seen as typical love stories or stories about teenagers who have to save a dying world, yet there is so much more to YA books than that.

There are so many YA books that I have personally read that have been able to discuss so many more topics that just love stories. Anywhere from mystery to just real life situations, YA can cover so many things that can be relatable to so many people. This concept is similar to how J.R.R. Tolkien felt about fairy tales.

He believed that fairy tales were not solely for kids and that they can and should be read by adults as well. The same goes for YA Literature, just because it is centered towards teenagers, does not be that it only has to be read by teenagers.

Whether you already enjoy YA literature or not, don't be hesitant to pick up a YA book next time you are at the store and take a gamble on it. Sometimes the books that you never expected to like become some of your favorites. There is a well known saying that says don't judge a book by its cover and that is something that should be taken to heart.

Also, even if you personally do not like reading YA literature, do not judge someone because they do, no matter their age. I have seen directly and indirectly people judge each other for the book that they are reading. Each to his own when it comes to reading.

According to an article in "The Atlantic,"These books are about coming of age and we're still coming of age." This point is so key to this whole article. No matter if we are 13 or 25, there are still coming of age stories that we can all relate to. Whether it be something we are currently facing or something we have already faced, a lot of the concepts in YA can translate to a lot of people.

In the end, YA literature, even though it is geared toward young adults, can be read and enjoyed by so many people. So, don't be afraid to grab one off of the shelf next time you need a new book to read. You never know what you might find.