I've spent a lot of time with those in their late teens to early twenties, the 16 - 22 age group, because I've been very active in fandoms like Harry Potter for the last few years. Other than Harry Potter, honestly, they're reading the "adult" fiction. I met one girl who, at 14, told me her favorite books were Anne Rice's Beauty series. And then I meet adults who read Potter and Twilight. The thing is though, half the books on the 'teen' shelves are adult fantasy and sci-fi. The Hobbit may have been written for children, but the trilogy wasn't. When I was a teenager, I was already long past 'teen' books and well into Amber, Shakespeare, and Dragonlance.
I think the difference is going to be writing style, though, to a degree. Even in those teen novels that don't seem to be writing down to their audience, the level of language is not the same as in 'adult' fare, for the most part. I read them as something that's good for a quick read, an afternoon's entertainment. But for the most part writers for teens don't take risks for the most part and I like a story and a writer who take risks, both with the characters/plot and the structure/language. And the kids/teens I know who read them like having something different, something that doesn't necessarily parrot the same teen dramas they already see every day in school.
I think the first quote from the thirteen year old in that article probably speaks more to the real reason behind an increase in teens reading, though. Todays' television and movies aren't worth much, remakes upon remakes upon reality game shows. Books give kids a better chance for real entertainment. (And Mum's less likely to yell 'put down that book' as often as she does 'turn that television off'.)
You also have a lot of movies and television being based on books again, particularly for kids and teens -- Harry Potter, Twilight, Narnia, Ember, even the Hobbit. I know any number of teens who have started reading these books because they enjoyed the movie or the television series (like Women's Murder Club or Blood Ties). There's also the peer pressure factor. I know, at least in parts of the Harry Potter fandom, it's a mark of pride to be able to say you were a fan of the books before the movies were made.
Of course, that's all only based on the kids I hang with, and I'll admit, those kids always strike me as more mature than their average peer. heh.
cedorsett
· 1 year ago
I am glad to hear that you are finding so much crossover. I do wonder sometimes if "young adult" has become a short hand more for "books featuring kids" or for a certain "overly imaginative" fantasy.
For me, this is a promising trend that will hopefully keep the written word alive.
The internet also has a big effect on the youth culture too. While the popularity of video sites and podcasts is undeniable, there is an abundance of text that people are consuming. The kids are IMing and TXTing each other all the time, all of which takes the stigma from reading that existed when I was in school.
I am amazed to hear all of the kids I talk to here talking to each other in terms of their MySpace blogs. They are writing to each other, and reading what they are writing. That makes it easier for writers to convince them to read their work.
But I am curious what percent of the increase in "young adult" book sales can be attributed to adults buying and reading these books.
I have to smile though at the thought that there is a peer pressure to read a book, any book, Harry Potter or not. That is a form of peer pressure I can endorse.
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I think the difference is going to be writing style, though, to a degree. Even in those teen novels that don't seem to be writing down to their audience, the level of language is not the same as in 'adult' fare, for the most part. I read them as something that's good for a quick read, an afternoon's entertainment. But for the most part writers for teens don't take risks for the most part and I like a story and a writer who take risks, both with the characters/plot and the structure/language. And the kids/teens I know who read them like having something different, something that doesn't necessarily parrot the same teen dramas they already see every day in school.
I think the first quote from the thirteen year old in that article probably speaks more to the real reason behind an increase in teens reading, though. Todays' television and movies aren't worth much, remakes upon remakes upon reality game shows. Books give kids a better chance for real entertainment. (And Mum's less likely to yell 'put down that book' as often as she does 'turn that television off'.)
You also have a lot of movies and television being based on books again, particularly for kids and teens -- Harry Potter, Twilight, Narnia, Ember, even the Hobbit. I know any number of teens who have started reading these books because they enjoyed the movie or the television series (like Women's Murder Club or Blood Ties). There's also the peer pressure factor. I know, at least in parts of the Harry Potter fandom, it's a mark of pride to be able to say you were a fan of the books before the movies were made.
Of course, that's all only based on the kids I hang with, and I'll admit, those kids always strike me as more mature than their average peer. heh.
For me, this is a promising trend that will hopefully keep the written word alive.
The internet also has a big effect on the youth culture too. While the popularity of video sites and podcasts is undeniable, there is an abundance of text that people are consuming. The kids are IMing and TXTing each other all the time, all of which takes the stigma from reading that existed when I was in school.
I am amazed to hear all of the kids I talk to here talking to each other in terms of their MySpace blogs. They are writing to each other, and reading what they are writing. That makes it easier for writers to convince them to read their work.
But I am curious what percent of the increase in "young adult" book sales can be attributed to adults buying and reading these books.
I have to smile though at the thought that there is a peer pressure to read a book, any book, Harry Potter or not. That is a form of peer pressure I can endorse.