First of all, there are SO many reasons why I love YA. In fact there are probably more reasons than I can write in just one post. YA is an adventure just to begin, and it connects people across the world in the love of characters and their fantastic worlds. I'll try to write down just a few of the many reasons that I read almost 90% YA books...despite having left that age bracket many...MANY years ago :)
The world building. In a really good YA novel, it seems like the author takes extra time, goes that extra mile, to create a world that stands the test of time and is, for lack of a better word, amazing. Think of all of the fantastic worlds that YA authors have created. Panem, Hogwarts, The Great Divide. It's almost as if because the author is attempting to get into the mind of a teenager, they can suspend their belief easier and can use their imagination more so that a world that adults might not accept really comes across as realistic and lifelike.
The innocence of young romance. This one might make me sound a tad bit like an old fart, but hey...I gotta be honest with my lovely followers right? Well...YA brings me back to a time where things were a little simpler in romance. Right now I have so much going on in my own personal life dealing with the drama of a really intense relationship. As intense as boyfriends might seem in high school, they at least don't expect you to adopt their kids, or move with them across the country, or leave your high profile job to be a wife and mother. Sure there is drama and angst in every high school relationship, but it seems to be a lot more...well...fun...then. You don't have adult worries to sidetrack you from how much you care each other, and it makes everything seem sweeter and more real. I love going back to a time when every new kiss was a wonderful experience and that adrenaline and butterflies are everyday occurrences just when the character's crush holds her hand.
The fast-moving plots. I don't know whether it's because half of the Young Adults today have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD and they can't pay attention to something that takes a long time to read, or if it's just the style that YA has evolved into, but YA books tend to move with the pace of the road runner escaping Wil-e-coyote. For me, that's awesome. It means I can usually get into the book right away and spend an hour or two reading high-paced, super energetic, absolutely mind-blowing stories. And that rocks!
Those three are just a few...there are so many more reasons out there to love YA! Let me know a few of YOUR reasons in the comments!
I agree with the world building and fast-paces. It's so nice to have it all laid out pretty quickly and it gets you to invest in the world and the characters.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Andra!