Love Reads!

Today I was doing my usual stroll around my favorite blogs and came across a post written by one of the very insightful women at Trashionista . The post was actually linked to another post, which within it a case was stated that there has been a huge downfall in the merit of YA lit.

Now, as of this Friday I turn twenty-four so I do not consider myself that far outside YA’s demographic. I grew up during the authors supposed indication of the downfall of the genre. When I was in grade nine the first Gossip Girl (yes, it was a book) came out and I totally ate those books up. Though the occasional sexual references and swears left a little to be desired I liked what I found to be the underlying message. That message to me was, though it may seem you are unlike anyone in the troubles you face you are not alone. Sure, those girls threw around more trendy brand names then there are fish in the sea, but the troubles are always similar.

Another is a word I resent having been put into said article, and am appalled as a writer at its use is the statement that popular YA in today’s world has been ghettoized! Classics such as To Kill a Mockingbird were mentioned and though I in no way am stating those are not crucially important titles to read at some point books such as that were never meant exclusively as young adult books at the time of their publications for the most part. Take The Pigman for example by Paul Zindel. That is not as much of a classically regarded title as KAM but has in the last ten years has been on many high school and junior high reading lists for various reasons.

My point is this: Look at studies if you must or read a few of more YA and you will find on closer examination that just as the rest of the world does, these books change with the times. The messages may be presented differently and sometimes outlandishly so, but writers tend to play to what they believe their audiences would be most likely listen to. It may be put in a different way, but it is in no way GHETTO it is just different packaging.

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