Read a YA -- It Won't Kill You

Very recently, Diana Gabaldon's book AN ECHO IN THE BONE was nominated as one of the best books of 2009 over at Goodreads. This, of course, sent everyone into an uproar to vote for her. I thought it was fantastic the way people rallied behind her. That said, a comment in one of the discussions really struck a nerve with me.

Now, I don't know much about Goodreads--never been to the site before The Big Vote--and I know nothing about the readers who frequent the site. As pointed out, many of the forerunners were young adult books. In fact, I believe 7 of the top 10 books were YA. The comment that inspired this post was something along the lines of:

"I couldn't help but notice that a lot of the top books are young adult. I guess that's who's voting."

{{{Warning}}} Ranty McRant is in da HOUSE. {{{Warning}}}

As a writer of young adult novels, not to mention an avid reader of young adult novels, I take offense to this statement. I'll tell you why.

1. It implies that young adult books aren't good enough to win Best Book of 2009.
2. It implies that young adults are lacking in literary taste.
3. It implies that if a young adult book were to win Best Book of 2009 it is only because teens somehow flooded the ballot box unfairly...i.e. the book didn't win on its merits alone.
4. It implies that only teens would vote for a young adult book.

If you're thinking...Sheesh. Jen sure is touchy and reading way more into this than it warrants...you're probably right. I admit it. I hate when people harsh on YA. It's a hot button of mine. (g)

The truth of the matter is that YA gets a bad rap sometimes. I sort of liken it to category romance. When someone is trying to break into the writing biz and wants a "quick" in, they turn to what they think will be easy. In adult fiction, that's often times genre romance. And when the adult world looks a little too scary, writers often turn to YA. I mean, heck, it's just a bunch of teens dealing with boy/girl problems. How hard can it be?

{insert eye roll}

Do a little experiment with me. Next time you go into a bookstore, walk up and down every aisle. Enjoy the large general fiction area, stroll through the aisles of mysteries...the two to three aisles of romance...heck, go through the big area that houses the children's books. When you're finished with that, take a look at the one wall they give the young adult/teen books. YEP. One wall. ONE. Do you have any idea how hard it is to get on that dang wall? LOL. Trust me, it's hard.

To get on that wall, you have to have something special...something extraordinary. Most of them live up to that expectation. Pick five books at random and I'm betting you'll love most of them. That's how good young adult authors are today. On the other hand, pick five adult books at random and I doubt that will be the case. Why? Because the caliber is higher in YA simply because it has to be. That shelf space is a precious commodity, and simply having a "good story" isn't going to be enough to land you there. (Yes, I realize this touches on an issue all authors face, but one wall makes it that much harder to break in.)

I guess what irks me about this whole thing is that I think a lot of people shy away from reading young adult because they see YA books as less than adult...inferior. An embarrassment to be caught reading. Sort of like owning a Snuggie. It's okay to own one as long as no one knows...and like hell you'd be caught out in public with one.

Not me. I'm proud to say I want a Snuggie AND I read YA whenever and wherever I am. (g)

If there's one thing I'd like to impart with this post, it's that young adult books kick some serious ass. If you haven't read any in the last few years, you're missing out on some good stories. I'm not talking the mega-hits like TWILIGHT and HARRY POTTER...which of course are good...but some of the sleeper hits that are just building up momentum now. I just finished reading CATCHING FIRE by Suzanne Collins and it was probably the best book I read/listened to this year. It also happens to be number 2 on the Best Book of 2009 list.

Coincidence? Only teens voting for it? I doubt it.

Yanno how Coca-Cola wanted to teach the world to sing? Well, I'd like to teach the world to read YA. (g)

Anyone have any thoughts on this one? Am I nuts?