Re: Young Adult Fiction
Posted: April 16th, 2010, 12:51 pm
I love this discussion :)
I genuinely think that many adults get hung up on this idea that teens are children. They're not. They're young, but they're not on the same playing field as pre-pubescent kids. Nowhere close, actually. The decade between 10 and 20 is full of so many changes, and they're happening not only year to year, but practically month to month. When I think of the changes I went through from 11-12, 13-14, 15-16... it's staggering. How could I change that much in so little time???
YA literature bridges the gap between where pre-teens and teens were, where they currently are, and where they will be. I was reading about sex, drugs and eating disorders at 12 years old. I wasn't experiencing it, but I was interested and I already had friends who were affected by those issues. Reading about it didn't do anything but inform me about the wider world - it didn't inspire me to rush out and have sex, or try drugs. It didn't "ruin my innocence," which I think is a concern with a lot of adults. I'm not a fan of that mindset. Knowledge is power, not corruption.
At 12 and 13, my best friend was already having sex, drinking, and smoking pot. I didn't do any of these things until I was well into college.The teenage experience is SO wide and SO varied that it can't be captured in some sort of "standard" for the literature. Maturity in that age group can range anywhere from grade-school goofiness to shouldering the responsibilities of a 30-year old. I love that YA is so diverse. They're truly is something for everyone.
I genuinely think that many adults get hung up on this idea that teens are children. They're not. They're young, but they're not on the same playing field as pre-pubescent kids. Nowhere close, actually. The decade between 10 and 20 is full of so many changes, and they're happening not only year to year, but practically month to month. When I think of the changes I went through from 11-12, 13-14, 15-16... it's staggering. How could I change that much in so little time???
YA literature bridges the gap between where pre-teens and teens were, where they currently are, and where they will be. I was reading about sex, drugs and eating disorders at 12 years old. I wasn't experiencing it, but I was interested and I already had friends who were affected by those issues. Reading about it didn't do anything but inform me about the wider world - it didn't inspire me to rush out and have sex, or try drugs. It didn't "ruin my innocence," which I think is a concern with a lot of adults. I'm not a fan of that mindset. Knowledge is power, not corruption.
At 12 and 13, my best friend was already having sex, drinking, and smoking pot. I didn't do any of these things until I was well into college.The teenage experience is SO wide and SO varied that it can't be captured in some sort of "standard" for the literature. Maturity in that age group can range anywhere from grade-school goofiness to shouldering the responsibilities of a 30-year old. I love that YA is so diverse. They're truly is something for everyone.