Science Fiction Fantasy Chronicles: forums - View Single Post - How do you feel about reading YA, as an adult?

Brown Rat · 4th May 2006, 10:57 PM

I was in the YA section two days ago, buying a spiffy facsimile edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and I didn't feel a bit strange browsing the other shelves for the latest book in the Artemis Fowl series, muttering imprecations about a bowdlerized version of The Secret Garden, and raising my eyebrows at a scene I'd forgotten in Have Space Suit, Will Travel. Sure, I'm almost fifty years old, but a good book is a good book, no matter what age it's marketed to.

When I was young, a childless couple across the street let me read all the wonderful YA and kids' books they'd collected over the years, so I grew up thinking there was nothing strange in adults enjoying YA novels. Nowadays, being grown up (OK, well past grown up: sliding into decrepitude), I still read YA fiction along with all the "grownup" fiction.

I don't have children, but I make a point to buy good YA novels to stock my shelves so that when my niece and nephew come over, they'll find something interesting to read. And for three semesters, I required my university students to read M.T. Anderson's YA science fiction novel, Feed.

4th May 2006, 10:57 PM	#2 (permalink)
Brown Rat wandering & wondering Join Date: Apr 2006 Posts: 945	Re: How do you feel about reading YA, as an adult? I was in the YA section two days ago, buying a spiffy facsimile edition of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and I didn't feel a bit strange browsing the other shelves for the latest book in the Artemis Fowl series, muttering imprecations about a bowdlerized version of The Secret Garden, and raising my eyebrows at a scene I'd forgotten in Have Space Suit, Will Travel. Sure, I'm almost fifty years old, but a good book is a good book, no matter what age it's marketed to. When I was young, a childless couple across the street let me read all the wonderful YA and kids' books they'd collected over the years, so I grew up thinking there was nothing strange in adults enjoying YA novels. Nowadays, being grown up (OK, well past grown up: sliding into decrepitude), I still read YA fiction along with all the "grownup" fiction. I don't have children, but I make a point to buy good YA novels to stock my shelves so that when my niece and nephew come over, they'll find something interesting to read. And for three semesters, I required my university students to read M.T. Anderson's YA science fiction novel, Feed.