I don't know if Anna North thinks this was a "novel" idea (har, har) because reading/publishing trends have really been heading this way for years, but this article goes into some pretty good detail about the rise of the YA genre. It's not just for young adults (and teens) anymore. Some highlights to think about, for those of us who really don't want to do too much heavy reading:
"Young adult and children's fiction was the fastest-growing category in all of publishing last year..."
'Kraus thinks escapism may be another factor in YA's crossover success. "We're living in a scary time," she says, "and I think there's something really comforting about reading about innocent problems."'
"And young adult fiction may offer authors greater freedom of subject matter than chick lit, which has traditionally focused on love and relationships. YA novels often feature romance too, but Twilight and The Hunger Games have made mythology and the future fair game, and authors are taking full advantage."
I have in the past, and will continue to enjoy, children's and YA fiction. I sometimes find it hard to read a YA novel that is written too simplistically, even if the story is very good, because I can feel that it was written for a younger audience with less "sophisticated" tastes. However, the really successful YA novels do not dumb down their style or message, but instead write about themes that we can all identify with, young or old. The message is simple enough to understand to appeal to younger readers, but it has layers of meaning that go deeper, for those who are able. The broad appeal and adventurous nature makes these books so appealing, and that's a winner in the market today.
Young Adult the new Chick Lit?
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