YA

The phenomenon of fully grown people reading young adult (YA) books has gotten a lot of attention recently. Why is that? And why is it now not shameful to admit it as an adult?

It is possible that YA novels are supremely popular because they are the best guide we have to the dysfunctional reality of adult life?

Let’s face it, the dominant part of any book’s success is its escapist appeal, and YA excels at providing this.

The fantastical worlds and sheer inventiveness and imagination of YA continue to help distract us from the horrors of the real world, while also enabling us to confront it in a safe medium – something adults clearly feel the need for as well as children.

Equally, YA books are great for evoking nostalgia; they can often remind older readers of their childhoods and teenage years, making them a comforting presence for those who just refuse to grown up and embrace their boring, often excitement-free adult lives. Society nowadays can be overwhelmingly critical of YA (even though they make the books into blockbuster movies…), and yet it is its simplicity that often provides the most pleasure.

The Harry Potter series is one of the most obvious examples of this simplicity and universal applicability of writing that appeals to anyone, at any time. The series discusses important themes such as love, friendship, identity, and discrimination. It also exhibits in-depth character development across the seven books (which appeals particularly to young people because they can “grow” and age at the same time as Harry, Ron, and Hermione) and utilizes a simplistic writing style that can be enjoyed and interpreted by anyone regardless of age, sex, ethnicity, gender identity, or sexual orientation.

Perhaps the real mystery, then, is why YA books have appealed to so many people beyond their target audience. And why do these books remain popular years after they are first published, and what is it about our current society and world that means that their messages and values are still applicable to us?