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?
