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Young Adult is for All Readers

Posted on January 16, 2012 Updated on January 14, 2012

I found this newspaper article from ilovelibraries.org about young adult books. I love the library and I’ll admit that I don’t scan the YA section as much as I should. I don’t like to put books into age groups, since many can be enjoyed by different ages. For example, Harry Potter mania has been read by both genders to grandparents to young children. Young adult books offer a wide range of topics, such as peer pressure, drugs, coming-of-age, relationship struggles, bullying, school conflicts, biographies, society issues, adventure, and so many wonderful new life experiences. There has been debate that YA books may be graphic, bold, and too mature for readers. Well, life isn’t perfect and many individuals deal with these issues on a daily basis. Reading helps us understand how we fit into society. Books help us understand ourselves. Reading YA books as a parent or teacher can also help you understand those teens around you. So, next time you’re unsure about which book to read next stroll over to the Young Adult section. You may be pleasantly surprised about what you found. I promise to take a closer look too.

Selected Young Adult Books:

The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne-Collins

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Catcher in the Rye by J. D. Salinger

The Giver by Lois Lowry

Looking for Alaska by John Green

The View from Saturday by E. L. Konigsburg

Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson

Beautiful Creatures by Kami Garcia

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie