What Are Young Adult Books and When to Read Them
Many people wonder what are young adult books exactly. It’s a special category, usually targeting readers between the age of 12-18 years, although people of all ages can enjoy them. These stories are usually quite emotional and contain a great deal of adventures, with themes of friendship, love, and competition woven into them. Young adult books are not actually a genre but more of a description of the reader's age.
Therefore, the book captures a demographic reading culture that exists in different genres, including science fiction, fantasy, and even mystery. Besides, young adult books include the concepts and feelings teenagers and adults encounter daily, such as challenges in relationships, friendship, and finding personal identity.
Young Adult Books Age
The majority of people don't know what age young adult books cover. Authors usually categorize it for people between 12 to 16 years (or even 18). But, those who read those books believe that people of any age can enjoy them. As per my research, it is completely different since it can extend to 18 to 25, especially for adults in US countries. However, the exact adult age differs between different individuals and cultures.
What is a Young Adult?
Usually, the term “young adult” term relates to marketing because it covers the age group where young people believe that they are no longer children, but grownups who can take full responsibility for their own lives. So, young adult as a category addresses that transition phase in life where youthful passion coexists with the adult desire to pave your own life path.
Importance Of Reading Young Adult Books
Whether you are a teen or not, there are a number of reasons why you should read young adult (also known as YA) books. Let’s have a look.
Young adult books offer enough space for teenagers to explore various topics and, in turn, see themselves in the same context that they have read. This is so crucial, especially in helping them understand their role in the society in which they live.
Also, reading young adult books allows teens to understand different issues that affect them in everyday life. Such things as death, dating, divorce, mental health complications, and even friendship. They might not be the easiest ones to talk about, so young people can relate to the characters going through similar challenges and find needed support in the books.
Developing a culture of reading young adult books can even help teens pick future careers. While some might be unrealistic and very fantasy-oriented, there is plenty of information about modern career paths like science, arts, and even entrepreneurship.
And, of course, reading is learning. Young adult books are a perfect choice to enrich one's vocabulary. Not only do they help teens to understand better and communicate their feelings and emotions, but they also educate them and train their minds.
Types of Young Adult Books
If you are a fan of magical realism, steampunk, or even horror, then young adult books have a lot to offer to you. Whether you are a young or adult reader (pun intended), you will love them. There are a lot of genres that they cover, so let’s have a look at the 4 most popular ones.
Fantasy
These young adult books contain elements that do not exist in a normal life. These books are more likely to be set in magical worlds or contain some fantasy-driven elements. However, the book will reflect our day-to-day life. Examples of such fantasy books include folklore, magic, and even mythology. If you ask the top fantasy author, the first name that comes to mind is J.K. Rowling and her Harry Potter series.
Mystery And Thriller
Are you a fan of suspense, plot twists, and clues? If yes, then you should take your time to check out thriller and mystery young adult books. These books have stories about some sort of crime or puzzle, often including suspicious characters, murder, a disappearance, or a stolen object. Besides, they may also cover themes of vengeance and even justice.
Have you heard about “Chief Inspector Armand Gamache”? Maybe it’s not too late for you. The creator of this book is Louise Penny. She makes this series so mysterious and thrilling that it’s impossible to put the book down! Once you start to read it, you will not leave your seat before finishing the book.
Romance
You can’t imagine young adult books without romance. These stories vary from being sweet (like first love) to serious to even being more humorous. There are also many books on themes such as LGBTQ, first relationships, identities, first-sight love, and love triangle.
If you are new to this book world, you should consider reading Colleen Hoover's books. She is known as a “romance queen,” and you can’t go wrong with her books. Though Colleen Hoover has many followers, she is being controversial for her “Ugly Love” book. You can read the book summary online before getting the book and decide for yourself.
Contemporary And Coming Of Age
Contemporary books for young adults simply feature modern world events. These are usually books that are around the experiences that happen to most teens in real life. These are the situations that are very close to what you can go through yourself, and they help young people navigate those challenges of growing up.
Additionally, contemporary and coming-of-age books cover large topics of transitioning from childhood to adulthood; thus, the name “coming of age.” Some difficult situations that young adults can face are new life in college, determining friendships, domestic violence, drug abuse, and even going to prom.
What Are Considered Young Adult Books?
Young adult books are fiction books written for readers between the ages of 12 and 18. They come in any genre but share some characteristics that are specific to the young teen’s readers, like the themes of transition in life, first challenges, relationships, and coming of age. You can also spot them on the shelf thanks to colorful covers and bold designs that attract attention.
What Is The Difference Between Young Adult And New Adult Books?
Usually, YA books do not make use of any graphic depiction of gore, sex, abuse, actions, or suicidal thoughts. The new adult books, however, are aimed at readers between the ages of 18-30, and in most cases, they are adults in post-high school and universities and colleges. So, the content of those books might be more graphic and violent.
How Do I Know If My Book Is Young Adult Or Adult?
Usually, the main difference between adult fiction and young adult fiction lies mainly in the age of the main character. For instance, for the book to be in the young adult category, then it must have at least one adult protagonist aged between 12-18 years old. If the main character is older, then the book might better be suited for more adult readers.
Conclusion
While young adult books are tailored for people aged 12-18, older readers often read them as well when they feel nostalgic about youth or want to feel some of that unstoppable youth determination and confidence. There are topics that we all can relate to at any age, and there’s no shame in picking up young adult books every once in a while. If anything, they only make our reading lives more colorful and fulfilling.
About the author: Rosie Langello is the founder of Book Vibe and has been a passionate reader since she was a teenager, finding refuge and meaning in books of all genres. Her enthusiasm drove her to obtain an English Literature degree from Rutgers University, making literature an important source of renewal and purpose in her life.