What do you dislike in many YA books? What do you wish you would see more of in them?

Question

Two part question. It's basically all in the title, but I'll elaborate a little:

1) - What do you see in a good number of young adult books that you can't stand? Preferably, these will be at least semi-popular books that you can appreacieate in other ways (to some extent) - you just really don't like something specific in it.

2) - What do you rarely (or never) see in young adult books that you love and think there ought to be more of?


The books could be in any genre (as long as they're written for young adults). Mystery, romance, fantasy, whatever.

The answer to either part could be anything, pretty much. A character type, a central theme, a certian message (or the lack of it), unrealistic (or realistic) situiations, certian language usage, general writing style, complicated plots, etc. (Just some examples.)

Be as specific or vague as you like. I'll pick whichever reply I find most helpful, interesting and well-thought out as the best answer.

Thanks!

Answer 1

I do like YA novels typically. I like my novels to be character-based (instead of shallow caricatures), have a readable style (it can vary; I'm not that particular but it needs to be written in such a way that I'll want to keep reading one paragraph after another...and too many cliches or poorly constructed metaphors or syrupy flowery descriptions can ruin it for me), and a fairly good plot. If the characters are great, it doesn't have to be action-based moving quickly from one scene to another...always on the go. But if the characters are lacking and the plot is lacking...what's the point of continuing on. What I absolute CANNOT stand are books that are all about selling "the message" whatever it may be...typically something dripping in political correctness. I'm not saying a book can't have a point. It can have a point. But I don't want someone to hammer me over the head with over and over and over again. If a book *has* a message it should be shown--illustrated--through the characters and plot and not be told through narration.

To answer number one specifically...I can tolerate a good bit of sex...experimentation in drinking and/or smoking...I can tolerate language...although if there's a "bad" word in every sentence it does get tedious. But what I can't stand is that 98.9% of all YA books are anti-religion. Specifically anti-Christian. Let me clarify this so I'm not misinterpreted. There are many books that don't deal with it one way or another and so I'm not talking about those being offensive.In the YA books that feature religion or spirituality in a significant way (it's more than one or two passing sentences in a conversation) it is rarely if ever presented in a positive way. It is always viewed as either damaging, brainwashing, restrictive, hypocritical, narrow-minded, and full of hate and bitterness to the world around them and/or to other christians even...OR ELSE it is presented in such a wishy-washy watered down way (Christianity +new age this or postmodern that) that it does not truly reflect the faith. You never see young people with faith portrayed as happy, loving, nice, compassionate people. For example TRUE BELIEVER by Virginia Euwer Wolff greatly offended me. Also A CERTAIN SLANT OF LIGHT by Laura Whitcomb offended me as well. I was pleased with both except for the religion factor.

I guess what I'm saying is that I'm annoyed when YA books get it wrong and miss the picture altogether. If you're going to bother making a character spiritual go beyond the stereotypes and make it real.

2) My favorite books are the ones with GREAT characters that are memorable and "real"--my favorite authors are Stephenie Meyer, Sarah Dessen, and Joan Bauer. Sarah Weeks is great. Shannon Hale is good. For me it's not about genre...it can be realistic fiction...historical fiction...fantasy...science fiction...romance...it's about the story and the characters. You can't really pinpoint it down and say I like writers who vary sentence length, use three adjectives in every paragraph, and never start sentences with a conjuction. Those things are not what are memorable about a book. The mechanics of it are not supposed to be noticeable when you're reading it. You're supposed to lose yourself in it.

Answer 2

I like YA books because they are high-interest, fast moving stories dealing with many issues that young adults have to deal with. For instance, A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE by Ann Martin handles sensitive issues like mental handicaps, suicide, and making friends. SOLDIER'S HEART by Gary Paulsen tells the story of a young man going off to fight in the Civil War where he sees death, destruction, suicide, broken promises. It's a good book to read for a glimpse at war. So, what don't I like about YA books? Well, not much, but I don't care for some books in which the author tries to force too much detail down the reader's throat. Some authors, it seems, think of themselves as simply movers-up to the real genre of adult ficiton, and they write in that fashion. I don't like that. Thanks.....interesting question.