For the first time, I’m participating in the Blogging from A to Z April Challenge! The concept is simple: Each day in April I’ll be blogging on a topic starting with the letter of the day, beginning with A and progressing to Z by the end of the month. Posts will be short and will relate to my chosen theme: my new coming of age story, Rightfully Ours, released April 1.
Y is for Young Adult
I didn’t begin writing Rightfully Ours as a Young Adult (YA) novel. Of course, I didn’t really know what I was doing, but in the start, my youngest protagonist was barely a teen. Once I’d completed a draft, I knew what the book was – a coming of age story. Because my main characters were teens, people wanted to put it into a YA category (well, duh), which I resisted at first. I think the idea of writing for teens intimidates me a bit, since I take seriously the responsibility to “get it right,” particularly if I’m writing about sensitive subjects.
At any rate, I’ve grown into that YA category, one which is enjoyed by both teens AND adults. Some YA books are more appealing to adults than others, but I think, in general, the teen years have wide appeal because of the immense possibilities that lie before us at that age. The future is wide open, and, usually, we’re not so tainted by cynicism (or experience) that we stifle our dreams and desires. It is filled with hope, and that is appealing at any age.
Do you read YA novels? What do you think makes stories of youth so appealing to all ages?
The young adult years are so exciting! There are so many firsts at this time of life: first crush, first car, first job, first date…. In a few years you’ll be an adult. And you don’t fully understand what God is calling you to or where you are meant to be. The world is open to you! While crosses and trials abound, it is such a time of adventure. That’s why I love writing and reading YA fiction!
Yes! Everything is new and exciting!
I read a lot of YA Fiction as that is what I was writing. But I also think it appeals to adults as we can all remember our lives as youngsters
Those formative years leave such an impression. I remember them better and in more detail than the years since!