Week 13 Prompt

I have actually intensively studied the debate about the appropriate audience for YA literature, graphic novels, and new adult books. A variety of people are readers of these genres, but not everyone agrees, whether at the level of the public library or in professional journals etc. about the appropriate audience. Adults, who read these genres, have been criticized for reading them instead of something more "appropriate to their age" yet there are also critics who charge that young adult literature and graphic novels have gone into realms that are too mature for teens and that they are really adult books in disguise. So who really is this writing aimed at and who can read it without it being deemed inappropriate; should there be efforts to critique and monitor what people are reading? When I was researching these questions, I found that there are three broad views: those that believe these genres can be read by whoever and whenever, those that feel these genres are only appropriate for teens, and those that do not find these genres to be appropriate for any audience regardless of age.

Overall, however, I am of the belief that anyone should be able to read whatever they want regardless of genre or intended audience. I am baffled by the fact that people feel that they have the right to criticize people for reading what brings them happiness and pleasure. Literary merit should not be part of this debate. In my own library experience, if there are questions or judgments made based on what people have chosen to read, I have a list of arguments available about the merit of YA literature, new adult fiction, and graphic novels.

• Emotions and issues experienced by teens are eternal, they just change to mold with age. Thus, it makes perfect sense that adults would be attracted to the same themes and writing styles as their younger counterparts.

• Every time an adult reads a YA book, they widen their perspective in ways that allow them to be released from the constraints of adulthood. Cutting literature into age-restricted groups ignores the standards for good writing and instead belittles works written for teens or new adults.

• The great strength of the YA, new adult, and graphic novel genres is that thousands of diverse and broad themed novels are being published a year. Why should we restrict these novels to one age group when a multitude of society could benefit from being exposed to them.

• Books, which blur the lines between children and adult categories, have caught the attention of sophisticated readers for decades, but the difference now resides in the fact that there is more depth and adult lessons in YA and children’s books than ever before and it is making it increasingly impossible to define the line between child and adult reading materials.

• YA and new adult novels are not merely fluffy entertainment and there is a nearly indistinguishable line between teen and adult literature. Why make a big deal about adults reading YA literature when we do not make a big deal about teens reading adult literature.

As librarians, I believe we have a responsibility to do everything we can to make all knowledge and literature available to all of our patrons, regardless of genre or age.