give YA more credit, please!

When I was working at a bookstore two years ago, I had a co-worker, who was shelving books with me in the YA section. He complained that he shouldn't be stuck in that area because, and I quote, "Who reads these crap anyway? It's all whiny, over the top teenagers complaining about their sad, dramatic lives." You're off better reading "grown up" books.

There have been times also when some read and finish a good YA novel and they end up falling in love with it. Then, when they ask what genre it is, and they realize it's Young Adult, they are always shocked, as if unable to believe it.

This surprised me a whole lot at that time. I didn't even know that people looked down upon the YA genre. What was even more surprising was the fact that that wasn't the first and certainly wasn't the last time I heard of the same exact remark. First of all, what makes a "grown up" book a grown-up book anyway?? I don't get it. Now I wonder, why do people look down on YA?

There are different misconceptions about YA; that they are silly, predictable, over-the-top, and just full of high school drama. Some believe that it's all about cliques, underage parties, underage drinking, and boyfriends. While YA books do in fact have those aspects, it doesn't really mean that that's what they are all about. Perhaps the people that say these remarks have never actually read a good YA book in their lives. Do they even know that classics like Ann of Green Gables, Little Women, and The Giver by Lois Lowry are actually YA novels? Perhaps not. And maybe if they read novels like Wintergirls, Willow, Thirteen Reasons Why, The Book Thief, they might actually realize that YA is so much more than what they give it credit for.

These books, among so many others, have served as meaningful tools. These books tell the stories of REAL people, going through real and sometimes, difficult, scenarios, stories, and situations. Because of these stories, these books are able to speak directly to their readers. To me, a good YA novel has the power to shape and mold teenagers by giving the age group important and thought-provoking life lessons. These are books that can make an impact. And as if those reasons weren't enough, anyone can read YA, no matter what the age. In fact, I feel as though parents can also benefit from these stories. These stories that may or might have already changed someone's life, that may have served as an eye-opener, and that may have served as an inspiration. Simply put, YA books are important and are able to make a difference too.

Now I'm not saying that everyone should like YA, because I know it's not exactly for everyone. I guess all I'm just trying to say is, I really don't like it when people generalize. I wish people were a bit more open-minded and respectful towards the genre, or any other for that matter. I wish people would give more credit to it because it is deserving of it. More specifically, I can only hope that this discrimination against YA would also stop. Give the genre a chance first, before judging. For me, what I know for certain is, I will continue to read and support it, no matter what other people say or think. And I sincerely hope you do too.