in which a girl reads: Dear YA

2.05.2011

Dear YA

A short summation of what I've been wondering/hoping about for YA:

DEAR YA:

If your protagonist is described as an honors student (as most seem to be), they'll more likely be kissing a textbook than a sparkly supernatural creature.

Sincerley,
Choco, currently-kissing-a-textbook

DEAR YA:

Where do your main characters find the time to save the world and everything?

Sincerely,
Choco, swamped.

DEAR YA:

It'd be cool if maybe some more of your characters were over 18.

Sincerely,
Choco, who likes this New Adult thing.

DEAR YA:

I wish there were more minority main characters. And more socioeconmically diverse characters.

Sincerly,
Choco, who would like wider representation.

What are some of your Dear YAs?

*okay so I fail at updating the blog but currently I am buried, BURIED under schoolwork. Sorry :)

Comments (22)

Logging you in...

Dashboard | Edit profile | Logout

Logged in as

+1 Vote up Vote down

celi.a · 739 weeks ago

Love these thoughts! (I've had one or two myself from time to time...)

+1 Vote up Vote down

Bookish in a Box · 739 weeks ago

I like this New Adult thing too!
My recent post Want to Read Wednesday- Wither

+1 Vote up Vote down

YA Vampire Books · 739 weeks ago

Haha so true! I'm with you Choco!

+2 Vote up Vote down

Audrey · 739 weeks ago

love this! totally reminds me of dear blank please blank :)
Dear YA
Where can I find these boys in real life?

My recent post Movie Thoughts- Despicable Me

+1 Vote up Vote down

Annie · 739 weeks ago

I'm totally with you on all these thoughts. I would love to see some diversity in YA as far as race and ecomonic background.

Nice post!
My recent post Double Take Covers- Wildfire by Karsten Knight

+2 Vote up Vote down

Justine 80p · 738 weeks ago

It would be so cool if there's a YA novel about college! I've always been curious. :)

1 reply · active 738 weeks ago

+2 Vote up Vote down

hollyy___x 82p · 738 weeks ago

Try THE DUFF :)

+1 Vote up Vote down

ShootingStarsMag · 738 weeks ago

Totally agree with the New Adult thing. And really, why can't it be YA with college students without a whole new name that might confuse? I just want over 18 peeps too! :)

My recent post Book of Your Choice Sort Of Giveaway!

+1 Vote up Vote down

Glenna · 738 weeks ago

Swamped and kissing a textbook inDEED! Go girl! (:
My recent post Try- dammit

+2 Vote up Vote down

hollyy___x 82p · 738 weeks ago

Dear YA, I would love to see more books based in Australia.
Dear YA, I want more awesome contemporary, I'm talking ANNA and the FRENCH KISS + Sarah Dessen, go go go.

+1 Vote up Vote down

bravechickens · 738 weeks ago

Kinda off topic, but related to your last 'Dear YA' , I'd love to see more diversity in television. It pains me at times to see either stereotypes of other ethnicities or just no diversity at all.
My recent post Accidental Friends

1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago

+1 Vote up Vote down

Bee · 738 weeks ago

Echoing you right there.
My recent post Teaser Tuesday- The Bonfire

0 Vote up Vote down

Patty · 738 weeks ago

This is brilliant and I agree, espeically with first one ;).

+2 Vote up Vote down

deleted8578366 88p · 738 weeks ago

I agree about the socioeconomically diverse characters...and everything else, lol.
My recent post Hawksong by Amelia Atwater-Rhodes

+1 Vote up Vote down

Nathalia · 738 weeks ago

Dear YA,

Stop trying convincing me that being a teenager = being a brainless creature. Please!

+1 Vote up Vote down

Minnie · 738 weeks ago

Dear YA, why can't you guys leave behind all the paranormal stuff or at least write it way better with more realism?
Dear YA, why can't better writers get published instead of rushing publishing with major revison and editting pushed by the editors? Because there is a ton of poorly written stuff out there without any depth.

+1 Vote up Vote down

@ginad129 · 738 weeks ago

Dear YA,
It pains me when you try to sound "hip." Use your natural voice, or create a new lingo (Dashner and Westerfeld did it well). But for the love of all that is good, don't reference current bands, shows, movies, styles... it makes you sound dated because it takes so long for the publishing industry to work. Be inventive; create your own bands, movies, shows, etc.
My recent post I trust Christopher Nolan

+1 Vote up Vote down

Vee · 738 weeks ago

I pretty much agree with all of yours, and have none of my own to add. Esp the diversity and New Adult (although I think the Aussie market, is more open to this, perhaps? There's this brilliant book, Raw Blue, which is 500% YA and the characters are 19 and 20-something, I think. And there's a bunch of stuff by Maureen McCarthy featuring characters out of high school. And The Messenger by Zusak, obviously. Marchetta's The Piper's Son is also considered YA, without any high school aged protags).

My recent post Editorial Letter

+1 Vote up Vote down

Jen Chandler · 738 weeks ago

Love these thoughts! And I love this blog (I just found you!!).

There needs to be more "real" representation in books. Real people, real emotions, real diversity. Oh! And I LOVE the idea of a New Adult genre. I'm in my 30s, but most of my protags are either YA or fall into that strange, obscure category of 18-25 (those were some very defining moments of my life). New Adult would open up some books to readers that may have been lost in the YA/Adult shelves. Give these books a home!!

Cheers!
Jen
My recent post A Linking We Will Go

+2 Vote up Vote down

zalijun 1p · 738 weeks ago

Yes, yes, yes! I definitely agree with the New Adult! I'm 20 and it would just be nice to have some books about people who are out of high school and in college that doesn't revolve around the whole "party" theme.

DEAR YA:

Can we please have a kickass female protagonist who is Asian American but isn't your stereotypical quiet/smart girl? Please?

+2 Vote up Vote down

inwhichagirlreads 55p · 738 weeks ago

Wow, I just love all of these Dear YAs :D

+1 Vote up Vote down

N. R. Williams · 736 weeks ago

I'd love to see the "New Adult," tag as well. Then everyone would know my main character is over eighteen but the book is still appropriate for the YA reader.

Nancy
N. R. Williams, The Treasures of Carmelidrumr

My recent post Le cygne - Saint-Saens by Houtblazer

Post a new comment

Comment as a Guest, or login:

Tweet this comment

in which a girl reads

2.05.2011

Dear YA

Forgot password?

Comments (22)

Post a new comment

Labels

Blog Archive

Followers