Saturday, June 5, 2010

Why YA?


So, my Muse and I are fighting-again. And I've been wondering, what makes you pick up a YA book? What things do love most about YA Fiction? What are your favorite kind of plots, etc.? I have a 15-year-old sister who has friends come over to our house all the time and I always have the urge to ask them (especially the teen girls) what kind of books do you like to read?? Why?? And they give me a few answers, but not many, so I'm asking you guys, because I want to write a book that teens will love, that will get me excited to write and, you know, make me as famous as J.K. Rowling or Stephenie Meyer. (Just sayin'!) :P

Thanks!
~Ella

2 comments:

Alexandra Shostak said...

Well I'm not a teenager, but I was one not that long ago, and I loved YA books. I'll try to remember what it was I loved about them :)

When I was between 14 and 16, I DIED for a good romance. And I was really picky, too. I didn't like Eva Ibbottson (spelling?) because I thought her romances were too easy and didn't have enough tension, but I loved Sherwood Smith's Crown Duel, and Holly Black's Tithe, because I thought the romances were great. Fantasy--all kinds--too were the best. And relate able characters, too. If the characters were drug addicts, or pregnant, or something, I had no grounds on which to relate to them, so I didn't tend to be interested in the book.

I have an almost 12 year old niece, and she loves historical fiction, though I'm not exactly sure why, yet. :-P

Natalie said...

I'm not a teenager either, but I love YA. I think the thing that appeals to me most are books with interesting relationships whether they are between friends, or parents and children, or love interests or whatever. I just like to read about people I can relate with, even if they are wizards. :)