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I read young adult literature without shame despite the fact that many people look down their noses at it. Oh don't lie, you know it's true. When people ask me, as they often do, about a great book I read lately their eyes glaze as soon as the words "young" and "adult" pass my lips. I do believe they are expecting me to name Booker nominations. Because I should have "graduated" to that by now shouldn't I? At least that's what one of Dennis Drabelle's recent Washington Post articles implies.
There comes a time in every reader's life when he or she graduates from kids books and young-adult titles to nonfiction with no holds barred and fiction that draws on the full resources of the language in portraying complex human relationships.
I had a bit of a Grey's Anatomy moment when I read that. Seriously? Seriously! Seriously. The progression of books is supposed to be from children's books, to young adult, to adult non-fiction to some kind of magical perfectly crafted adult fiction.
I sat and thought about it for a bit and came to only one conclusion - this is someone who does not read young adult fiction. I mean, of course he's not "supposed" to, having "graduated" beyond it and all. The only logical explanation in my mind is that the author had to be someone who sees Stephenie Meyer's Twilight (addictive but certainly not masterly crafted) and the Gossip Girls climb up the best-seller lists and decides that's the best of young adult literature.
But even with that in mind I couldn't get past how the article ended:
Send in your own recollections of those transitional books that got you reading as a grownup.
Thankfully for me I was able to go read Libarilly Blonde's response to the article and then I was able to breathe again.
I don't think readers should read only children's and YA books all their lives. I certainly enjoyed my fair share of adult books when I was a teen and I expect that most of you reading this did as well. I do think, however, that children's and YA literature is not to be dismissed by any reader, especially those who think enough of their own maturity to call themselves grownups.
Yes! Yes!
And then Liz B at A Chair, A Fireplace and a Tea Cozy chimed in with her two cents about what book made her an "adult" reader.
Harry Potter.
Because that was when I realized: a good book is a good book is a good book. I didn't have to hide reading kids books or YA books. These books weren't "less" than adult books; there is no "graduation", rather, there are simply books.
Again I say, "YES!!!!" A reader, is a reader, is a reader. I'm tired beyond belief of the implication that their are "readers" and then there are "Readers". I'm just plain excited when I meet someone who reads. I actually dated a guy once who didn't read. I mean he could, but he didn't. (I know, y'all are shocked and stunned that the relationship didn't work out.) I just love it when people read. Sure, I may occasionally push someone in the direction of a book that they think they don't want to read, but only when they are wrong about it. Just ask my friend Cat whom I've forced to take books home and read. (She generally thanks me in the end.)
Earlier this year the Christian Science Monitor posted an article about write Matthew Kneale. The article can be summed up with the title - Read what you like, not what you think you should like. When advising people on how to read more books Melissa Howard says to read books you like because "if you like reading, you won't stop."
A reader is a reader is a reader. I don't care what you read, I'm just thrilled that you're reading. If that means that I don't graduate into the "adult readers" club, I'm more than fine with that. I have all the books I need right here.
The book that Contributing Editor Sassymonkey a reader is The Cat In the Hat. She blogs at Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.
