Young Adult Titles Read by more Adults

by Hope Loman  Rowan Public Library

 

Did you know that more young adult books are bought and read by adults than their intended audience?  According to a 2012 study by Bowker Market Research, 55% of YA books are bought by individuals over 18, with 28% of overall sales coming from adults between the ages of 30 to 44—and what’s more, 78% of the adults interviewed said that the YA books they purchased were for their own reading, not a gift for a teenager that they knew.  The social stigma of picking up a YA title rather than a book from the adult fiction section is rapidly fading, especially as adult fans connect in-person, online, and (when a popular series inevitably spurs a movie adaptation) at the theater.

This begs the question: why are YA books so popular for older readers?  Georgina Howlett’s article in The Guardian speculates that there are several reasons: they provide escapist appeal, especially with the many fantasy and dystopian series that are on the shelves (thanks, Hunger Games); evoke nostalgia, reminding adults of simpler yet more exciting times in their lives; and finally, they are capable of appealing to readers across the world--or even across generations, as the Harry Potter series continues to prove with its continued popularity.

Here at the Rowan Public Library, we boast over 21,000 young adult fiction and non-fiction titles in our system, with new titles constantly being added to the collection.  From realistic fiction to romance, humor to horror, there’s guaranteed to be a book that you will enjoy.  If you might be interested in picking up a YA book to read as the New Year approaches, here are some recommended new and bestselling releases from 2016:

Heartless by Marissa Meyer: Known for her sci-fi/fantasy series The Lunar Chronicles, Meyer has released her first stand-alone novel, a “fractured fairytale” about Alice in Wonderland’s Red Queen. The School Library Journal calls it an “unforgettable” story that imagines the evolution of a young girl that dreams of true love to a madwoman best known for her phrase “Off with his head!”

Scythe by Neal Shusterman: The first in a new series by the award-winning author of the Unwind dystology and The Skinjacker trilogy, this book follows two teens are they learn the “art of killing.”  In a world that has conquered death, only Scythes can end life to keep the population under control.  Two reluctant apprentices must compete against each other to become a Scythe—and the one who wins must kill the loser.

Salt to the Sea by Ruta Sepetys: Named the Goodreads YA Book of the Year, this is a fictionalized story based on the sinking of the German ship the Wilhelm Gustloff during World War II.  Told in alternating points of view, four teenage narrators from very different backgrounds must unite and fight for survival when tragedy strikes.

Finally, Victoria Schwab’s This Savage Song: In a future where evil deeds spawn monsters that wreak havoc on humanity, two teens from feuding families become unlikely allies when one is framed for an attack.  Described as a “post-apocalyptic urban fantasy with a Romeo and Juliet theme,” this was a New York Times bestseller and an Amazon Best Book of the Year.

If any of these pique your interest, or you’re curious to find something more to your liking, I encourage you to come down to any branch of the Rowan Public Library and seek out the young adult section today.