If you haven’t already – I’m slow to find these things – check out the NY Times discussion of “The Dark Side of Young Adult Fiction.” Several authors discuss the fact that during the holiday season, “the young adult sections in bookstores and on bestsellers lists were filled with titles bearing dark and scary themes.” Some interesting thoughts about the popularity of post-apocalyptic fiction in the discussion. But they are adults. I haven’t read all the comments – hopefully some teens chime in.
I think this is one place where YA gets tricky – I am not the same reader I was as a teen. Way back then I had a much higher tolerance for grit and harsh edges and people behaving badly. I still read those kind of books but mom-me has a different reaction to these things. Hormones have re-wired my brain. There are plenty of books that I wish I could have read as a teen instead of now. But, obviously, I can only guess how I would have reacted.
For writers, I think Andrew Smith has the best advice about following trends:
Just write a novel.
Make it good.
Yep.
Sarah Wones Tomp
WRITING ON THE SIDEWALK
