Books & Authors : What ages would you consider "young adult?" Another question, what do you all consider "new" classics, if that's a way to put it?

YA is written for teens, but I think anyone can read it. Jodi Picoult is a good example -- she writes specifically for teenagers, but adults love her just as much. There are a lot of problems with the way literature is somehow expected to fit an age category.

I think a good example would be Stephen King. He's technically adult fiction, but teens read him just as much as adults.

Then there are the writers who sort of hover on the edge of adolesence, like M.T. Anderson. I could never figure out exactly why he was YA -- was it because he was a genre writer? because his prose was accessible? because he wrote about teenagers?

And finally, there are writers like Palahniuk, who writes "adult" fiction but has a much more prominent young adult fanbase. I know a shit ton more teens who like him than adults, and I "grew out" of my Palahniuk phase around the time I hit sixteen, which was in 2009.

I don't know much about the genre but I was told that if the protaganist in the story is between the ages 12-17 then it most likely falls into the Y.A. genre unless it is already designated to Horror or Noir or whatever. So I guess my point is that Y.A. is defined more by the nature of the material than it is by the group that decides to read it.

I've recently written two Horror stories where the charachters were in these age groups. My friend told me that those horor stories were borderline Y.A./Fantasy. But the grusome nature in which I killed my characters would make the stories unapealing for people who tend to read those genres. So really I think I have no idea what I am talking about.

I respect your honesty there, Mr. Barr

It does.

*sigh

...slow night...

Like everyone else said YA is aimed at teens.

My understanding of classics have always been books that have been highly regarded and still hold literary value after a certain number of years. Don't ask me how many years I wouldn't know.

I think classics should be labeled as what you consider to be a classic personally.

People say To Kill a Mockingbird is a classic, but I was always neutral towards that book. I did love Aticus Finch though. He's one of my favorite literary characters, but that's off topic.

Also I don't mean to offend because I know there are a lot of fans here for that particular book. It just never struck a chord with me as much as other books have and that usually happens to most people.

The Censor?

*I

This place has become a dystopia.

*super bored

I wrote the book I wanted, then was told it's YA. Sigh. Because I want to publish it, I've had to research YA. Yes, anyone can read it, but from an industry standpoint, YA stories revolve around a character 13-18 years old, and covers certain coming-of-age themes. Age of readers is irrelevant in the classification, from what I understand.

Classic stories are those that have universal or timeless themes. I agree, Mockingbird is a great example. Dickins' work is all classic, as is A Wrinkle in Time.

I realise now I should've said something offensive so the Defender could fuck with me.

*then I

@Dave

Very right.

Back in the good ol' days there were posts as far as the eyes could see.

*distracted

IRC Chats were the best.

Pork Pie

*I'm going

*have fun, gang