Since the advent of the YA — or Young Adult — genre in the 1960s, it has flourished as a dominating force within the bookish community. Some of the best-known books in mainstream culture are YA or media adaptations of a YA novel. Take Harry Potter, Twilight, or The Hunger Games. Book series like these, which have spawned into multi-million dollar franchises, seem to transcend their genre, garnering such a large audience that doesn’t fit the “young adult” demographic.
YA fiction is typically defined as fiction for 12-18 year olds. It is an often challenging period of time for people who are fraught with emotional and physical changes, which gives YA literature a unique focus on a character’s time. Publisher’s Weekly estimates that 51% of YA books in 2023 were purchased by 30 to 44-year-olds, and 78% of the buyers report buying those books for themselves. Conversely, librarians reported that middle-grade readers are more frequently picking up YA, “reading up” for their age. Why is this?
Here are 3 reasons why YA appeals to all readers, not just teenagers!
1. Serves as an Escape
Similar to most fiction, especially genre fiction, reading is a way to escape reality and fall into a more fantastical world where anything is possible. Whether it’s romance or fantasy, you can join your favorite characters as they fall in love or slay dragons or become royalty. With YA, this journey often provides higher stakes and more tension — and a touch more angst — because the characters are teenagers and tyring to figure themselves out, as well as slay the monster. Simply put: it’s fun!
2. Relatable Universal Themes and Characters
All readers were once/are/will be teenagers at some point! Regardless of your age, we all know how it felt to be a teenager at one point and how awkward and strange that stage of life was. Navigating high school, going through puberty, and maybe forming our first romantic relationships are all things we tackle as young adults. When older readers read YA, they can empathize with them, and adolescent readers can see what may be in store for them as they grow.
3. Revisiting Younger Selves
For older readers specifically, YA books are a chance to tap into our younger selves. It’s a time where obstacles our younger selves faced are much simpler now than in our adult lives which allows readers to focus on simpler times. Again, it goes back to that idea of escape. But for older readers, it allows us to revisit the past.
So don’t be fooled by the initialism. Young adult books can be for readers of any age. Really, it’s what you prefer that matters. While YA will always be for teenagers first and foremost, the stories themselves are universal. Don’t underestimate the power of YA!
To read more about adults reading YA, click here!
Ready to pick up your next YA read? For Bookstr recommendations, click here!
