YA- Not Children's, Not Adult

I don't want to add to the argument because I feel there have already been some very intelligent comments that convey what I want to say in a much more eloquent way. What I do want to do is look at this comment from author Isaac Marion.

"I just think it's a ridiculous, pointless category. "Children's" is a useful category because it tells people it's written at a young reading level and doesn't contain any objectionable content. "Adult" is a useful category because it tells you it's not "Children's". YA is a useless category because teenagers and twentysomethings can and SHOULD read whatever the hell they want."

Let's not argue even more about the other quotes- of course I'm offended because I'm a teen reading YA. If you focus only on this quote, it raises a pretty greet discussion topic. What is YA and how is it different from Children's, Adult, or even this new genre, NA? Why does the genre YA even exist?

I'm starting with the obvious. I disagree 100% with the idea that YA is a useless category. As a teen (so, someone this applies to) I read different genres and levels. I read some MG, mostly YA, and some adult if it piques my interest and it's the type of thing I'm comfortable reading. Because let's face it, maybe I'm slightly prudish, but there are some stuff that I'm uncomfortable reading about. It's not only the overly descriptive sex acts in some books, but also reading about aging (I'm 15 and wrinkles and stuff is not something I even want to consider at this point, marriage (doesn't interest me) or having children (nope) are all stuff that I wouldn't ever pick up this year, next year, or even the year after. I can't relate to that stuff.

I'm not being stupid here. I know that those are only a few example of topics and characters in adult reads. In all honesty, I want to read about people my age, or a little bit older/younger with the same mentality and POV as me.I want to real about real life the way I believe it's real. So yeah, I want to read about my age group. YA facilitates that. I can read about people I relate with. I don't relate with people starting careers at this point: I want to read about high school, or maybe even university. I want books that are mature, or silly, with substance, or fluff, I don't care. I want both. I don't want to have to search through an entire library for a book that appeals to me since I'm living in an in-between stage. I don't want to feel a little out of place searching through books with my six year old sister in the kids section, or beside my mom in the adult ocean. I love having a section just for me- a section I can feel comfortable in. A section that doesn't necessarily belong to my age group, but one I'm welcome in.

People don't one day change from children to adults. There is a transition and that in the book world is YA. People should read whatever the hell they want to read (I agree), but if a librarian or bookseller feels a book can be something a YA audience will enjoy because it's about topics they'd care about, no matter who it's written for -- adults or children -- it has a right to be shelved in YA.

YA is that transition stage between Children's and Adult, and the beauty of that is that so many books have crossover appeal. I do not believe a book is either only a Children's read or an Adult read: they can be both. A book can be read by multiple audiences. The very powerful books do just that.

So YA, as defined by me: book that could appeal to teens. Frequently features common themes in teenage life (e.g. dealing with relationship, school, social pressure, coming of age). May or may not be about youth.

Those are just a few terms that I thought of though there are probably more. To be a YA novel, in essence, all a book has to do is be enjoyed by teens. 

This definition is one I really like. YA isn't dumbed down stories vocabulary-wise with no substance and full of fluff. YA is also not only mature, classical reads. YA can be anything, just like teens. Some teens are more mature, some... less. Just because a book is shelved YA doesn't mean it can't appeal to other age groups. Just because a book is shelved YA doesn't mean it will appeal to all teens. Just because a book isn't shelved YA doesn't mean it won't appeal to YA readers.

I think that all readers are good enough at finding books that appeal to them, so in general maybe shelving books in multiple sections is a good idea. Labels are useful means of organizing stuff, but they're not absolute. Sometimes they're given way too much power when the only thing about a book that should matter is the actual content.

I feel like if we just shelved books where we thought people would enjoy them everyone would be happy. Some books not specifically YA should be shelved in the YA section (like Percy Jackson and Harry Potter) and some books that are YA should be shelved in other sections (Code Name Verity comes to mind).

What do you think?

Review: Waterfall

Author: Lisa T. Bergren

Pages: 369

Publisher: David C. Cook

Source: Library

Synopsis: Most American teenagers want a vacation in Italy, but the Betarrini sisters have spent every summer of their lives among the romantic hills with their archaelogist parents. Stuck among the rubble of the medieval castles in rural Tuscany, on yet another hot, dusty archaeological site, Gabi and Lia are bored out of their minds...until Gabi places her hand atop a handprint in an ancient tomb and finds herself in fourteenth-century Italy. And worse yet, in the middle of a fierce battle between knights of two opposing forces.

Suddenly Gabi's summer in Italy is much, much more interesting.

Buy the Book (Amazon/ )

Waterfall was one of those books that had it all and was executed perfectly. I've read so many reviews of people being surprised at how much they liked it. I'm one of them. Time travelling is generally something that doesn't always interest me as the storyline will be very similar in all stories but for Waterfall it worked.

I'd like to first say I love Gabi. Gabriella is strong, clever and loyal. I can sometimes get so annoyed with main characters throwing themselves at guys or general stupidity but Gabi was smart! She talked with the voice of a teen and I loved reading in her perspective. The way she adapted was impressive and I love reading about resourceful people.

I enjoyed most of the other characters. Fortino for example was a side character but well drawn out. I liked him a lot. The obvious mean girl would have been Lady Rossi so I was pleased when Lisa T. Bergen gave her more depth as a character.

Marcello the love interest was divine. You'll love Marcello. Sexy Italian, commanding, and a gentleman. His best friend, Luca, did garner my interests too. I was happy with that.

The setting... I thought it was great. I know about nothing about that era and I can't begin to remember the last book I read that took place in Italy. There were many differences from modern NA culture that were evident from speech to how women were treated. I do have to say that Gabi had a fair bit of fortune on her side. I'm not sure how historically accurate Waterfall is but I was having too much fun to care.

The plot was really good. There was always something happening and the story progressed at a good pace. I wasn't really ever bored. Waterfall had action, battles, blood, but there was romance and more day to dayish scenes. And of course there were many questions: Will Gabi ever find her way back at home? Will she ever see her family again? The ending was also well done. At one point there was an ending that I thought for a split, frenzied second that it was going to be a cliffhanger. But nope, I flipped the page and there was more.

Overall, I recommend this to many people. It's honestly just a solid story that will appeal to many for lots of different reasons. Romance, history, action, time travel, court life... All that and more can be found within these pages. 4 stars,

****

The Weekly Progress (Thanksgiving edition!)

It's Thanksgiving, so every post on this blog has been delayed by a day. I've also had a superb weekend. Lots of food makes me a very happy girl. Perhaps the biggest accomplishment of this weekend bookwise is that I read three books in three days. That made a very significant bump in my TBR list (I'm at 117 books! Woohoo!) I also made crepes!

Anyway, let's move on to the stuff that really matters. The books. 

Books Read

Some of this is from last week, but I read most of these this week. And holy wow, some of these were so incredibly good. Like, I could rave like a lunatic about how much I loved Froi of the Exiles. Fathomless was really good too, and The Talk-Funny Girl was powerful. I liked Intentions too. The only book I didn't like was Wake. I wrote a review for that, so keep an eye out. 

Currently Reading

I'm curious to read this book. I have read several reviews where people had huge issues with this book, and I can see them, but I still think this book can be entertaining. 

Next, I'll Read 

After that, I'm going to go through all my laptops for the ebooks I'm supposed to review. I think there's 5, but I have to download them again on to my new ereader. It's a little bit stressful. 

Random Thoughts

October is probably my favourite month of the year. I love the fall colours (they're especially stunning here), I love Thanksgiving and Halloween, and it's my birthday month. It's also TV month! Though there won't be the NHL to watch (%@$# the lockout) some of my favourite TV shows come back. I'm a huge TV person: I follow Supernatural and The Vampire Diaries almost religiously. I'm also trying out Arrow, so I'm pretty excited. 

 Recap

This week there was a new Cover Wars: Flutter vs Boundless. 

I posted two reviews of books from this new publishing imprint, Strange Chemistry. Poltergeeks and The Assassin's Curse. I also posted my review for Falling Under. 

I decided early on last week that I needed to read more (guess that worked) so I wrote a discussion post asking when and where people read. 

Also, this post isn't mine but I thought it was very interesting so I'll link you to it. It's called YA Shame and Stigma and it's from Read Now Sleep Later. There's a very good discussion going on and it really makes you think. Personally, I disagree with Isaac Marion, and that's all I'll say about the subject for now. Except that maybe it's not the YA genre that needs to change, but some "adult" reader's attitudes toward YA. For example, a lot of books that could appeal to adults are in YA and they can be found and enjoyed if some adult readers didn't have the perception that YA is lesser writing just for kids. As a teen, I'm open to reading the occasional MG and adult read that appeals to me, so I see no reason for bookish snobbery on an adult's part. 

TTYL

Phew, I guess I have a lot to say. Thanks for reading this entire post! And let me know what you're reading in the comments! 

Review: Falling Under

Author: Gwen Hayes

Pages: 324

Publisher: New American Library

Source: Library

Synopsis: Theia Alderson has always led a sheltered life in the small California town of Serendipity Falls. But when a devastatingly handsome boy appears in the halls of her school, Theia knows she's seen Haden before- not around town, but in her dreams.

As the Haden of both the night and the day beckons her closer one moment and pushes her away the next, the only thing Theia knows for sure is that the incredible pull she feels towards him is stronger than her fear.

And when she discovers what Haden truly is, Theia's not sure if she wants to resist him, even if the cost is her soul.

Buy the Book (Amazon/)

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The beginning of Falling Under was pretty average and typical as far as a paranormal romance goes but the last parts blew me away. I need the next book!

Falling Under started out as a typical PNR with a few exceptions. Girl meets guy and instantly falls in love. Guy acts like a douche but she still thinks there's more to him. They fall in love. Guy warns girl to stay away because he's dangerous. Girl doesn't listen. The same formula didn't enthrall me. Don't worry though, it got better.

Till we get to that awesome part I'd like to mention the characters a bit. Theia was this repressed English girl living in the US. She was locked under the watchful eye of her father because her mother was dead. I actually liked Theia and her father's dynamic. They were quiet and had big issues they needed to overcome but they loved one another.

Theia's friends didn't annoy me. I honestly loved the dynamic between them. They were true friends and had distinct personalities that fit with each other. I could see them at my high school. Donny was loud but honest and I loved reading about her and Gabe (whom I'm totally crushing on). Ame was so sweet and I'm really curious how her storyline goes. That's the other thing I liked; the BFFs had their own lives and weren't inserted into the story just for Theia to talk to occasionally.

Haden... He was very hot and cold. He was very typical and called Theia a lamb a lot (which admittedly is kind of weird). But he was also so sweet when he wasn't being furiously evasive. Haden had his secrets and he was very good at keeping them. In the end I ended up really liking Haden. When he was less angst-y (totally justified though) he was great. Plus, Falling Under had the rare alternating perspectives when needed for the story thing so we got a peek into Haden's head. It helped me relate to him.

Now, after the frustrating task of finding out Haden's secret, the story became very interesting. The plot appealed to me a lot. There were some "OMG" moments and the story ended in the best way: leaving me wanting more. There was also a fair bit of awkwardness too, which is always great. Life is awkward and this book had me giggling at some of the moments. There wasn't too much action but that may change in the sequel. Falling Under had all the great makings of an awesome series and now that we're past the typical, set up part, I can't wait to see where this story goes.

The premise is great-- not overly done. The characters I like. The plot has potential. I'd say fans of the paranormal YA will enjoy this book if they stick with it. 4 stars,

****

Review: The Assassin's Curse

Author: Cassandra Rose Clarke
Pages: 320
Publisher: Strange Chemistry
Source: Review Copy- thank you!
Synopsis: Ananna of the Tanarau abandons ship when her parents try to marry her off to an allying pirate clan: she wants to captain her own boat, not serve as second-in-command to her handsome yet clueless fiance. But her escape has dire consequences when she learns the scorned clan has sent an assassin after her. 

And when the assassin, Naji, finally catches up with her, things get even worse. Ananna inadvertently triggers a nasty curse — with a life-altering result. Now Ananna and Naji are forced to become uneasy allies as they work together to break the curse and return their lives back to normal. Or at least as normal as the lives of a pirate and an assassin can be.

Buy the Book (Amazon/)

The Assassin's Curse is really a rich, and solid fantasy read. It was a nice book to read in the sense that it captured my attention every time I opened the book, though not in the sense that it was a complete page-turner. When I had the book, I very comfortably immersed myself into the story but when I didn't have the book it wasn't begging for me to read it or lingering in my mind.

I think some parts of the story were under-developed. The world sounds very interesting what with the Confederation of Pirates and the Empire along with the magic but it wasn't explained. I didn't see much history or almost any explanation and that made it hard for me to imagine the surroundings and thus make it more real in my head. I kind of found it weird that a fantasy-ish novel didn't feel very much like fantasy because the most fantastical part -- the world -- wasn't really explained. It's especially confusing considering how dynamic the premise is. This is an awesome world -- the pirates, the magic, the Mists and it could have been a really strong part when it came to the book. I do hope in sequels there will be more explanations. I don't think it would bog down the plot either. The Assassin's Curse was relatively short (or at least it felt that way). I think it would add some more depth to a pretty good plot.

There was a genuinely interesting story. Ananna doesn't want to marry the guy her parents choose so she runs away and then an assassin is sent to kill her but instead she ends up saving his life thus initiating a curse. Ananna and Naji's story was really interesting. They both had their own story and strengths and didn't know how to deal with the other. I get the feeling that they were both very lonely so it was nice when they found each other. One issue both characters have is communicating. Naji has a hard time trusting Ananna and telling her anything (which is quite annoying) while Ananna is often in her own world and doesn't seem to notice. I did like both characters though. I liked reading of their insecurities and their personalities. Ananna is a strong character. She is very blunt and confident, and she can take care of herself. I enjoyed reading of her independent attitude.

Plot wise, I like the story. It was a good debut story though now that I've read the ending it's very obvious this was a 'set up' story. The characters are introduced, the general story arc is introduced, and we get a glimpse of the world. By the end of the book not much is resolved but some important information is learnt that will obviously influence the rest of the books. The bad thing about about this kind of plot is that the first book is a bit like a long intro. A lot of important stuff happens, but the overall story isn't furthered and the whole tension and suspense level is pretty slow. The Assassin's Curse was entertaining, but it's not yet spectacular.

I can't emphasize how much I loved the premise. It was seriously great in every way and I think that the sequel to this book will be much better with more descriptions of the world as well as the story arc firmly established and expanded. Till then, I liked this book so I'll give it 3 stars.

***

Thoughts on... Reading Here, There, Everywhere!

I've always been the type of person that finishes a book in no time. Seriously, I'm that girl- the one who reads like a book a day. Except I'm not anymore. For the first time in a long while, I've been so busy I only manage about four chapters a day. It's not a reading slump either, I enjoy very much what I read. My life has inexplicably gotten so much more busy, so I thought I might as well share where/when I do manage to read.

On the bus

Every morning I take a 25 minute or so bus ride to school. I always try to make the most of my time so I try to read on the bus. 

Pros: 25 minutes of reading makes me much calmer and more happy in the mornings. 

Cons: I have to stop reading when I get off the bus... and that's often only after I truly feel into what I'm reading so it's a bit jarring. Also, I kind of want to talk to my friends too and I can only do so many things at once. 

During class

I always bring a book to class in case I have a few minutes to read, or we have free time. In some classes we get specific time just to read. 

Pros: I get to show off and promote the awesome books I get to all my peers. 

Cons: I'm so into what I read sometimes that I miss instructions. Also, reading in class isn't usually very continuous. If a teacher notices I have nothing to do, (which is rare in 11th grade) they'll give me something to do. Which sucks. 

When I come home after school 

Ahh, school's over. NOW I can read. Let me bring my bag upstairs to my room and then relax on the bed until my family gets home. 

Pros: Continuous, relaxing, uninterrupted reading time.  

Cons: If I read too early on, I have issues stopping. I have no self control and I will neglect my homework for a really good book. I'm also generally very hungry right after school and I don't want to spill crumbs on my books. 

Before I go to bed

I'm on my bed, relaxing. I've done pretty much all I could do and I decide to end the day with some reading. 

Pros: Comfy, nice, soothing, and potential unlimited amount of time. 

Cons: Staying up too late (anyone else notice their sense of time while reading is completely out of whack?) as well as falling asleep because I'm usually so tired. 

Anyway

I've noticed the best time to read is anytime. Just read as much as you can at any point in the day because it will add up. And don't be upset with yourself for not having time to read. There's always tomorrow. No specific time of day is perfect for reading... at least on a weekday, imo. What do you think? When/where do your read? 

Cover Wars: Flutter vs Boundless

I haven't been around as much as usual so Cover Wars was temporarily delayed last week. This week's it's back though, and stronger than ever!


Cover Wars is when I post two covers, and you basically get a week to vote for your favourite. The winner continues on to next week, and it's kind of cool seeing which covers work and which don't. In the comments section we can discuss what we like about what cover, and it's basically some fun and friendly competition.

Flutter continues to dominate the competition with a convincing win against With All My Soul. Can Flutter continue it's winning ways against Boundless by Cynthia Hand?

Both of these covers focus on one colour- a warm amberish colour for Flutter, and a more purplish colour for Boundless. They both feature gorgeous font, and pretty female cover model. It's hard to pick which one you prefer, but I'm making you do it. Which cover do you consider more beautiful? 

Pick your favourite and vote in the poll below! Remember you can vote all week, so make sure to share and leave a comment! 

Let the Cover Wars begin! 

Which is your favourite cover?