Random Thoughts in the YA Books Section

I have to confess, I love to read YA books. I always (well, since I was old enough to read them) have and I probably always will. I started frequenting the YA section in college, when they were A) Cheaper than adult books and B) Quick reads to read between some massive novel for an English class and a history text for, well, a history class.

Because reading one book at a time was boring and impractical.

I noticed a disturbing trend in my YA books though. Other then Percy Jackson (and the other amazing things written by Rick Riordan) and the occasional surprise, the only new books coming out were paranormal romances.

Wait, they SPARKLE?

Like this one. The above probably started the trend, or at least brought it mainstream and so many authors wanted to get in on the magic.

If you haven't read it, it's nice to know what the fuss is about, but it's not Toni Morrison. Or Rick Riordan.

Geesh Twilight. It's a good thing girls aren't already worried that something is wrong with them if they're single. And the idea of getting old! 19, that's pretty ancient. And I should know, I'm 24.

Also, Edward is a stalker. End of story.

I read the Saga, and wanted to know what happened to the characters, but after I finished, I looked back at the books and felt kind of uncomfortable.  Stalker, chooses the controlling boyfriend, looses boyfriend and decides life isn't worth living...ect, ect, ect.

But then, another book arrived on the YA scene.

I don't know how to desribe this book other than awesome. The fact that it was popular almost made me not read it (because I'm a snob like that). But since Percy Jackson was so good, I figured I'd try it out.

And wow. Suzanne Collins is amazing. Gregor the Overlander, also fantastic.

And when I went into the YA Section last time I was in a book store, or at Walmart, there was some Meg Cabot, retelling Hades and Persephone (Greek Mythology! The series is called Abandon) and Veroncia Roth's Divergent Triology, which I haven't read but sounds amazing.

True, there are some things that could go either way. Like Selection, which is supposed to be a combination of The Bachalor and The Hunger Games. Like I said, either way.

But, most of the books are going in the Hunger Games trend. Strong female characters that are neat are in these days. Women or girls who live lives regardless of the guys in their lives. For whom romance is not the biggest problem, books that, maybe, might make you think (or at least look closer at the source material).  I feel like that is trend worth keeping going.

I approve :)

On an unrelated note, I want to read Bored of the Rings and Hunger Pains, both by Harvard Lampoon.