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Kirsten Bledsoe's avatar

By reading YA literature, I have learned that I am drawn to stories via emotions and character development. So many other genres describe the story but keep you at a distance. YA plunges you right in. I know that’s an overgeneralization, but for me it’s been more true than not. The Hunger Games series is my favorite. Somehow I missed this release, can’t wait to read it.

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Alise Napp's avatar

That's an excellent articulation of what makes some literary fiction so different in its tone -- it keeps you at a distance.

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cristy ragland's avatar

I just finished this audible and 💔- even though you know it’s coming

I can’t wait to go on all the deep dives of this read

And the media connection feels spot on

Also accepting YA soapbox invitation

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Alise Napp's avatar

Right?! I was so impressed with her that I was still so heartbroken by the ending that I knew was coming.

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Liz K's avatar

I have accepted your invitation to join you on your soapbox in defense of substantive YA literature. Sometimes I wonder if people look down on YA books because they feel cringe about their younger , less filtered selves and project that onto the books their cringiest selves loved.

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Alise Napp's avatar

I think that's right. It can also be jarring to return to something you loved once and realize it doesn't hit you in the same way as it did in a previous part of your life. During the pandemic, I read a lot of middle-grade fiction. It felt so comforting during a scary time, but I also picked up much more than I did as a kid. Just because something is written primarily for a different audience doesn't mean there can't still be something wonderful in it for people beyond that demographic.

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