Children's and Young Adult Novels

[Hunter X]

Yeah, The Hunger Games is way more complicated thematically than a John Grishem or Dan Brown novel, and I'd say on par or even moreso than the Stephen King I've read as well. So what's the difference between a YA novel like The Hunger Games and an "adult" novel? The former has less swearing, sex, drug use and gore? Maybe, but I find they can deal with topics like sexuality, death and violence with just as much, if not more, maturity than an adult novel does.

I'd be curious at how Stein defines an adult novel? Is it dependant on where it is shelved in Barnes and Nobel? On content? On if someone told him it was for young adults? The dividing line seems pretty arbitrary, as most genre lines are.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I suspect Stein would classify any John Grisham, Dan Brown, or even Stephen King novel as being pulp trash and unworthy of any adult's time to read in their continual striving to be elevated into a truly enlightened superman.

 

[Miss Chicken]

Well I for one won't be reading Joel Stein's book that is due out next month

The smudge looked suspicious. The doctor confirmed: "That's the baby's penis!" Joel's reaction? Pure panic. "I pictured having to go camping and fix a car and use a hammer and throw a football and watch professionals throw footballs and figure out whether to be sad or happy about the results of said football throwing." And so begins Joel's quest to confront his effete nature whether he likes it or not (he doesn't), by doing a 24-hour shift with LA firefighters, going hunting, rebuilding a house, enduring three days of basic training with the Marine Corps, and going into the ring with UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture. Seeking help from a panel of experts, including his manly father-in-law, a racecar driver, Boy Scouts, former NFL star Warren Sapp and some celebrities, he expects to learn that masculinity is not defined by the size of his muscles but by the size of his heart. This is not at all what he learns.

I don't think it will outsell The Hunger Games.

What would hehave written if the baby had been a girl?

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

I think he should pay for a paternity test.

 

[Deckerd]

To call someone lazy when they occasionally choose to read a YA book is wrongly judging them.

I know there are plenty of adults that read comics. I bought myself the Complete Calvin and Hobbes. Am I lazy because I enjoy these?

Yes but I didn't say that Miss Chicken, so what can I deduce from you not reading my post properly? Unless you're expecting to argue for Joel Stein for the rest of this conversation.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I thought it was obvious in my post that I was referring to Joel Stein's opinion not yours. After all I did start my post with

But many YA books are on par intellectually with many adult books and it is a pity that Joel Stein is too ignorant of the genre to realise it

I only quoted you because you gave an opinion on what Joel Stein meant. I answered with an opinion on how ignorant Joel Stein's knowledge of YA literature was, particularly concerning The Hunger Games which he openly admitted to knowing nothing about.

Joel Stein is arguing from a position of ignorance, not a good start for anyone. I don't tend to criticise books that I haven't even attempted to read so I think it is a bit bizarre that he does.

 

[Deckerd]

So we're all agreed Joel Stein's an arse then? Glad we cleared that up.

 

[RandyS]

1) Do you read children/YA novels
2) Do you/would you include them in your reading list
3) Do you have any recommendations for me?

1. I don't go out of my way to, but I wouldn't shy away from it either.
2. I don't make reading lists.
3. Sorry, but no.

 

[nvek86]

I don't really care if a book is classified as Young Adult or not. And reading the wikipedia entry on the subject, it seems that quite a few classics fall into that category.

The topic also reminds me of this wonderful quote by C.S. Lewis: "Some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again."

 

[Miss Chicken]

Of the books recommended I have downloaded

The Graveyard Book
Thr Curious incident of the Dog in the Nighttime
The Giver

and I have added some of the others to my wishlist.m

 

[scotpens]

Who the hell is Joel Stein? He sounds like he's a pretentious, elitist dick. Is it the same Joel Stein as this closet racist?

You might want to actually read the article instead of having a knee-jerk reaction.

Joel Stein is arguing from a position of ignorance, not a good start for anyone. I don't tend to criticise books that I haven't even attempted to read so I think it is a bit bizarre that he does.

In case some of you don’t know, Joel Stein is a humor and satire columnist. Whether you think his writing is funny or not is a matter of opinion. What’s fact is that he doesn’t intend any of it to be taken seriously.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

Maybe I'm not meant to post this. I just accidentally deleted it three times.

The YA books that I've read in the last few years:

The Inheritance Cycle, by Christopher Paolini. A boy and his dragon; kind of LOTR-ish. First two volumes were terrific. Last two weren't.

A few of the Warriors books, by Erin Peters. Clans of warrior cats.

Sometimes We're Always Real Same-Same, by Maddox Roesch. Excellent.

I'd Tell You That I Love You But Then I'd Have to Kill You, by Ally Carter. First of a series about teens in spy school. Cute.

The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-time Indian, by Sherman Alexie. Excellent.

So obviously I think YA literature "counts." I especially enjoy it when I'm not feeling up to par.

Oh, and I'm a Harry Potter fanatic.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I think I will have to read the second Warriors book by Erin Peters just so I can find out what becomes of Ravenpaw.

Yesterday I read The Graveyard Book. It was a delightful story.

 

[Asbo Zaprudder]

Who the hell is Joel Stein? He sounds like he's a pretentious, elitist dick. Is it the same Joel Stein as this closet racist?

You might want to actually read the article instead of having a knee-jerk reaction.

Joel Stein is arguing from a position of ignorance, not a good start for anyone. I don't tend to criticise books that I haven't even attempted to read so I think it is a bit bizarre that he does.

In case some of you don’t know, Joel Stein is a humor and satire columnist. Whether you think his writing is funny or not is a matter of opinion. What’s fact is that he doesn’t intend any of it to be taken seriously.

I read his article and I still think he sounds like a closet racist. Humour is no defence - I'm sure Joseph Goebbels thought himself quite a hoot.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I think I will have to read the second Warriors book by Erin Peters just so I can find out what becomes of Ravenpaw.

Yesterday I read The Graveyard Book. It was a delightful story.

I suspect you will end up reading all six (?) volumes of the first series.

 

[Sci]

He could have worded it better but I see where he's coming from. I think he sees the trend of adults to read books designed for teenagers is intellectual laziness. Grown-up books are too hard, I'll read my kids' books instead.

His point is still complete and utter bullshit.

A good book is a good book, whether you're 5 or 50. And there are plenty of books for young readers out there which are challenging, just as there are plenty of books out there ostensibly for adults which aren't the least bit challenging. I've more respect for the complex moral questions raised in, say, The Giver than in The Hunt for Red October.

 

[scotpens]

I read his article and I still think he sounds like a closet racist. Humour is no defence - I'm sure Joseph Goebbels thought himself quite a hoot.

As Stein wrote:

I was trying to explain how, as someone who believes that immigration has enriched American life and my hometown in particular, I was shocked that I could feel a tiny bit uncomfortable with my changing town when I went to visit it. If we could understand that reaction, we'd be better equipped to debate people on the other side of the immigration issue.

Humor and satire is a defense. And the article is funny. Pity some people are so locked into the PC mentality that they can’t see it.

 

[Miss Chicken]

I have read quite a few of Stein's articles since I read the first one a few days ago and I have yet to find one that I consider funny. I don't think you can automatically put it down to PC. This might be as a result of Australian humour being quite different from American humour - I don't find American sitcoms funny though I do enjoy many British ones.

 

[arthur2sheds]

I would recommend any of Alan Garner's books for children/YA.
The Weirdstone of Brisingamen, Moon of Gomarth, Elidor, The Owl Service and Red Shift. Most were written in the 1960's but they are childrens fantasy novels at their very best.

 

[Tora Ziyal]

I don't find American sitcoms funny though I do enjoy many British ones.

Neither do I, and I've spent my whole life here. The few British sitcoms I've seen were much better.