I like "YA" books, but I just never saw it as a genre. Until last year I didn't even know it was one. Just because every single book for the ages from 14 to 24 is called YA. I just don't like that. I also hate it when people put ages on books. I know that's a whole different issue, but I've had problems with that my entire life.
I feel that these people make sweeping judgements about every genre that does not have tour de force literature. Such as romance and chick lit. I feel that many people just read in a box and anything outside that box they want to label as trash, not real literature.
This video is amazing. And I for one think that it doesn't matter what any 50 year old member of the literary department of some famous college thinks about Y.A. fiction because they aren't young adults. How are they supposed to relate to the problems of everyday teen life? They can't. They aren't teenagers anymore. And the fact that these people are hating on this ENTIRE GENRE is ridiculous. We are all entitled to our opinions, but it is unwise to give them if they're uneducated ones.
YA, really, isn't even a genre. There are YA fantasy novels, YA romance novels, YA coming of age novels - really, YA just says "this is targeted at young adults." Everyone from J.K. Rowling to John Green falls into that category, really, and to be fair, there are plenty of awful writers who fall in between. But that is true of every genre, even literary fiction (because modern literary fiction defines itself not by literary merit itself, but by the themes of previous works of literary merit).
I love you. Seriously. You are one of my new role models! Right there next to Terry Trueman who I met on Jan. 28! Not to rub it in, but I couldn't get past how funny he was. :3 You remind me so much of Max from Maximum Ride. More on the sarcasm than anything else. :) Thank you for making your videos!
This is such a fantastic video! I love reading books of all genres and YA literature and Children's literature are just as credible as adult books, I believe. Members of my own family have told me that I need to start reading more "grown up" books despite the fact I was reading adult book as well as YA when I was 14 years old...why can't I read all types of books? Brilliant video, loved it!
Jackson, not only is this the first video I ever saw of yours almost a year ago, and first reason why I was a fan of you, but it is also still one of my favorites. YA is my passion, too. I read a ton of it and it's the only thing I write and the only thing I can ever imagine myself writing. It's so much fun and also serious when it needs to be, and aimed towards an audience of people who can relate to it, but still appeals to people of any age. It drives me nuts when people look down on it.
YA is such a fun genre, the most creative and exciting! A lot of adult books bore me. I thinks its like music, not everyone likes pop, rock, heavy metal and Grime
I totally agree with you Jackson! I didn't think the YA genre would appeal to me at first, but after giving it a try it's now my favorite genres. A lot of the stories are very meaningful and I can relate with them. I can't believe so many book reviewers actually thought YA books had uncomplicated themes and morals. Most of them do, If I Stay, Before I Fall, Perfect Chemistry are only a handful of YA books that have very heavy themes. Keep on writing and voicing your opinion Jackson! :)
Thank you so much for this. I can't even begin to tell you how much this means to me being a teen, avid YA reader, and hopefully future YA writer. I love most YA beyond belief but it's not all just teens whining about their normal lives or making out with boys the entire time. I, actually, refuse to read that kind. There is so much more to YA then all of that and it hurts when people refuse to see it any other way. Don't judge a book by it's cover. Thank you.
See, the problem with the world is, when I say "YA," you say "Twilight." Not that Twilight isn't fun to read in it's own way, but it gives the distinct impression that teenage girls only want to read about kissing pretty vampires. Like teen-appropriate harlequin romance. And YA is such a huge range, it's so much more than that. Why not just make sweeping assumptions about "adult" novels, if they're going to be like that?
I also agree. YA is amazing. My mom has loved the YA novels that she has read and wishing that there was a wide selection. Also as a YA book blogger, it makes me sad. Reading a book, because it is in a certain part of the store is just child-ish.
" I assume that anything branded young adult needs to have a plotline that captures a teens attention, and also needs to be not too long or challenging."
What are we, idiots?
Thank you for this much-needed video Jackson :D:D
YA is some of the best writing. If not for YA, many people would never discover their love of reading. So thanks for this video. All the YA readers and writers are thanking you for this.
Jackson, you're a hero. I love this video. I'm a YA writer; I haven't seen that New Yorker article and maybe I'd better not go look for it in case I get apoplexy.
I read the New Yorker post, and , good god, what is wrong with those people. It's crystal clear they don't read mush YA. I very rarely see simple morality themes in most of the YA I read.
THANK YOU. Thank you so much for this one. I feel like I'm always being put down for writing and reading in this genre, like there's no worth in books about teenagers. Because, well, that's really what these are. And don't teenagers have just as much merit as human beings as adults do?
I want to start randomly saying, "Where the hell is my crumpet?" It should be the new shorthand for "Shut up, you pretentious literary ass," seriously.
I've read a lot of great books that were labeled "Young Adult," even after I grew out of being a "young adult."
This is probably one of the best videos about YA that I've ever seen. THANK YOU. It is so infuriating to hear people say crap about YA, but this video makes me feel considerably less homicidal. ;)
This video is awesome. The New Yorker should be ashamed for letting their writers publish such disdainful drivel. I hope hoity toity Jackson appears again.
Made of Win. I read the post on Sarah's site and was vastly confused at the New Yorker. Like she said, have they not read John Green?! Certainly not just a bunch of fluffy words in those books.
Oh, and I was totally distracted by that gnome on the shelf behind you :D
This is indeed made of win! Splendid! (Having followed your link from the comments in the New Yorker - dear sweet weeping mother of heaven, those were some smug and ignorant remarks in that article.)
Right. I'm off to have tea and crumpets and read another YA book. Have a nice day!
I hate when people just assume that because I want to write for young adults that I'm just too lazy to write a "meaningful book". Young adults are the ones who need the most guidance and can be influenced most through literature if they just took the time to read.
No one wants to read about someone they can't relate to with words they can't pronounce.
Love love this video. YA rocks and as a young adult myself, I feel very insulted by this. When they insult YA literature, they're insulting everyone who reads and throughly enjoys it. Thank you for making this video and great job Jackson.
I like "YA" books, but I just never saw it as a genre. Until last year I didn't even know it was one. Just because every single book for the ages from 14 to 24 is called YA. I just don't like that. I also hate it when people put ages on books. I know that's a whole different issue, but I've had problems with that my entire life.
lunatheawesomee 1 week ago
This video is amazing. Thank you!
lookitspookie1 1 month ago
I feel that these people make sweeping judgements about every genre that does not have tour de force literature. Such as romance and chick lit. I feel that many people just read in a box and anything outside that box they want to label as trash, not real literature.
TheMaryweather 2 months ago
This video is amazing. And I for one think that it doesn't matter what any 50 year old member of the literary department of some famous college thinks about Y.A. fiction because they aren't young adults. How are they supposed to relate to the problems of everyday teen life? They can't. They aren't teenagers anymore. And the fact that these people are hating on this ENTIRE GENRE is ridiculous. We are all entitled to our opinions, but it is unwise to give them if they're uneducated ones.
AlexaJCD 7 months ago
Gee I'm glad the public's opinion on teenages and YA literature has grown so much in the past 2 years... oh... wait
JessieLightyear 8 months ago
Well said, Ms. Pearce!
SenseOrSensibility 8 months ago
"I'm done defending my genre to people who couldn't be bothered to read it in the first place."
So am I! YA authors unite, even if they are currently unpublished.
BroadwayBabe3 10 months ago 3
Preach sister!
NarglexD 11 months ago
YA, really, isn't even a genre. There are YA fantasy novels, YA romance novels, YA coming of age novels - really, YA just says "this is targeted at young adults." Everyone from J.K. Rowling to John Green falls into that category, really, and to be fair, there are plenty of awful writers who fall in between. But that is true of every genre, even literary fiction (because modern literary fiction defines itself not by literary merit itself, but by the themes of previous works of literary merit).
AuntieOphiucha 1 year ago
I love you. Seriously. You are one of my new role models! Right there next to Terry Trueman who I met on Jan. 28! Not to rub it in, but I couldn't get past how funny he was. :3 You remind me so much of Max from Maximum Ride. More on the sarcasm than anything else. :) Thank you for making your videos!
ElioseWasHere 1 year ago
This is such a fantastic video! I love reading books of all genres and YA literature and Children's literature are just as credible as adult books, I believe. Members of my own family have told me that I need to start reading more "grown up" books despite the fact I was reading adult book as well as YA when I was 14 years old...why can't I read all types of books? Brilliant video, loved it!
tashastreasure 1 year ago
Jackson, not only is this the first video I ever saw of yours almost a year ago, and first reason why I was a fan of you, but it is also still one of my favorites. YA is my passion, too. I read a ton of it and it's the only thing I write and the only thing I can ever imagine myself writing. It's so much fun and also serious when it needs to be, and aimed towards an audience of people who can relate to it, but still appeals to people of any age. It drives me nuts when people look down on it.
myxgiftxisxmyxsong 1 year ago
YA is such a fun genre, the most creative and exciting! A lot of adult books bore me. I thinks its like music, not everyone likes pop, rock, heavy metal and Grime
maheshunlimited 1 year ago
I totally agree with you Jackson! I didn't think the YA genre would appeal to me at first, but after giving it a try it's now my favorite genres. A lot of the stories are very meaningful and I can relate with them. I can't believe so many book reviewers actually thought YA books had uncomplicated themes and morals. Most of them do, If I Stay, Before I Fall, Perfect Chemistry are only a handful of YA books that have very heavy themes. Keep on writing and voicing your opinion Jackson! :)
dmfriend25 1 year ago
What is this "literature" everybody is talking about? Can you make any money with it?
MomoTheBellyDancer 1 year ago
Well said. :)
GymnasticsGirl6163 1 year ago
yeah! you go miss pearce! :D
shockingreality 1 year ago
great video
eagleeyez128 1 year ago
do A55e5 usually have british accents and smoke pipes?
ZachCowan 1 year ago
@ZachCowan LOL
shockingreality 1 year ago
Well said :)
variantgirl17 1 year ago
Thank you so much for this. I can't even begin to tell you how much this means to me being a teen, avid YA reader, and hopefully future YA writer. I love most YA beyond belief but it's not all just teens whining about their normal lives or making out with boys the entire time. I, actually, refuse to read that kind. There is so much more to YA then all of that and it hurts when people refuse to see it any other way. Don't judge a book by it's cover. Thank you.
WarriorOfThePen 2 years ago 14
This has been flagged as spam show
@WarriorOfThePen "it's not all just teens whining about their normal lives or making out with boys the entire time." So true! =/
shockingreality 1 year ago
By heavens, man, I love this woman!
Sefirosukuraodo 2 years ago
lol, you go girl!!
kate3011 2 years ago
LOVE THIS.
Katie11250 2 years ago
Amen.
BooneVT 2 years ago
See, the problem with the world is, when I say "YA," you say "Twilight." Not that Twilight isn't fun to read in it's own way, but it gives the distinct impression that teenage girls only want to read about kissing pretty vampires. Like teen-appropriate harlequin romance. And YA is such a huge range, it's so much more than that. Why not just make sweeping assumptions about "adult" novels, if they're going to be like that?
ArtemisRampant 2 years ago 33
i've never before realized just how awesome the word 'unsavory' could be :D
rushtofly 2 years ago
I love Sarah Oakler.
I also agree. YA is amazing. My mom has loved the YA novels that she has read and wishing that there was a wide selection. Also as a YA book blogger, it makes me sad. Reading a book, because it is in a certain part of the store is just child-ish.
Sarahbear9789 2 years ago
" I assume that anything branded young adult needs to have a plotline that captures a teens attention, and also needs to be not too long or challenging."
What are we, idiots?
Thank you for this much-needed video Jackson :D:D
yasmiona 3 years ago
Bravissima!
YA is some of the best writing. If not for YA, many people would never discover their love of reading. So thanks for this video. All the YA readers and writers are thanking you for this.
remustentaclelove 3 years ago
Jackson, you're a hero. I love this video. I'm a YA writer; I haven't seen that New Yorker article and maybe I'd better not go look for it in case I get apoplexy.
cuillin4 3 years ago
I read the New Yorker post, and , good god, what is wrong with those people. It's crystal clear they don't read mush YA. I very rarely see simple morality themes in most of the YA I read.
blythe025 3 years ago
THANK YOU. Thank you so much for this one. I feel like I'm always being put down for writing and reading in this genre, like there's no worth in books about teenagers. Because, well, that's really what these are. And don't teenagers have just as much merit as human beings as adults do?
ArtemisRampant 3 years ago
Oh, and P.S..... Can't wait for your book.
BroadwayFanatic2008 3 years ago
RIGHT ON! I never thought I'd say this, but: YOU GO GIRL! That was fantabulous.
BroadwayFanatic2008 3 years ago
I want to start randomly saying, "Where the hell is my crumpet?" It should be the new shorthand for "Shut up, you pretentious literary ass," seriously.
I've read a lot of great books that were labeled "Young Adult," even after I grew out of being a "young adult."
spectralbovine 3 years ago
This is probably one of the best videos about YA that I've ever seen. THANK YOU. It is so infuriating to hear people say crap about YA, but this video makes me feel considerably less homicidal. ;)
brecahalley 3 years ago
well said:)
davedebeer 3 years ago
This video is awesome. The New Yorker should be ashamed for letting their writers publish such disdainful drivel. I hope hoity toity Jackson appears again.
docjohnboy 3 years ago
*applause*
misserinmarie 3 years ago
right on!
Bolweevils 3 years ago
well said!
howisuckatlife 3 years ago
brilliant!
SeeSaraWrite 3 years ago
Ha ha. I like the pipe-smoking highbrow JJ and wanted to see more of her.
skutir 3 years ago
HA HA
Made of Win. I read the post on Sarah's site and was vastly confused at the New Yorker. Like she said, have they not read John Green?! Certainly not just a bunch of fluffy words in those books.
Oh, and I was totally distracted by that gnome on the shelf behind you :D
kalebnation 3 years ago
This is indeed made of win! Splendid! (Having followed your link from the comments in the New Yorker - dear sweet weeping mother of heaven, those were some smug and ignorant remarks in that article.)
Right. I'm off to have tea and crumpets and read another YA book. Have a nice day!
nomdesouris 3 years ago
Oh Jackson Pearce, you know I LOVE you! :)
tgseale 3 years ago
P.S. I love this video.
ErinRawlinson 3 years ago
Clearly these people have never read any books by John Green.
ErinRawlinson 3 years ago
Amen, Sister. I'm trying to get this point through some of my friends' thick skulls.
illyaden 3 years ago
Some of the best books I've read are considered YA. I think a lot of young adult fiction is very honest stuff, and I appreciate that.
LLeopardGGecko 3 years ago
PREACH SISTER PREACH!
I hate when people just assume that because I want to write for young adults that I'm just too lazy to write a "meaningful book". Young adults are the ones who need the most guidance and can be influenced most through literature if they just took the time to read.
No one wants to read about someone they can't relate to with words they can't pronounce.
Thank you for making this video.
You are truly hilarious.
p.s. nice pipe
-Chelsea
HeartBreakkkGirl 3 years ago
Love love this video. YA rocks and as a young adult myself, I feel very insulted by this. When they insult YA literature, they're insulting everyone who reads and throughly enjoys it. Thank you for making this video and great job Jackson.
JeneSayQua 3 years ago