An interest in this type of book grew, but there was no boom if teen lit yet. Authors of teen books became much more recognized in the 70's with Lois Duncan, Robert Cormier, & Judy Blume. These authors gave the teen reader darker themes, more sexuality, and intense characters. In the 90's we had Fear Street, the gut-wrenching love vs. death in Lurlene McDaniels novels, and Sweet Valley High. These names have stuck around because a. the books are damn good, b. there weren't a lot of options (when I was a teen in the 90's) and c.these authors (even the 90's authors) paved the way for the abundance of teen lit we have today.
There is just as much diversity in teen lit as there is in books written for adults. It isn't all "someone is stalking the babysitter" or "my first love" stories anymore! It is a talent, to be an adult and write in an authentic teen voice. Teen lit lets you feel for the characters - but in a way that is removed, because thank gawd we aren't teens any more.
My high school life would have been one boring-ass book with a few note-worthy sex scenes thrown in. And I mean note-worthy in a teen way. That's fine. Now that I am older and wiser (?) I can read all these teen titles and not feel like omgiwishmylifewaslikethat or thankgodmylifeisntlikethat. I love the intensity with which teens live their lives. I'll live in that world again for a little while, then safely return it in the library drop-box.
A noteworthy few, in no particular order:
One for the Murphy's by Lynda Mullaly Hunt
OCD, The Dude, and Me by Lauren Roedy Vaughn
Roomies by Sara Zarr
Fifteenth Summer by Michelle Dalton
Ten Things We Did by Sarah Mlynowski
Living Dead Girl by Elizabeth Scott
The F-it List by Julie Halpern
Exposed by Kimberly Marcus
A World Away by Nancy Grossman
No comments:
Post a Comment