It is #IReadYA week, and readers and authors alike have been proclaiming their endless love for the novels that makes up this vast category of writing. I think it's an important thing to celebrate, because YA has had an impact on so many people in so many ways. It has shown us brave, unforgettable characters and has built massive worlds filled with a wide array of complex storylines. For those who haven't really dabbled in YA, it may be easy to make certain judgements about it regarding age groups and subject matter. Why would anyone over eighteen want to spend their time with books written for teenagers? What's the draw there?

For those of us who know this category, who have traveled through its diverse settings and sat up through late nights of needing just one more page, we have more than enough answers to that question. For me, YA has been a part of my life since those awkward middle school days when I was swooning over Jacob Black and enthralled with Tally Youngblood's rebellion. Back then, reading was an escape, but it was also just something to do. It wasn't until later on in high school and college that I found a certain solace in the pages of YA books. The list of characters and stories that resonated with me goes on and on and on, seeing me through the struggles and complications that come with leaving home, losing love, and figuring out who you are.
Today, that hasn't really changed. In fact, my relationship with YA has expanded into something even more meaningful. In the years that I've been working on my own young adult novel, these books have been a loyal companion through every stage of writing. I take away countless lessons not only on what works, but also on what matters. These are stories that operate under a category with minimal boundaries and rules, but they all present themes that can be applied universally. That's what makes YA unlike anything else in literature. You can be reading about mystical horse races one day and flying pirate ships the next and you'll always find yourself encountering ideas that can be applied to your own life.

YA is gritty, daring, and it gives young people access to empowering voices with important things to say. C.S. Lewis told us that "we read to know we are not alone". That seems to apply perfectly to teenagers, but the concept of it doesn't expire when you reach a certain age. There's something very personal about YA because the young protagonists are vulnerable by nature. They bring about an honesty that makes them feel all the more real as we go through their journeys with them.


I real YA, and will always read YA, because it is an endlessly fascinating and ever growing collection of uniquely intimate writing. There are no defined limitations, which presents the reader with the excitement of endless possibilities. It promotes creativity and produces characters who can challenge and inspire us. YA authors pour their whole hearts into their projects, and it shows. YA goes far beyond entertainment for teenagers. It is a valuable contribution to the literary world and helps us to transport ourselves from reality and find a home at the same time.