Twenty Reasons I Love Young Adult Literature

It’s my birthday today. It’s not a momentous birthday, but I figured I’d dedicate today to some of the myriad reasons I love YA.

1. It all started with the magic of “Harry Potter.”
2. For Ron and Hermione and all couples who started off as fiery, bantery, teasing best pals.
3. Because Diana and I bond over telling each other about our latest favorite books and occasionally even finish books within minutes of each other.
4. The Selective Collective crew who makes book blogging fun: Brittany, Candice, Daphne and Kiki, and Tammy!
5. Discovering an author is so amazing you want to read every single thing they write.
6. Melina Marchetta, especially for Jonah “Effing” Griggs and Taylor; Finnikin and Isaboe; Froi and Quintaina; Will and Frankie (and also Tom Mackee and Lucian and Phaedra, and every other character she’s created)
7. Maggie Stiefvater, especially for Puck and Sean (but also Sam and Grace and Blue and her Raven Boys)
8. Rainbow Rowell for understanding that the world needs more swoon-worthy Asian boys who look good in eyeliner, for big, beautifully fierce girls who just need to be loved; and for exploring the joys of fandom and first love.
9. Gayle Forman whose love stories break your heart and then it put it back together again.
10. John Green for helping to educate millions of kids and adults about what’s going on in the world and for creating characters who work their way into your soul.
11. Stephanie Perkins and her cheerful romances, especially the fact I read “Anna and the French Kiss” right before going to Paris for my 10th anniversary.
12. All those dying or surviving characters who helped me grieve and gave me perspective: Mia and Adam, Tessa and Adam, Hazel Grace and Augustus, Lennie Walker, Amy (and Roger); Jill MacSweeny; and so many more.
13. Even though the writing is mediocre, reading “Twilight” helped me appreciate the best friend who doesn’t get the girl.
14. For helping me write better reviews about page-to-screen adaptations.
15. Kick-ass heroines like Tris, Katniss, Hermione, Karou, Celaena, Katsa, Evanjalin, Alina, Anya, and Tessa.
16. Authors who dare to write about tough issues like bullying, rape, drug abuse, homophobia and slut shaming.
17. Because I get to write about books not only for fun but as a reviewer at Common Sense Media
18. For my Moms Who Love YA book club.
19. Park. Ron. Jonah. Finnkin. Levi. Jase. Sean. Adam. Adam. Adam. Adam. Adam (they’re all different). Akiva. Will and Jem. Froi. Mal. Tobias. Chaol. Will Trombal. Willem. Jacob. Roger. Henry. Alex. Sam. Todd. Josh Bennett. Win. Peeta. Simon.
20. Because readers like you share my passion for reading YA literature.

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