Young at Heart

I heard that about 55% of YA (Young Adult) books are read by people who’re older than the intended age range–adults.

When I went fact-checking, I found this: 55% of YA books are bought by adults. (Close enough, right?.) And 78% of those books are purchased for the adults themselves, not a child/younger sibling/etc. Which means… um… about 43% of YA books are read by adults.

Is that good math? Well, it’s a bunch, anyway.

Perhaps these books are for the young at heart. Maybe they’re people like me who don’t really care who a book’s written for as long as it’s good. Or people who are a little slower readers, or don’t have a lot of time, and enjoy reading a book they can complete.

A few favorites grabbed off my shelves. Clive Barker, Tamora Pierce, Terry Pratchett, Meg Cabot, Suzanne Collins, J.K. Rowling.

I read YA, because if a book sounds like something I want to read, I read it, I don’t check to see if it’s YA and ‘too young’ for me. There’s some fascinating YA out there, and a few of the books are so complex they hardly feel too easy.

If an author I love also writes YA, I have to at least check out the books. They’re usually just as wonderful. Sometimes it works the other way–I find an interesting YA book and when I look up the author I find adult books, too. I wonder what percent of authors write in more than one age range?

Do you (adult-like people. Because growing older is mandatory, growing up is optional) read YA? What are your reasons?