What are the teen reading trends for 2011? For the third time in the last several years, I had the opportunity to discuss teen reading trends and young adult books with the president of the Young Adult Library Services Association (
YALSA), a division of the American Library Association. Not only was it interesting to get the perspective of the current YALSA president, Kim Patton, it was also interesting to see what had changed since my
2007 YALSA interview and my
2008 YALSA interview. One thing that has definitely changed is the increased emphasis on technology.
1. What are some of the trends in young adult literature in 2011?
While books about vampires continue to be popular, zombies appear to be the next big YA terror. Generally, books with supernatural aspects hold a lot of appeal to teens. Fantasy books continue to be popular. Romances and urban fiction are quickly gaining must-read status.
2. Do you see particular genres increasing in popularity?
Urban fiction is getting more and more popular, whether teens live in the big city or in small towns. At my library, we have a lot of teens who can’t wait for the next supernatural thriller (zombies, ghosts, vampires, etc.).
3. Are there certain themes or subjects that are particularly popular with certain, or all, YA groups?
Teens like stories with a lot of action, whether it’s a supernatural romance or a thriller.
4. With teen’s love of technology, do you see them embracing e-readers and reading more as a result?
I think a lot of teens will. Most of the teens I come into contact with are looking for that all-in-one tech tool that will allow them to access all of their technology without carrying separate phones, iPods, e-readers, etc.
5. Are your teen librarians seeing an increase in requests for e-books from teens?
Teens are generally interested in gadgets of any type, and I find that e-readers are no exception. In some areas of the country, teens are extremely interested in e-readers; in others, it is still catching on.
Initiatives like YALSA’s Teen Tech Week (www.ala.org/teentechweek) help librarians and educators stay in touch with the teens we serve and giving us insights into the technology tools and gadgets that are important to them, allowing us to provide the best services to our young patrons.
6. Tell me more about Teen Tech Week.
YALSA’s Teen Tech Week is similar to Teen Read Week, in that we provide resources for librarians, educators, and parents to encourage teens to check out the technology available to them at the library. The goal of TTW is to ensure that teens are competent and ethical users of technologies, especially those that are offered through libraries such as DVDs, databases, audiobooks, video games, and more. During TTW we encourage teens to use technology to enhance their education and recreation pursuits. The next Teen Tech Week will be held March 6-12, 2011; the theme is Mix and Mash @ your library.
7. What recommendations do you have for parents on keeping their kids reading during the busy middle and high school years?
Parents are the best models of good reading behavior. They should make sure that they are taking time to read each day, along with their teens. Parents can encourage teens to take some time each day for reading for pleasure. Allow teens to read whatever medium appeals to them: newspapers, magazines, fiction or nonfiction books, e-books; they all count as reading material. They can also make sure that their teens have regular transportation to the library and are given ample time to select materials that appeal to them.
8. What recommendations or resources do you have for reluctant teen readers?
Reluctant readers, to me, are those who haven’t found the right book at the right time yet. YALSA’s
Quick Picks for Reluctant Readers list is a great source for finding books for these teens. It’s important to encourage teens to read something that interests them, in any format that’s available â€" a librarian can find out what a teen is passionate about and how he or she likes to read.
9. Since some YA fiction is suitable for mature ten year olds who read and comprehend well and other YA fiction is definitely geared to older teens, can you recommend good reading lists or other resources to help parents identify good YA books for 'tweens and young teens and good YA books for older teens?
YALSA provides recommended
reading lists that its members update each year, including Quick Picks for Reluctant Young Adult Readers, Best Fiction for Young Adults, Popular Paperbacks for Young Adults, and many more. Each list features a wide range of titles that would be suitable for various ages. Parents can browse the lists and then consult their child’s librarian to make sure the titles are appropriate for their family.
10. I have seen varying definitions of “young adult literature†on the ALA site. What is the most accepted definition?
Generally speaking, young adult literature is material aimed at teen readers’ interests. It can be fiction or nonfiction, a graphic novel or an audiobook. Generally, young adult literature features teen protagonists dealing with situations to which teens can relate.
11. Thank you for taking the time to visit with me. I continue to be impressed by all that libraries are doing to serve teens.
Thank you! Librarians, especially YA librarians are dedicated and passionate about encouraging teens to explore the library. We welcome the opportunity to expose teens to a positive library experience so they realize how vital libraries are to improving their quality of life.
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