We writers like to think there’s an endless supply of readers for what we write – but if we’re honest, we realize we’re not just competing with other books/articles anymore.
Teens, perhaps more than anyone, are much more likely to be entertained with movies, TV, video games, social networking, apps, and whatever else is out there that this mid-40′s lady is clueless about. Books, as a rule, are not at the top of their wish lists.
Next week (October 16-22) is Teen Read Week, sponsored by the Young Adult Library Services Association (a division of the American Library Association). Many of us know that, once we get hooked on reading, it’s often a lasting passion, and the teen years are a great time to get interested in reading.
And there are several books out there geared toward teens – and a lot of them are not God-honoring. Praying that this generation of teens will embrace reading – reading of books that will encourage, uplift, and strengthen them and their relationship with the Lord.
What are some great books for teens? Do you have teens? Are they readers? Do you/have you considered writing for teens?
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14 Comments until now.
Ohhhhh man. Have you hit on a passion of mine, Jo
I have a pre-teen boy who loves reading, but he’s certainly not the stereotype. I do know a whole schlew (not a word) of teens who ARE reading. Most of them are girls, and many are reading adult novels (both CBA and non-CBA). If my memory serves me, that was what I was reading in high school as well.
Although many of the popular commercial fiction YA titles out there are supernatural and may appear to be focused away from God, parents and their teens CAN find jewels. Nicole O’Dell is excellent. Bill Myers also has a (spooky) series of books aimed at the YA market. Check out Team Novel Teen for more recommendations – good stuff.
I’m committed to Christian YA myself, and heavy into my WIP. Working on a website too. Our kids NEED to have the Gospel message and encouragement communicated to them in a relevant way. And well written stories that grip their hearts and minds (not to mention those that are marketed well!) will totally rise above the other noise in their world (IMHO, of course
).
I’ve heard good things about Nicole O’Dell, Di – though I haven’t read any of her stuff. My oldest is still a few years from teen, but I’ve certainly got my ears open for good stuff. And I KNOW yours will be wonderful. Thanks for the site recommendation too!
Not only are there too few Christian-based YA books out there, but there are too few “clean” YA books out there. A book can be clean without being preachy, and I wish there were more of those; I’m hoping to add to that count eventually. Clean YA author suggestions include Kiersten White, Ally Carter, Jenny B. Jones, Donita K. Paul, to name a few.
And, Joanne, with your child not quite a teen, be sure to stay aware of what your child’s pulling off the library shelves. I’ve complained and had a couple of chapter books re-routed from the Children’s department to YA because they were too advanced in content for the age that department targeted. We need a Middle Grade department in our library; I’m working on that!
Thanks, Diane – I appreciate the list so much, and your warning. I AM watching my son’s reading habits. Those middle-grade books can be almost as bad.
This is a great conversation, Joanne. I am the mother of 2 young adults girls and a teen girl. The older ones were big readers and the younger one has been caught up in the swirl of interactive media. (But the youngest is most Faith-community connected) I am also a Christian writer who tends to pen young adult material. Have published several articles in that realm but not discovered the path to publishing a novel yet, but God and I are chatting about this.
I believe, to reach people one needs to go where they are and walk there with them a bit. I have waded into social media, tv, movies, popular novels including supernatural – and I can’t help but read them with a Christian eye. I am learning what appeals so I can get their attention. God is supernatural and the Twilight book’s first chapter starts in the garden of Eden. Have you read it? There is the issue of eternity and loving unto sacrficial death. Characters are gifted uniquely according to their temperament.
I see young people clamoring for the Christian message; many just don’t know it. Writing to interest and entertain but also to speak the Truth is critical. But we must be among them so they can (and will) hear us.
My daughter is a bookworm and several hundred dollars worth of books she’s bought with her allowance and gift money. I don’t always approve of some of her choices but fantasy lovers have different minds.
My son isn’t a reader but needed books for book reporting and in school reading. He’s 16. He loved The Hitchhiker’s Guide To The Galaxy by Douglas Adams; and is reading Jule’s Verne The Mysterious Island. He also chose a collection of Sherlock Holmes mysteries, which it turns out my husband is reading.
Well,i am a teen myself,and i love reading!.bt as a teen,i can say that what we really love to read is action-filled books…we teens could be reached!
I haven’t read Twilight – fascinating that it starts in the garden of Eden.
I absolutely agree that we need to walk with them where they are. Great thoughts!
Ifeoluwa – that’s good to know. Action-filled books sound good for most ANY age – but I can definitely see how it would be especially so for teens. What’s your favorite book?
And Rosalie – out of curiosity, how much “free reign” do you give your daughter on buying the books she wants? Do you give her complete freedom as long as its her money? Just curious.
I have not heard of some of the authors mentioned already, so I will have to take a closer look at them. My 14 year old daughter really enjoyed the Color series by Melody Carlson, which touches on some tough teen (high school aged) subjects but in a Christian light. She also read the Circle series by Ted Dekker, and a few Amish fiction books by Kim Vogel Sawyer. My 12 year old, who likes mystery has been reading the Dreamhouse Kings series by Robert Liparulo. I agree that the Christian preteen/Teen reader has few choices compared to the flood of “vampire” and girls-with-attitudes books.
Being a mostly non-fiction writer, I don’t see myself writing for a younger audience, but wish I had the talent to do so!
Ahhhh, a topic close to my heart! It’s precisely because of the lack of what I think is “decent” material available for teens that I’m finally acting on my long held story ideas for YA.
I worried initially my stories would be too “clean” to find a place on the shelves, until I discovered Christian YA. Now I think that MAYBE there could be a place for my stories! I just have to write it first
I’m still hunting down more Christian YA to read. Recently I read Kristin Billerbeck’s YA books (Perfectly Dateless & Perfectly Invisible), and I thought they were great – they are chick-lit.
This is a subject close to my heart as well. Just last year, I self-published a Christian YA fiction book, my desire being to reach young adults (and the young at heart) through a compelling, action-adventure narrative with a Christian message weaved into the plot. Definitely a clean read!
Thanks, Ifeoluwa, for your insight into what teens are looking for: that is good to hear.
May I also recommend Dee Henderson? Even though her writing wouldn’t be considered YA fiction, I know some young adults who enjoy her writing very much.
I enjoyed the discussion and you all have good things to say.
I have written a young adult christian novel with good values, yet not preachy and exciting, contemporary and entertaining.
It is called roswell’s journal and is available to read a chapter from or buy on my website. it is for sale and I will donate to teen reading causes.
Ayesha
My three tween/teen readers, all girls,are for the most part attracted to the YA offering–as a teen on this thread previously mentioned, action packed. Undoubetly there is some inappropriate material in there, but I think of it as an inoculation. They have to be exposed to some of it to learn how to process it. We don’t even have a TV, but I am shocked by their TV awareness and the content they are exposed to there. YA is certainly a tame training ground by comparison. You can’t protect teens from the media messaging permeating our culture. I’ve decided all a mom can do is give them tools for discerning which ones to listen to. Discussing books is a great way to do it.