How teen literature has become the best new fiction for adult readers
How teen literature has become the best new fiction for adult readers Books
by Dan Wells
A teen medic-in-training tries to save what's left of the human race during a battle with the Partials, engineered humanoids. The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green
Green weaves a tale of life, death and uncertainty through the story of a girl in remission from cancer. Fracture
by Megan Miranda
A teen girl is revived after nearly drowning, only to find she can sense death. But don't worry; the genre isn't just for the young. The boundary of these books being read only by teenagers just isn't there anymore, says David Levithan, a young-adult author and editorial director of Scholastic Press. Adults are really enjoying the books.They are also driving up revenues. Sales of books for children, teens and young adults rose by 12 percent from 2008 through 2010. (Sales of adult fiction, meanwhile, rose only 3.5 percent.) Teen lit is so hot that best-selling adult authors like James Patterson, John Grisham and Candace Bushnell recently released their own young-adult titles. This is the best genre for escapism,says Becky Anderson, co-owner of Anderson's Bookshops in Illinois. ", elaborate settings, well-planned plots — I realized I liked the young-adult books I was reading better than most adult ones," reveals retired English teacher Sharon Corbitt, 67, of Covina, California. So which ? Try our new picks and talk to — who else? teens. Then visit blogs such as and to find even more titles. If you still worry this genre is too juvenile, don't. Levithan has gotten fan mail from readers ages 17 to 70. "A good book is a good book," he says, "whatever the category." Featured AARP Member Benefits See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures
Great Books for Any Age
Why the best new fiction for adults is written for teens
Photo by Jesse Rieser Many adults are finding themselves inspired to leap back over the fence into the world of teen literature. Hungry for a deep, dark, addictively absorbing novel? Read . The gripping story, a post-apocalyptic tale about a teenage girl who fights to survive lethal games for sport, has spent more than three years on The New York Times best-seller list, and the movie adaptation opened March 23. The catch: It's teen lit. See also:Teen lit you ll love
Partialsby Dan Wells
A teen medic-in-training tries to save what's left of the human race during a battle with the Partials, engineered humanoids. The Fault in Our Stars
by John Green
Green weaves a tale of life, death and uncertainty through the story of a girl in remission from cancer. Fracture
by Megan Miranda
A teen girl is revived after nearly drowning, only to find she can sense death. But don't worry; the genre isn't just for the young. The boundary of these books being read only by teenagers just isn't there anymore, says David Levithan, a young-adult author and editorial director of Scholastic Press. Adults are really enjoying the books.They are also driving up revenues. Sales of books for children, teens and young adults rose by 12 percent from 2008 through 2010. (Sales of adult fiction, meanwhile, rose only 3.5 percent.) Teen lit is so hot that best-selling adult authors like James Patterson, John Grisham and Candace Bushnell recently released their own young-adult titles. This is the best genre for escapism,says Becky Anderson, co-owner of Anderson's Bookshops in Illinois. ", elaborate settings, well-planned plots — I realized I liked the young-adult books I was reading better than most adult ones," reveals retired English teacher Sharon Corbitt, 67, of Covina, California. So which ? Try our new picks and talk to — who else? teens. Then visit blogs such as and to find even more titles. If you still worry this genre is too juvenile, don't. Levithan has gotten fan mail from readers ages 17 to 70. "A good book is a good book," he says, "whatever the category." Featured AARP Member Benefits See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > See more Entertainment offers > Cancel You are leaving AARP.org and going to the website of our trusted provider. The provider’s terms, conditions and policies apply. Please return to AARP.org to learn more about other benefits. Your email address is now confirmed. You'll start receiving the latest news, benefits, events, and programs related to AARP's mission to empower people to choose how they live as they age. You can also by updating your account at anytime. You will be asked to register or log in. Cancel Offer Details Disclosures