Young Adult Fiction: Is it Really for Young Adults?

Hello bookworms,

          I’m always looking at Twitter, Facebook, Daedalus, Goodreads, and pretty much anywhere for good book recommendations. Being 22 years old, I try to notice the Young Adult Fiction section. Unfortunately, I’m not loving what I see.

Why?

         Have you noticed what books are being promoted as Young Adult fiction lately? I’m seeing a lot of books that seem to be geared towards middle school children or children approximately ages 9-13. Now, please correct me if I’m wrong, but I’m pretty sure that 9-13 year olds are not young adults. 

Seriously? THIS passes as young ADULT??

          I’m not saying that a book for young people cannot be enjoyed by adults. The Harry Potter series gained a HUGE following from people of all ages from young children to the elderly. Harry Potter was geared for children and tweens.

The one Young Adult fiction series worth all ages time

 

          Back to my original thought, if the Young Adult fiction books are really for kids and tweens, then why are we calling it “Young Adult”? I thought that 9-13 year olds were classified under “children” or “preteen”. Young adults are around 18-25, right?

Since I’m right in the middle of the “young adult” age range let me tell you what I’m looking for:

Ø I LOVE classic books like Jane Eyre, the Jane Austen novels, Rebecca, etc. I’m always looking for something that reminds me of that style of writing.

 

Ø I like intelligent mysteries like the Sherlock Holmes and Hercule Poirot series’. I want to be stumped and shocked by the mysteries that I read, and I want them to be intelligent to keep my mind working.

 

 

Ø I like love stories that aren’t all about sex. I want to see a relationship begin, develop over time, and I want them to be responsible. Drama and sex does not equal love.

          So where are the books for young adult women like me? Am I missing them? Are they under a different classification/genre? I’m sure I’m not the only book-loving twenty-something that feels this way. Those of you out there who have found the books for our age group, please let us know. Comment, tweet me (@LovelyLizzie10 , use hashtag #YAForAdults), or post on See Lizzie Read's Facebook page!

          If people send me recommendations (please no Amish fiction), or if I find any, I’ll be sure to post them so we can all reap the benefits.

Until Next Time,

          Lizzie <3

International Book Giving Day!!

 

Hello Bookworms!!!

        As we all know, February the 14^th is Valentine’s Day and its coming up fast. People are out buying flowers, candies, cards, jewelry, etc. for their loved ones to commemorate the day. But there is another holiday that deserves some attention on February 14^th.

        It is not Valentine’s Day all over the world, however, it is INTERNATIONAL BOOK GIVING DAY!!!!

What is International Book Giving Day?

        International Book Giving Day is a day dedicated to putting books in the hands of children all over the world. We know that reading improves a child’s vocabulary, imagination, reading/writing/and speaking skills, as well as improving their memory allowing them to retain more information and helping them do better in school. The aim of IBGD is to get people to help children by giving them books to read. The best part is it’s super simple to do!! You don’t have to take a lot of time or even a lot of money!

How do I participate?

        All you have to do is find a way to put a book in the hands of a child. There are infinite ways that you can do that but here are a few examples that might help get your creative juices flowing:

Give a book to your children or grandchildren

Give a book to the neighbor-kids (with their parents permission of course)

Buy some books for the local school/daycare/after-school program

Leave a book in the children’s area of the doctor’s office (may need to ask the office staff for permission first but I don’t think they’ll mind as long as you’ve asked.)

Donate your child’s old books that they don’t like anymore (that are in good condition) to any charity that sends books to children whose families/communities cannot afford them.

        *Usually the charities can be found by looking online or asking your local community offices like the school social worker or office staff (usually the lower grades like primary and elementary will be more aware because more charities target young children), city hall, etc.

Want more information?

There are several ways to get information and updates in regards to International Book Giving Day.

First, I recommend their website for all you need to know about this movement and to sign your name to the list of people from all over the world who are going to give books (signing the list does not obligate you to do anything, or sign you up for any fees, you may choose to be shown as anonymous. The organizers would just like to know how many people and from what countries will books be given.)

Second, I recommend following the organizers on Twitter @bookgivingday. You will see all sorts of stories, facts, print outs and more from the book giving day organizers. You can find them by searching their name or find their tweets by searching the hashtag #giveabook.

I personally am planning to participate by giving books to the children in my class as a part of their take home gift bags during their Valentine’s Day party. I hope you will participate too. Books can bring joy and so many mental benefits to our kids. If kids can learn to enjoy reading they have a resource that they can use for life as well as a form of entertainment that will never run out. But all of the benefits start with the child having a book in their hands. You can help start the whole process, give a book on the 14^th. J

Until Next Time,

        Lizzie <3

Christmas Book Countdown: An Advent Calendar

 

 

Christmas Book Countdown!!!

Hello Bookworms!!

          This is one for all you bookworms with kids! While I was looking at Christmas Ideas, I came across an Idea: The Christmas Book Countdown!! It’s a fun twist on an Advent calendar with books! 

 

 

What You’ll Need:

Christmas books

A Box

Wrapping Paper

Labels or a Marker

Here’s How it works:

First, parents should pick out children’s story books that fit the Christmas theme (These can be of a religious nature or not). You can start your countdown at any time, but, for the purposes of this post, we’ll assume that you start the countdown on December 1^st.

So, if you start at December 1^st, you’ll need 24 books (Remember, you can start at any time meaning if you wanted to start the week before you’d only need seven. You can adjust the Christmas Book Countdown to suit your budget J )!

 

Next, wrap each of the books in the wrapping paper you chose.

 

As you wrap, label each of the books with the numbers 1 through 24 using a label you made or just writing the numbers with a marker (careful when using markers that the ink doesn’t bleed through the paper and mark the front of the book).

 

Now place the wrapped, labeled books into the box or on the shelf you chose making sure that number 24 is the first book and number 1 is the last book.

 

Each night your child picks up the correct book, unwraps it, and you and the child (or the whole family) reads the story together. As the days go on, the numbers get smaller as Christmas gets closer.

 

This in a fun way for you and your children to bond as Christmas gets closer and share the joy of books and the Christmas season. Plus it’s an activity that can be done inside where it’s warm. J

Thinking about making your own Christmas Book Countdown?

Here are some links to children’s Christmas books that may help!:

Books from Amazon

Books from Barnes & Noble

 

Merry Christmas and Until next time,

                                                          Lizzie <3