Sharon RenePardon my grammar but this is a true statement.
Back in the day, a teen could go to the Young Adult section of their local bookstore or library and leave with a great book for their age level. Mom didn’t have to worry about what her daughter or son were reading.
Life is not that simple today.
In the past few years, YA has grown dark and started pushing the boundary lines on just about everything.
This post is not to criticize mainstream YA.
I read a ton of it and the majority is very good and entertaining. But I have gotten concerned about the dive into darkness.
Go to a bookstore, stand in the YA section, and look at the book covers and titles.
Magic, witches, and evil fairies abound.
Fantasy magic is fun. I love it, but many mainstream manuscripts lean closer to dark magic.
I’ve also noticed that YA is making their characters more worldly.
It’s more common now to read that the main character or her best friend has had a sexual experience in high school, and it is treated as typical. No big deal!
Homosexuality is also slipping into YA books.
I’m not saying that teenagers shouldn’t read any of these books.
BUT, I believe that parents need to be aware of these trends and determine if their teen is mature enough to read about these complicated issues.
Here at the Storyteller Squad, we are trying to tell parents and teens about some terrific books that still express moral values.
Many young people have difficulty finding a decent book to read.
Christian teens and sensitive teens don’t want to read books with questionable content.
The Christian book market has just as many talented authors as the mainstream group. Our books come in all genres, speculative to fantasy to paranormal. Our books are not boring, and we don’t make our characters a bunch of goody-goodies.
So, if you are a parent, grandparent or teen, please follow us here at the Storyteller Squad and join our Facebook group too.
We would love the opportunity to discuss Christian and clean books with you.
Have you read YA books that push the limits? Comment and let me know how you feel about this issue.
Candice Yamnitz
Michelle Kaderly Welsh
I wholeheartedly agree with what you wrote. I find it really frustrating the way the books are labelled and shelved. Much of what is “YA,” I wouldn’t want my teens reading all the way through. When I can, I preview books and will mark passages that are too explicit. The bummer is, there are many talented writers who write such compelling stories! If it was only cleaner. Romance is fine, but does there need to be graphic sex? I haven’t read a lot of fantasy written by Christian authors, but some of what I’ve read feels a little flat or cheesy. I really appreciate the Storyteller Squad!
So glad that you enjoy the Storyteller Squad. We want to help parents and teens find the books that are worth reading.
Well said! I get conscience-stricken myself by stumbling into some current YA content. I think, even more concerning is the way some writers attempt to present innocence as backwards and their sinful alternatives as common sense or right-of-passage.
I agree. Books can explore deep moral choices and even let the characters mess up as all humans do but it’s the attitude of the book that matters. Lately, it is just considered a right of passage. If it feels good do it mentality.
I couldn’t agree more. Boundary lines continue to be pushed and this is true in middle grade books also.
That’s true. They start slipping things in at a very early age now.
I agree- this is the reason I signed up for the storytellers squad! I have voracious readers in their teens and was looking for some way to guide them to Christian or clean authors. We use pluggedin to check movie appropriateness but couldn’t find anything for books. I’m thankful for the guidance and recommendations you give – I don’t get time to read as much as they do so there’s no way I could read everything first! I also noticed all the darkness when I went to a book store recently!! I’ve always wondered why authors write so much about darker magic and orphans (I have 5 adopted children, all former orphans!) there’s a lot of other interesting topics and story lines!! Anyway – thanks to all
the authors out there putting clean, positive, fruit of the spirit type books out there! I’m so thankful!
Thank you for this comment. Sometimes we wonder if we’re helping parents and teens get their hands on Christian and clean YA books.
Thanks for your input, Heather. It’s nice to know we’re making a difference. I hope you will continue to share with us on the Storyteller Squad.
I have just had this experience. I write (and therefore read) YA fantasy. Much of it is wonderful, filled with complex characters and engaging plots. However, I have also read stories filled with nearly erotic descriptions and questionable choices. It pains me that authors who write incredible tension and multi-layered plots feel compelled to include such things in their work. The inclusion only took away from the story; it added nothing. I hope more authors will write clean reads with the same tension-ridden plots without the taint of unnecessary detail.
I so agree. I hate to see a writer use their talent in such unnecessary ways trying to give the world what they want. Young people need well written books without the junk that can mess them up.