In my recent post, YA Books and Bikes, I explained how difficult it is to distinguish between the levels of YA books, and that even teenagers still need some guidance when selecting such books. I wouldn't say that parents need to hover like a helicopter, but I certainly do think that they need to at least make themselves familiar with the books that are being selected.
While there are many wonderful YA books out there, there are also some that are not of a quality or subject matter that I would want my own children reading. That's why I feel strongly that parents need to screen book selections for appropriate subject matter, age appropriateness, and quality. Don't get me wrong - I give my children A LOT of freedom when it comes to selecting books, but I do monitor their selections "from a distance."
Like everything else in life, there is the "best" and the "worst" of everything. YA books are no different. Some YA books are so well written that adults will enjoy reading them as well. You might want to read an interesting Wall Street Journal article about this, which I found at Laurie Halse Anderson's Mad Woman in the Forest blog. Who knows, you might even find some YA books to read yourself!
I will have some of StrawberryGirl's and GreenGuy's book reviews here in the next few weeks, but you and your teenager might want to take a look at some of the information and lists of YA books at the following links:
- School Library Journal's Best Books for Young Adults: Teen Feedback Session (teens react to ALA list)
- PBS Parents/Booklights/Jen Robinson's Series Books Featuring Adventurous Girls
- Boysread.org's Best Books for Boys
- Goodreads.com's popular YA book lists
- Common Sense Media's book reviews by age range
It is overwhelming, isn't it? Sometimes there are too many choices. That's when it's time to turn to a trusted source for recommendations. You know your child best, though, and every child is different. So no matter who recommends a book, I would recommend that you carefully check the reviews, and read the book jackets, to check for age appropriateness, subject matter, and quality.
It's not easy being a parent, is it? I always thought that once my children became more independent, life would be easier. Well, in some ways it is and in some ways it's not. There are other things to worry about now. You would think that books would be the least of your concerns, but reading material can actually have a significant impact on people of all ages. I discovered a great article about this impact and will share it with you next week.
Until then, I hope you and your teenager are able to find some great reading material at these links! Let us know if you do...
