Teen Fiction fans moving beyond wizards and vampires to steamier tales
When Judy Blume published her book “Forever” in 1975, parents and school librarians were scandalized. The depiction of teenage lust and love was too frank, too pornographic.
Today, not so much!
Since E.L. James’ “Fifty Shades of Gray” trilogy took the book industry by storm in 2012, some publishers and authors say they won’t be shy about including steamier bits for older teens in a budding genre labeled “new adult” fiction.
Targeted for 18-24 year old readers, New-adult fiction (or post-adolescent literature) contains stories for the reader who might be too old for “Twlight” but not quite ready for “Fifty Shades.” The genre addresses the coming-of-age that happes in a young person’s twenties. Recent releases in the genre include “From Ashes” by Molly McAdams and “Losing It” by Cora Carmack. And publishers hope to push the limits without outraging parents, going so far as printing two versions of the same book to please different audiences.
There’s just one problem… while the intended audience is aged 18-24, younger readers often buy books above their age range.
Would you want your teen reading these books? How will you handle it when your teen starts moving beyond wizards and vampires, to sex?
