What's up with all the teen books?

Question: What's up with all the teen books!?

I constantly see young people asking for book recommendations from the kiddie menu!. I'm just curious, with American teens enjoying more freedom and having a larger voice in matters than they ever did in the past, why do they want their books dumbed down!? There are countless thoughtful and classic books accessible to teens that can challenge and expand their minds, why on Earth would someone want to sell themselves short!. Is it laziness!? Lack of confidence in your reading abilities!? Or just wanting to read things that don't make you think too much!? Www@QuestionHome@Com

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:

Laziness i think!. The amount of teens now that won't even pick up a book, or boast on their facebook that they don't read astounds me!. I've just started at uni, doing an english lang/lit course and the amount of people who kicked up a fuss because we have to read Homer and Dickens was astounding!. They want something quick that they don't have to think about, chicklit is often a favourite of many of my friends!. A book should expand the mind and make you think, and if you cannot at first read directly relate it to yourself and your life, then look deeper, yet most can't be bothered with this!. They want a book set now, in some high school, boy meets girl etcetc!. Those sort of books are junkfood for the brain, i don't understand it!. People are so concerned about putting rubbish in to their bodies, yet they are only too happy to read the most mediocre books, and "feed" their brains crap!. The amount of literature cultured teens is abismal, and I think that says a lot about our education system!.

[although, all that said it's nice to see that the people in this thread appreciate good books!.]Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think there are a number of factors at work, not the least of which is our failing public school system that cannot provide the education children need!. How can a teen enjoy a classic when classics aren't even taught in schools anymore!? Teachers are required to include "literature" from other cultures, leaving little--if any--room for the established classics!. This forced cultural diversity/political correctness is dumbing down curriculum to the point where students are lucky to have one classic per year assigned!. Students don't even know what the classics are anymore, where to look for them, or what "classic" really means!. It's very depressing!. If a student doesn't have the inclination and access, the classics are basically lost!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Because some light reading is enjoyable, and not everyone wants to read classics all the time!. Reading can just be for fun, it doesn't have to be profoundly significant!. I believe people should read what they enjoy reading, I see no point at all in reading classics if you don't happen to enjoy them!.

And not all adult novels are all that profound either!. Adult novels can just be for fun!. I happen to enjoy reading whodunnits, which are not necessarily particularly deep!. But they are what I enjoy!. Fiction is for fun!. I don't read fiction to expand my mind or learn something, I read fiction for pleasure!. If a novel gives pleasure, then it is a good novel!. Regardless of whether it is a classic or not!.

There are few forms of snobbery more tiresome than literary snobbery!. Try to get over this notion you have that there are certain books that people 'should' read, and others that they 'shouldn't!.

A good book is a book that people want to read!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Sometimes it's just nice to read something comforting and uplifting!. I am in my mid-twenties, and I admit I love reading young adult and kids books!. Twilight, Harry Potter, Narnia, fairy tales!.!.!. I love them!. I also enjoy picking up a picture book from time to time and just flipping through it!. Of course, I also have a healthy smattering of more adult reading that I keep up with like Atlas Shrugged and Wuthering Heights in my reading diet!.

And it really is like a diet, isn't it!? You need your "healthy" reading, but it's also nice to indulge in a Twinkie like Twilight!. Purely enjoyable delicious crap that does nothing for your mind or body, but makes you feel happy!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Some people just like variety too!. I have no doubts that there are some who are lazy, or some that are just purely uninterested, but as both an avid reader and a literature major, I (and many of the people I talk to who are well-read) not only enjoy classics, but also want something just for fun once in awhile!.
Speaking as someone who reads both just for the joy of reading, and to find new experiences and ideas, sometimes it's nice just to sit down for some entertainment and be immersed in something silly, dramatic, humorous, and simple!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

It's usually hard for teenagers these days , to read classics!.
Most of them are difficult to understand!.
Young Adults/Teen books are easy fluffy light reads , that doesn't take some great mind to be able to understand them!.
Most teens read for excitement , something that can keep them interested all the time!.
That's why many of them like Twilight!. Twilight is just a book for lazy minds!. It's just an easy read!.
They refuse to use and exercise their minds on something valuable like classics for example!.

xx GreetingsWww@QuestionHome@Com

Well for a long long time, decades!. actually, teens did NOT read much if anything that was not required reading!. We were all worried that they would lose the fun of reading!. Then cameth "Harry" and "Twilight" and reading is cool again!. So for right now we are letting them read what they want because they ARE READING again!. And not just those books!.
Sci fi and fantasy,Some, not all, but some fairly developed writing disquised as romance books,

To those of us who read, and of those who our families will have to pry books from our cold hard hands, amid heartfelt snarls of "one more page!." reading is like breathing!. Necessary and life sustaining!. But it is nto that for all!. I am just happy kids are reading again!. We bring the bar up too fast and we lose them!. Not worth the risk!. They will get there!. Not everyone Wants to or _should_ think!. Sad but true!.

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I know!.!.!.I read Les Miserables, Catcher in the Rye, In Cold Blood, Harry Potter, Jane Austen, Edgar Allan Poe, and Shakespeare when I was younger!. But occasionally I would read something that was clearly written for teens, but that's not all i read!.

There's nothing wrong with reading that stuff, but it really annoys me when younger teens (ages 12 - 15) claim books like Twilight or the Clique series are the "best books ever!!" Umm!.!.!.NOT!Www@QuestionHome@Com

I don't know!. I'm teenager and I love reading historical fictions and some classics!. I have a slight tracking problem and i sometimes add word to what I'm reading, but I try to do my best to read challenging things!. Some times I do read dumb down books though, but only when i can't find anything else!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

i can read both books!.!.!. but you know sometimes moby dick just doesn't work when you're looking for some lighter reading!.

be happy that teens even want to read, and not just bake their brains in front of a tv!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I think a lot of people associate "classics" like they do "healthy food"!. It may be good for you, but it probably doesn't taste so good!. Especially if they have to read them, like for an assignment!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

I'm a teen and I enjoy reading classics!. I don't sell my self short!. However, for the teens that do, its all of the above!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Mostly because Yahoo Answers is made up of users who are tweens!.

Story Wiki:
http://www!.storyentertainment!.com/owWww@QuestionHome@Com