Here’s a good rule of thumb: a book for adults, but about a teenager, will look at the teenage experience through adult eyes and give a bunch of signals that only adults understand. Juvenile literature, on the other hand, immediately introduces the reader to the experience of adolescence – creates an atmosphere of uncertainty, anxiety, hormonal excitement and tension, when you do not know what to expect from the future and what it will be like – adult life. Here they do not reflect on adolescence, here they immerse themselves in it. In a teenage book, full-blooded adult characters may act, but they are not the focus. They are often “others” – the government, the voice of reason, the enemy, consolation. The teenage perspective dominates, the heroes experience the joy and horror of many important events for the first time: first love, first departure far from home, first acquaintance with the cruel realities of social and political life.
Precocity
Today, teen literature is so developed that it has its own genres and subgenres: uncompromisingly realistic novels in verse by Ellen Hopkins, graphic novels by Mariko and Jillian Tamaki, futuristic thrillers by Marie Lou, and much more. These books appeared in a time of precociousness, when eleven-year-olds were doing things that had never occurred to fourteen-year-olds. Children tired of middle-level books are now luxuriating in a feast of literary possibilities. We have many elementary school children we know who have already read the teen-oriented Harry Potter volumes, which, among other things, depict the gruesome death of a schoolboy. You are not the only parent who is tormented by the question of whether this is for the best.
Teen books with their sharp dialogues, challenging behavior of heroes, violence, sexuality and political themes have a corrective effect on parents whose children have not yet reached the age of adolescence. Unfortunately, growing up often begins with a change in attitude towards parents, which precedes full-fledged puberty. It now starts earlier and earlier, especially in girls, in whom hormonal changes can occur as early as eight years old. Whether or not your teen is emotionally ready for young adult literature, he already wants to read it—much younger than you might expect.
Rebellion is still normal
If you remember anything about your behavior in your early and late teens, the first word that comes to mind is rebellion. Right now, you may be mortified that your eleven-year-old is reading The Hunger Games, Susan Collins’ modern classic, a futuristic dystopia in which amoral ruling classes organize tournaments where children and teenagers fight to the death. But keep in mind that a child may also be reading this for a symbolic purpose—say, to feel or appear “cool,” “advanced,” and “in the know.” Just the fact that she wants to tell the world such things about herself by reading a book should inspire hope. It’s safer to read about crime: you don’t do anything — you just read about it and find out what it is. Learn to formulate judgments and your own conclusions.
Source of opportunities
It is not so easy to watch your child get excited about an unknown book. The emotions this fascination evokes are the same as parenting in general: cool (my child is reading!), incredible (my child is reading this?) and crazy! As for the dubious content – say, such a trifle as the killing of a child by a child – then this is primarily a reason for a serious conversation. Ask about everything. When trying to figure out how you feel about reading a certain book, try to explain your feelings as frankly as possible.
