This week my young adult title The Academie hit Amazon’s bestseller list repeatedly for top children’s science fiction for kindle. (YAY! It even beat out a James Patterson novel!) But here’s something to ponder: one of the themes I attempt to address in the series is the fact that we aren’t treated as responsible, capable adults as early in life as we should be. Should it have been possible for the central character, Allie, to be forced back into high school at age 19? Of course not. She’s an adult and should be treated as one. What does this have to do with Amazon’s bestseller’s list? Note the category above: children’s science fiction. As an indie writer, I admit, I placed the book into that category, albeit grudgingly. However, it’s either that or it gets sloshed in with your typical adult fiction. Do I think young adults are capable of reading adult fiction? Certainly. By my early teens I was reading adult lit along with both my sisters. We weren’t the only ones.
The fact is, “young adult” is a relatively new genre, and as such, it doesn’t yet have its own category on Amazon. So for now it gets mixed up with children’s lit. Hunger Games, Twilight, they are all there. The question is: should they be?
Personally, I don’t think so. But I don’t think they should be mixed in with adult fiction simply because they do address a narrower audience who might have trouble finding them otherwise.
What do you think?
The Academie listed above a James Patterson novel. Not bad for Indie!
