Comments on: What is Young Adult? What’s not? Why? And other Questions . . . http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/ Author of OR NOT Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:36:40 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.3 By: Ashley Medina http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-255 Ashley Medina Tue, 20 May 2008 01:46:54 +0000 http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-255 hey everyone, by the way, his nickname is Mr. Mandabizle because it sounds like awsome. and i named him that so its special. Brian Mandabach is the most awsome dude that u will ever meet so be nice to him even though he has a smiley face on his beard. ^_^ hey everyone,
by the way, his nickname is Mr. Mandabizle because it sounds like awsome. and i named him that so its special. Brian Mandabach is the most awsome dude that u will ever meet so be nice to him even though he has a smiley face on his beard. ^_^

]]> By: Ashley Medina http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-254 Ashley Medina Tue, 20 May 2008 01:40:50 +0000 http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-254 HEY!!!!!!!!!! guess who.... i totally looked up your name and i cant belive that you have ur own websight. thats awsome yo. but yeah. WOW. are you making more books. hey since im your favorite student and all ^_^ can i have a free T and have it signed by you incase you become like superduper famous!!! lol HEY!!!!!!!!!! guess who…. i totally looked up your name and i cant belive that you have ur own websight. thats awsome yo. but yeah. WOW. are you making more books. hey since im your favorite student and all ^_^ can i have a free T and have it signed by you incase you become like superduper famous!!! lol

]]> By: A.S. King http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-228 A.S. King Tue, 11 Mar 2008 23:48:22 +0000 http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-228 Since I sold a teen-protag book to a YA editor (hi Andrew) I've been getting some weird comments. Seems people can't stop themselves from mentioning JK Rowling. I've been asked if I "want to be like" JK Rowling a few more times than I'm comfortable with. And yeah - I've never read any JK Rowling (or seen the movies) and I don't read or write fantasy, so I don't really have an answer...though, if someone asked, "Wanna be rich?" I guess I'd say yes, because it would be nice not to have to work a lot and see my family more. But that's not what they're asking. I'm not really sure they're <em>asking</em> anything. I think they're trying to tell me something. A Since I sold a teen-protag book to a YA editor (hi Andrew) I’ve been getting some weird comments. Seems people can’t stop themselves from mentioning JK Rowling. I’ve been asked if I “want to be like” JK Rowling a few more times than I’m comfortable with. And yeah - I’ve never read any JK Rowling (or seen the movies) and I don’t read or write fantasy, so I don’t really have an answer…though, if someone asked, “Wanna be rich?” I guess I’d say yes, because it would be nice not to have to work a lot and see my family more.

But that’s not what they’re asking.

I’m not really sure they’re asking anything.

I think they’re trying to tell me something.

A

]]> By: Mandabach http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-227 Mandabach Mon, 10 Mar 2008 23:19:52 +0000 http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-227 Good points, Brian. I like abandoning the label, too. But then there is marketing, which can't seem to do without it. And marketing's effect on taste. Good points, Brian. I like abandoning the label, too.

But then there is marketing, which can’t seem to do without it. And marketing’s effect on taste.

]]> By: Brian F. http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-225 Brian F. Mon, 10 Mar 2008 19:56:44 +0000 http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-225 "I think that the what makes a book YA or adult is a qualitative difference. In Prep, a huge factor is the perspective of looking back on those teen years as opposed to being in them. This completely changes the voice, and though I don’t think that makes it any less attractive for teens, I think it makes it a lot more palatable for adults." Then how do you account for CATCHER IN THE RYE, which is not about looking back on the teen years but living them? It's not shelved in YA. It's shelved in adult. More recently, there's also Brian Malloy's YEAR OF ICE, first person, present tense, teen protagonist living the teen years. I ask largely because I'm curious. "What is/isn't YA" is a hotbed of controversy at grad school. I do tend to think that Andrew has a point: if a YA editor had gotten to PREP first, it would be looking at you from the YA shelves at Barnes and Noble. However, I've pretty much taken to abandoning the YA label all together. Now when people ask me what I'm working on, I say it's a "coming of age" novel. I think this placates those who would dismiss YA while suggesting that I'm working with a teen protagonist. “I think that the what makes a book YA or adult is a qualitative difference. In Prep, a huge factor is the perspective of looking back on those teen years as opposed to being in them. This completely changes the voice, and though I don’t think that makes it any less attractive for teens, I think it makes it a lot more palatable for adults.”

Then how do you account for CATCHER IN THE RYE, which is not about looking back on the teen years but living them? It’s not shelved in YA. It’s shelved in adult. More recently, there’s also Brian Malloy’s YEAR OF ICE, first person, present tense, teen protagonist living the teen years.

I ask largely because I’m curious. “What is/isn’t YA” is a hotbed of controversy at grad school. I do tend to think that Andrew has a point: if a YA editor had gotten to PREP first, it would be looking at you from the YA shelves at Barnes and Noble.

However, I’ve pretty much taken to abandoning the YA label all together. Now when people ask me what I’m working on, I say it’s a “coming of age” novel. I think this placates those who would dismiss YA while suggesting that I’m working with a teen protagonist.

]]> By: YA Librarian http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-212 YA Librarian Tue, 22 Jan 2008 01:39:42 +0000 http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-212 Hey! Thanks for the 'thanks,' and for clueing me in to your blog! Good stuff. :-) Love your take on YA-ism. I've often had the same thoughts...why pick and choose what teens will be exposed to? Many of 'my' kids at the library are avid readers, and their selections are from all over the place. Not just the YA section. They will not be condescended to, they will read whatever - whenever they choose. Little yellow YA sticker or not. :-) Keep writing. Hey! Thanks for the ‘thanks,’ and for clueing me in to your blog! Good stuff. :-) Love your take on YA-ism. I’ve often had the same thoughts…why pick and choose what teens will be exposed to? Many of ‘my’ kids at the library are avid readers, and their selections are from all over the place. Not just the YA section. They will not be condescended to, they will read whatever - whenever they choose. Little yellow YA sticker or not. :-) Keep writing.

]]> By: li-mae http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-206 li-mae Wed, 16 Jan 2008 23:47:40 +0000 http://mandabach.com/2008/01/15/what-is-young-adult-whats-not-why-and-other-questions/#comment-206 Hey mandabach. I'm not commenting on this entry. i just wanted to say: how could you possibly post something titled "beatles" on myspace (where i cant comment) but not here? i mean really. And yes, I know i could just get a myspace account, but i figure i've gotten this far without one, so i'll be able to survive. Anyway, I agree with your comment about "im a loser". I got my dad that album (beatles for sale) for fathers day last year. I was excited because I'd never seen it in stores before. I'm at a loss for how to wrap up this comment, so........um, bye -me- Hey mandabach.
I’m not commenting on this entry. i just wanted to say:
how could you possibly post something titled “beatles” on myspace (where i cant comment) but not here?
i mean really. And yes, I know i could just get a myspace account, but i figure i’ve gotten this far without one, so i’ll be able to survive.
Anyway, I agree with your comment about “im a loser”.
I got my dad that album (beatles for sale) for fathers day last year. I was excited because I’d never seen it in stores before.

I’m at a loss for how to wrap up this comment, so……..um,
bye
-me-

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