The '70s were a golden age of "quality" YA (i.e. stuff that adults, especially librarians, like, stuff that wins awards), with S.E. Hinton serving as an inspiration. In the late '80s and '90s, cheesy series books like Sweet Valley High took over that section of the bookstore, which didn't do much for the genre's…

It is considered YA, though that seems bizarre once you get to the Blakean third book. But it really isn't that bizarre, considering how much odd counterculture stuff was sold as YA back in the 1970s. Paul Zindel, M.E. Kerr, etc. Picaresques with no obvious life lessons. My favorite YA authors are the ones who manage…

It is considered YA, though that seems bizarre once you get to the Blakean third book. But it really isn't that bizarre, considering how much odd counterculture stuff was sold as YA back in the 1970s. Paul Zindel, M.E. Kerr, etc. Picaresques with no obvious life lessons. My favorite YA authors are the ones who manage…

I read tons of adult lit, bad, good and in between (partly because it's my job, often for fun). I spent years reading the classics, as well as lots of obscure old lit that's been forgotten. I'm merely explaining why I'm not ashamed to read YA lit on principle, or, indeed, to read any genre on principle. I'm kinda…

I read tons of adult lit, bad, good and in between (partly because it's my job, often for fun). I spent years reading the classics, as well as lots of obscure old lit that's been forgotten. I'm merely explaining why I'm not ashamed to read YA lit on principle, or, indeed, to read any genre on principle. I'm kinda…

I am worried that YA editors are starting to rule out anything but first-person present tense in their "big" series, like this one, because "immediacy" is such a priority for their market. I'm not one of those adults who hates that mode and refuses to read it, but it is limiting. Younger readers like it because it…

I am worried that YA editors are starting to rule out anything but first-person present tense in their "big" series, like this one, because "immediacy" is such a priority for their market. I'm not one of those adults who hates that mode and refuses to read it, but it is limiting. Younger readers like it because it…

I liked that series, but the hoverboarding and constant cinematic action annoyed me. (I may be alone, but I don't think 'splosions are that fun on the page. They just fall flat.) I haven't read Extras yet, though.

I liked that series, but the hoverboarding and constant cinematic action annoyed me. (I may be alone, but I don't think 'splosions are that fun on the page. They just fall flat.) I haven't read Extras yet, though.

I also had a problem with that. The first person the author thanks in her acknowledgments is "God for giving us His Son," and while I'm certainly not against Christian authors per se (Flannery O'Connor, Dostoyevsky) and knew Roth was devout going in … well, I hoped the characterization of Erudite would turn out to be…

I also had a problem with that. The first person the author thanks in her acknowledgments is "God for giving us His Son," and while I'm certainly not against Christian authors per se (Flannery O'Connor, Dostoyevsky) and knew Roth was devout going in … well, I hoped the characterization of Erudite would turn out to be…

I didn't. I read them as a kid and preteen and I read them now. Because I've read so many shitty adult novels that I'm damned if I'm going to be ashamed of reading the genre that gave us A Wrinkle in Time and Watership Down.

I didn't. I read them as a kid and preteen and I read them now. Because I've read so many shitty adult novels that I'm damned if I'm going to be ashamed of reading the genre that gave us A Wrinkle in Time and Watership Down.

I liked Mockingjay OK. But I was disappointed because…

I liked Mockingjay OK. But I was disappointed because…

I saw Bernie, which has finally arrived here. It was good fun, but I was almost alone in the theater, while next door The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was packed. Yet another piece of evidence proving my theory that the only people who see first-run films here are retired or have small children, and we will not get Moonr…

I saw Bernie, which has finally arrived here. It was good fun, but I was almost alone in the theater, while next door The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel was packed. Yet another piece of evidence proving my theory that the only people who see first-run films here are retired or have small children, and we will not get Moonr…

Agreed. I was expecting more from the great premise of The Truman Show, but instead it gets screwball and then into the heavy-handed God imagery. (Haven't seen it since original release, though.)

Agreed. I was expecting more from the great premise of The Truman Show, but instead it gets screwball and then into the heavy-handed God imagery. (Haven't seen it since original release, though.)

I liked it, though I know nothing about hockey and couldn't care less. (Didn't even know fights were an accepted part of the sport.) I recently had to sit through American Reunion, so it was nice to see a Seann William Scott I did not detest. Also, great use of Liev Schreiber.