Laina’s Comments (group member since Feb 06, 2012)

Laina’s comments from the Mt. Mercy University 2012 group.

I wish I would have read Cut by Patricia McCormick. Cutting became an issue for some of my classmates and I never understood it. Now I understand why people do it and therefore have a better chance of talking about it.

Abby wrote: "I don't know how to get kids excited other than to find things that they are interested in to get them started with."

That's what I strive for as well. Now that I look back at my schooling, I realize that my elementary teachers were really the only ones who took interest in what I was reading outside of school. My classmates and I would bring a book in and the teacher would read it aloud in class until we finished it. This was how I was introduced to Harry Potter, actually. I don't think that reading an entire book aloud at the secondary level is particularly effective, but having my elementary teacher read the book that I chose to bring made me feel like my interests were important.

For a while I was into the Goosebumps series, and I'm not really sure why. I think I just liked how suspenseful they were and that they centered around kids trying to get out of scary situations. Then Harry Potter hit and my literary world changed forever :)

I run the risk of sounding like a broken record by saying Speak, which I did really enjoy the film of, I really liked the final two Harry Potter movies (number 7 and 8). I liked the fact that they split the final book into two films to fit everything in. There were still a few minor things that were left out or changed, but that's bound to happen.

I was really impressed with The Hunger Games film adaptation, despite having been surprised by the small things they changed and the big things they didn't fit in.

Hi everyone! So what's your favorite part of young adult literature? The characters? The age of the characters? What their experiences are? The lessons learned? Or just simply that YA literature is fun, easy reading?

I created a poll asking the same question but figured I would post it as a discussion question as well.

My favorite book is definitely Speak. I love Melinda's voice because she's very much like me; she has a very sarcastic sense of humor that very few people are privy to. I also enjoyed this book because Melinda was able to pull herself through the worst thing that she's ever been through.

Anne wrote: "I found my husband reading Forgotten Fire and my son(first grader!) reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid! This YA Lit genre is contagious!"

I've spread the obsession too! My Mom is almost done with Cut and has Forgotten Fire and Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie already waiting for her afterwards :)

Lauren wrote: "I have forgotten how great the YA genre really is! Being in college makes me feel like I'm surrounded by more sophisicated literature, which is still good, but honestly it's the YA genre that keeps..."

Well said, Lauren! Ditto ;)

I definitely agree with what's been said so far. I don't mean to sound cliche, but adolescence is a very tough time because teens really are trying to make sense of the world and of themselves. They need to have something they can rely on and make connections with. I'd rather have that 'something' be literature instead of some other outlets.

The fact that YA lit includes texts written by fellow teens makes it even better!

I still love adult literature- since I still need assistance grappling with the adult world- but I can connect to and enjoy YA lit as well.