Edgy YA discussion

I started thinking about this when posting on the group reads nominations. What do you think makes a book 'edgy'? Sex, drugs, violence, language, etc. To what degree does it have to include these things to be 'edgy'?

Are there books that you're not sure about?

For instance, I mentioned the novel Speak before. It's been banned and called 'soft-core porn.' I thought it was mild, at least by my standards and compared to a lot of other YA books I've read. Lots of YA books have f-bombs and whatnot, but I would not call them 'edgy.'

What do other people think?

I put a book in the edgy category when I'm thrilled reading it and I can not name anyone I personally know whom I could recommend the book to.
It is a gut level feeling, reminiscent of when I was actually in my teens, that I found a good book and I wish I'd written it.
An edgy book for my taste pushes the boundary of normal expectations at best in one of the following areas: in the characters, in writing style, in the plot and with the dialogue.
When a book heads deep emotionally while writing something new- that is edgy in my opinion.

I consider a book edgy if it includes topics that make people uncomfortable. For example, I just read the book Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher. It is about a teen boy who falls for this girl, only to find out later that she is transgendered MtF, and it deals with him coming to terms with not only her situation, but his attraction to her as well. I loved the book, but I can see it making many people uncomfortable.

I also would add any books that include homosexuality - especially if the teens are having sex in the book, fade to black or other, AIDS, heavy sexuality, drug use, child abuse, rape, or gangs. There are other categories I would add as well but I can't think of them right now.


Perfect Chemistry by Simone Elkeles is an INCREDIBLE book (and series) that involves teenage sexuality, drug use, and gangs. But it's so amazing. I have it in my classroom for my mature eighth grade readers, but I am careful who I give it to NOT because I want to censor kids, but because I know some adults would not appreciate the wonderful themes present in the book that outweigh all the edgy topics.

Jennifer wrote: "I consider a book edgy if it includes topics that make people uncomfortable. For example, I just read the book Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher. It is about a teen boy who falls for t..."

Perfect Chemistry sounds interesting. My book Behind the Hood is about gangs, drugs and teenage sexuality too, but I get people saying it crosses the line, and that it's an adult book. I have to agree it does cross the line, because I did write it as an adult book. However, a few people, even an Orion editor, have said that I should market it as edgy YA because of the teenage voices, though, with a R18 rating. But, I'm still marketing it as an adult book, because it even shocks adults. Someone even said it was transgressive. Though, I haven't read any transgressive books, so wouldn't have a clue.

However, I am looking at doing a graphic novel version of "Behind the Hood" for the younger audience as I'm an artist too. I've done all my covers.

At the moment my second book, which is due out in August, Behind the Pain will be marketed as YA, but it's not completed yet, so I'll see how things go. It's definitely edgy, but just follows two younger characters, who aren't nasty like one of the main characters in book 1. And the older guy that gets followed as well isn't nasty.

Lena wrote: "I started thinking about this when posting on the group reads nominations. What do you think makes a book 'edgy'? Sex, drugs, violence, language, etc. To what degree does it have to include these t..."

I had a look at the blurb for Speak. It looks interesting.

It takes on uncomfortable subject matter, even breaks the bounds, makes people uncomfortable. Your book is definitely edgy, Marita. It had me on edge, even crying at one point. It was Mikey's scenes. Are you going to be writing about him in future books as I want to know how he turns out.

Angela wrote: "It takes on uncomfortable subject matter, even breaks the bounds, makes people uncomfortable. Your book is definitely edgy, Marita. It had me on edge, even crying at one point. It was Mikey's scene..."

Not in book 2 and 3, as I'm concentrating on the Ratas, as well as the Connors in book 3, Corey in particular as he goes through dramatic changes. After that it'll be back to Nike, Jess and Leila, and the consequences of what happened to them in book 1. But yes, I will eventually return and give Mikey his own book. I've also been asked to give Stella her own book, so Corey and Sledge will return in that one too and quite possibly Aunty Trina.

Jennifer wrote: "I consider a book edgy if it includes topics that make people uncomfortable. For example, I just read the book Almost Perfect by Brian Katcher. It is about a teen boy who falls for t..."

I picked up this book and meant to read it, but for some reason I never got around to it. Was it good?

Marita wrote: "Angela wrote: "It takes on uncomfortable subject matter, even breaks the bounds, makes people uncomfortable. Your book is definitely edgy, Marita. It had me on edge, even crying at one point. It wa..."

Cool. And yes! I loved Stella. She was funny.