Into the Fire

I am not a reader of kids' books or of the "Young Adult" genres, but I respect those authors who desire to tell meaningful stories to young people. I recently read and reviewed the final contribution to The Solitary Tales by Travis Thrasher entitled Hurt. The writing caught the attitude and language of young adults, a challenging tale of spiritual warfare while taking a stand against all odds, rendering an entertaining and important story which I'm convinced would appeal to the adult reader who doesn't mind stepping back a ways in time to his or her youth.

Oddly enough I've begun yet another Young Adult story by author Laura Gallier titled The Delusion and will post a review when it's finished. She definitely has the voice for the young male protagonist and has established an eerie and threatening plot in just 40 pages of reading.

My guess is if you write specifically for this audience, as an adult, it seems critical not to condescend to the teenage and slightly older reader. Young people are too sophisticated these days, sadly with less innocence. They've seen and heard too much to be treated as even younger "children".

However, if writing with a Christian worldview, I assume it's just as tricky to include the faith elements without sermonizing as it is in adult novels. Travis Thrasher did an excellent job of it, and Laura has chosen to make the likable protagonist an atheist of sorts in the beginning of her story.

I don't have the time – or the desire, to be honest – to read many more young adult work. Not my thing, and somehow I've gotten way behind on commitment reading which makes me rush through books when I'd rather do the reading at my leisure. Not sure how that happened this time, but it did.

Are you a reader of the Young Adult genre?

Father, I ask that you give special anointing to those authors who write for youth. Truth is powerful and precious and can be demonstrated effectively in story. Help each one tell a meaningful story to point young people to see you, follow you, and experience the magnificence of who you truly are. In the Name of Jesus, Amen.