Young Adult (Y.A.) genre
The emergence of the Y.A. or Young Adult genre, and soon after oversaturation of this market, took place during my lifetime. If you are not familiar with the term "Young Adult" or "Y.A." you are not alone. Many people have not heard this term used before. This genre is basically a gap between children's' books and adult novels, spanning from around 12 to 18+. You may see this age range referenced on signs at your local bookstore. This is not to say someone younger or older cannot read these books, but rather just to state that their target audience, content, and reading level is between those ages. Many adults still read Young Adult or Teen novels or children's books, and this is perfectly alright. There are teens who branch out into adult works of literature as well, so everyone has their own reading level and interests that can lie outside these script categories and age ranges. Often, Y.A. novels will feature a teenager or younger adult protagonist. A...