Young Adult Literature

I’m on a middle grade and young adult reading kick lately. It started because of my daughter, with whom I love talking books. She recommends books to me all the time, and I always like to keep up with what she is reading. Following her recommendations has reminded me why I love this kind of literature--compelling characters, beautiful stories, real situations, all shot through with hope, and if it has good  writing, so much the better. 

Tweet Cute by Emma Lord fits the bill. I picked it up from the library after checking out Anne Bogel’s Summer Reading guide. It’s the story of Pepper and Jack, rivals in a Twitter war between their parents’ businesses who don’t know that they are also falling for each other via the anonymous app that everyone at their school uses. It was very You’ve Got Mail, which is coincidentally one of my favorite movies.

The story was sweet, and I loved the technology, bizarrely enough. I loved that the story presented technology being used for actual connection with real people, and I loved watching the creative and interesting things these teens did with it--created apps to locate cupcakes or find new friends, write cooking blogs that hold together sisters. This book definitely also showcases the negative sides of technology, like the Twitter wars and the ability to share embarrassing pictures instantly, but ultimately, technology comes out as the good guy, as an essential cog that keeps the wheels of genuine connection turning. The love story was founded on real friendship, and was absolutely adorable.

I didn’t know that I wanted to read an adorable book, but I so did. I couldn’t stop smiling while I read, and I talked all the time to my husband about it. This book filled me up with happiness. It bugs me when people complain that this generation of kids is lazy and discontent. There are always a few outliers, but the majority of the teens I know are like the ones in this book--creative and eager learners who strive to be ethical and kind. They value friendship and loyalty and really exemplify these traits. Their hearts are always in the right place, whatever the consequences.

If you could use a little hope in your life, don’t discount young adult fiction. It shows young people taking a look around at the world and trying to figure out who they’d like to be in it. Books do reflect reality, and maybe the adult reality wouldn’t be so harsh if we could remember the way we saw the world when we were kids.