My Problem With YA Fantasy - PT. 2 (Lies & Limitations)

In this video, I go over the Limitations & Lies of modern Young Adult Literature. This is part 2 in a two-part series on the subject.

[StapledArt]

I'm just waiting for the female protagonist to choose between two guys so she can finally save the world.

[ravipattanaik]

He is not invisible, he is slowly becoming one with the books. The days are not far when the tales of Daniel Greene will be told as a man, for then he will not be but a presence.

[TactlessC]

"Why do YAs all have shoehorned underdeveloped romances"
You might have heard of this thing that was very nearly as popular as Harry Potter that also shaped the genre called uh...Twilight?

[benjones]

Daniel is looking like a hip university lecturer but lacking a torso.

[mollymurphy]

As someone who reads a lot of YA and has begun to read more Adult, I feel that YA is written to be read fast so that you read more. I find myself flying through YA and moving on to the next. Adult has me taking my time and really delving into the story. Anyone else agree?

[ysabellelaxamana]

how YA romance works:

he was boy
she was girl
can i make it anymore obvious? 🎶

[GacPrime]

I'm terribly disappointed in this video, Daniel. Every time you asked "why, " you had the opportunity to say, "... A." You dropped the ball EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. For shame, sir!

[theblackdeath]

You're literally if the Green Brothers had a long lost third brother who focused on books instead of crash course history and science

[Capitolhost]

As a Non-native speaker, reading English YA in my teens actually really helped me and nowadays I only read English literature and my studies are entirely in English. As much as the writing might be simplified, it's a really great way to join the English literary world.

[baconzen]

I really agree with the romance thing - I have nothing against it but just like you've mentioned - when it's just a box to tick and it has no real substance then I don't see the necessity of it appearing in the story. GIVE US FRIENDSHIPS TOO.

[bracerofplanets]

every time Daniel said "WHY" my brain would just automatically say "A"

[TokyoBlue]

Daniel: “If you treat females like they’re human beings, suddenly you’re writing good female characters, who would have thought?”
Me: (applause) THANK YOU DANIEL

[Katyayay]

As maybe an answer about the over-inclusion of romance into books that otherwise shouldn't need it: Someone I know is currently shopping a YA fantasy (that has no romance in it) around to publishers and the overwhelming consensus is "needs more romance, what about pairing X character with Y character?"

So it could be that it's not always the fault of YA authors for including unnecessary or uninspired romances. A lot of publishers seem to think it's necessary, perhaps after seeing the success of very romance-focused books in the YA genre-not-genre (SJM, I'm looking at you)

[mims]

platonic friendships between a girl and boy is something i crave so hard in YA books so i agree with you about the forced romance.. its annoying.

[jeyoki]

It's 2 years late, but as someone who does primarily read YA fantasy-supernatural and romance, I read it because it goes down easy. A lot of it is just my power fantasy and escapism, so I'm not asking to be challenged. If I want something more substantial, yeah I'll pick up a more adult fantasy or science fiction novel. But when I'm tired and want to be comforted, or just want to befriend or obsess over a nice character, it's hard to beat YA fantasy.

[melanie]

The worst publishing marketing mistake (that I’ve seen personally) is to The Raven Cycle series. The blurb in book 1 only focuses on the “romance” when that’s a very small piece of the book. Maggie Stiefvater did a really great job of creating a very magical story and taking you on this journey with the characters, her writing style is really interesting too.

[Omegaroth]

I appreciate how transparent you're being, literally.

[jessicacummings]

I distinctly remember feeling absolutely immersed in Riordan’s world every time I sat down to read one of his books growing up (The Red Pyramid especially). I miss that feeling and hope to be able find that again, but I’m not sure where to start now that I’m so far removed from the YA world after spending 4 years in university and not having the time to read for fun.

[eleanorjones]

I almost want to endorse the Throne of Glass series just to see how much he would hate it

[TheSecondsMoveOn]

I think there’s this weird misconception that YA readers never question YA at all, when we’re actually discussing a lot of these same problems all the time! Also that people can only read one genre.... because personally I just read the books I’m interested in, regardless of their genre/age category!

Best prose in YA fantasy has to be Maggie Stiefvater’s Raven Cycle, or anything by Laini Taylor. Both have beautifully whimsical and distinct styles that really stand out from the rest.