Why Do You Read/Write YA?

Laurel had a post the other day about there not being much of a market for college-aged kids out there.  I had commented that I had never really thought about it when I was in college, because I always just read YA.  Even at 30, I still read YA exclusively.

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So that got me thinking.  Why did I just read YA?  Why did I never transition into reading adult novels like many college/mid-20's people?  Why do I still read YA?

There is just something about that raw emotion YA novels (especially fantasy- my favorite) exude that (for me) adult novels just come up short on.  The whole coming of age, experiencing love and adult-like dilemmas for the first time, and just the ability to escape to another world just drew me in.  And it still does.  Your teenage years are one of the most important times in your life.  It's real and it matters.  No matter what anyone says.  It's what helps shapes you into the adult you are today.  I think those books had such an impact on me, that's why I wanted to write YA.  To give to someone what I experienced, and still do experience.

I've never been ashamed to admit I read YA.  I know some adults are, and they shouldn't be.  It's interesting how in the past few years it's become less taboo for adults to read YA.  I think Harry Potter and Twilight contributed a lot to that.  I meet so many adults now that actually sound interested when I talk about a certain YA book I'm reading.  And that makes me so incredibly happy.

So, I still don't know why there isn't much of a market out there for college aged kids.  But I do know there's nothing better than sitting down with a good YA and experiencing those teen years again just for a little while.

And then coming back to reality and realizing how glad you are those years are over.

So why do you read/write YA?  Or if you don't, what drew you to start reading adult novels?