Why should adults read YA and middle grade books?

To connect, of course.

If you have begun looking through some of the book bundle offerings under the variety of categories offered (i.e. Socialize Your Reading, Limited Edition: Halloween, etc.) you have probably noticed a curious line attached to most of the 'Audience' suggestions:

As with all youth and young adult book bundle offerings, The Book Shelf highly recommends the pairing of adults with all chosen novels.

If you are anything like me, you grew up adhering fairly closely to the designated sections of your neighborhood library. In elementary school, I lived in the picture book and early readers section (shoutout to Portland Library's dreamy children's section and plastic turnstiles overflowing with books). Middle School led me into every teen magazine possible, venturing into dramatic chapter books, the Sweet Valley series . . .

I think you get the picture: I always matched my age to the corresponding developmental section of the library because I assumed that's just what readers did.

Enter motherhood.

Reading had been like a warm blanket to me in childhood, and having the opportunity to share that blanket with my child was a gift. Owen's bedroom in our little apartment overflowed with books; some beloved from my own memories and many new, engaging, connective stories. To make more book room, I painted and stenciled an ABC bookshelf that found a home right next to his rocking chair for easy grabbing.

Every story that found its way to the front of the bookshelf had a purposeful reason to be there. And as Owen grew, so did that purpose:

What stories had a musical or textural element to calm my toddler as we transition to a nap? Which books light up his eyes as we start to visually understand (and adore) Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas?

Then --

What books will make Owen laugh, giggle, become involved in the 'reading'? What stories are so visually and text engaging that we can make a game out of telling the tale to each other?

Then (inevitably) --

What titles and covers is he drawn to, a bridge to Owen beginning his own journey as an independent reader?

I thought I would be heartbroken when Owen transitioned to not needing that ABC bookshelf -- but the thing is, we have never stopped reading together. The length, themes and subjects of his choice of books may change, but that purpose I was always searching for in our stories together remains the same: the purpose of reading is connecting.

Owen will be 11 this November and will have started 5th grade when this post makes it to the blog. When thinking about the upcoming school year and inevitably how time seems to always be a step ahead of what we are ready for, I am wildly grateful that as Owen's reading journey grows, twists and develops, so does mine. Reading together remains a natural and easy connection for us.

Being in the world of young adult and middle grade storylines mirrors real life. Owen keeps entering bits of a new world through his own maturity, friendships and growing pains; and I am entering new worlds of motherhood as my own child grows. I never want there to be a topic or a question Owen feels he cannot share or discuss with me; while we are blessed to have a very deep and communicative bond, I tip my hat to a lot of that conversation food being born from our reading adventures. There have been books along the way that have introduced brand new and difficult topics, such as family hardships, racism, loss and ugly parts of history. There has never been one book surrounding any of these challenging topics that has not produced a wealth of questions, conversations and incredibly thoughtful dialogue.

On the flip side, there have been books laced with such laughter and ridiculous scenarios, that we have nothing to do but cackle with laughter (and keep re-reading the same pages to get that laugh again – but you didn’t hear it from me). And isn't that sometimes just what we need? Joy for the sake of joy?

Which leads me to the next connection point, because you don't need to have an Owen to venture into young adult novels (although everyone should have an Owen in their lives).

Being a grown up, a parent, a partner, a caregiver -- it is a blessing and also a deep, consistent responsibility. There has been nothing in my 40 years that has projected me to every human emotion quite like parenting, and none other that has brought me such deep, deep boisterous love and fulfillment. I hope you feel something in your adult life has given you twinkles of that, too.

But amidst all of the grown up privileges, who doesn't want to soak themselves in the sunshine of childhood nostalgia? To revisit a part of their youth that felt so challenging, but a new perspective of peace is offered through reading a character’s similar journey with adult eyes? To look back through fiction at the age your child is now, forming a new understanding of them? To connect to the smaller version of yourself and tell them "you did a damn good job at getting here."

I did. I do.

Connect to your child, niece, nephew, grandson – and take a trip in connecting to yourself, as well. You are the ‘Audience’ I am speaking to in my listings.

Lastly — don’t limit yourself as a reader. I'm here to tell you that age does not have to match the title of the shelf in the library department. Instead, let your age match to what you need, or hope to find; be it a connection to your child or a connection to your younger self.

Sincerely,

The Book Shelf highly recommends the pairing of adults with all youth, young adult and middle grade novels.

P.S. You won't regret it!