When does Young adult fiction cross over and appeal to adults?

I do have a question has anyone here read any Sherrilyn Kenyon books? I know she is more of an adult author but I am currently struggling through her YA novel Infinity: The Chronicles of Nick. I wonder if any of her other books are any good. I like sci-fi fantasy and she came highly recommended.

Alysheba said:

I do have a question has anyone here read any Sherrilyn Kenyon books? I know she is more of an adult author but I am currently struggling through her YA novel Infinity: The Chronicles of Nick. I wonder if any of her other books are any good. I like sci-fi fantasy and she came highly recommended.

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I read one and thought it was the worst book I have ever read. Born of Shadows, I think. Horrid head-hopping, shallow characters. I still shudder occasionally.

Thanks. I am having a really tough time liking any of the characters.

This might not be a great contribution, but perhaps we could look at the writers who have written predominantly YA and children's books and afterwards tried to cross over to adult fiction (more or less successfully).
I would say that J. K. Rowling has managed to keep her writing style throughout The Casual Vacancy, but the story didn't appeal to me at all. On the other hand, Gaiman is struggling to find balance between the perky children's book style of Anansi Boys and the dark, gloomy atmosphere of American Gods. Both good writers, but this search for the answer to the same question you asked is visible.

I don't like how YA is mostly formulaic and I really don't have the patience to read it anymore (so many dystopian situations that cause our young characters to rebel against the existitng system and then they- fall in love). However... the fact that The Hunger Games had a catalogue of characters that were super interesing made it more accessible. So, we're back to the characters, aren't we? I think the forumers are pretty much unanimous on this.

Actually, I think Gaiman did Crossover well with The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Zafon writes both lovely YA and adult, and Abercrombie has done it, although, for me, his YA lacked depth.

springs said:

Abercrombie has done it, although, for me, his YA lacked depth.

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I have to say, I think his YA just felt like a shorter adult story. (didn't stop me from enjoying it!)

springs said:

Actually, I think Gaiman did Crossover well with The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Zafon writes both lovely YA and adult, and Abercrombie has done it, although, for me, his YA lacked depth.

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I didn't know The Ocean at the End of the Lane was an adult book. I haven't read it, but I was under the impression it was a children's book. Thank you for this information!

I agree with your choice of Zafon.

AscribedPurpose said:

I didn't know The Ocean at the End of the Lane was an adult book. I haven't read it, but I was under the impression it was a children's book. Thank you for this information!

I agree with your choice of Zafon.

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Yes, just checked with Mr Springs, who is a bookseller - Ocean was marketed as adult, not even crossover, which surprises me a little. But the frame story is that of the adult.

I don't know much about the topic since I don't read YA, but I thought perhaps that would be a reason to comment. As someone who doesn't read YA, the most significant hurdle is quite simply hearing about a book. I somehow go through life never hearing about YA books. Not the good, the bad, or even just sales. I somehow live in circles that don't even mention it. So whatever could get me to actually hear about YA and give them a shot would be the best 'crossover' thing I could think of.

There is one big exception in the Lemony Snicket books, though they might be considered for children and not YA? Either way, a family member sent the first one to me with a note saying "give it a chance," so I did. And loved the series.

Michael Colton said:

I somehow live in circles that don't even mention it.

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But now you live among people who do talk about such things -- at least in your virtual life, since a lot of us here mention them. And not just in the YA forum, but in the monthly reading threads, etc.

Indeed, which is making me take notice and I will start putting them on my 'Interested" list.

Michael Colton said:

Lemony Snicket books, though they might be considered for children

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They are a bit strange anyway. If anything was ever an outlier. The film doesn't do too bad a job of capturing the 1st three books, but loses the mad author's asides to the reader. They seem younger than I think they really are.