But, yes, the figures for the rest of the year are going to be fascinating!

Granted, I only know how sales went for the one store I worked at, but they tended to vary a lot from month to month. There were also definite seasonal trends. Although, with that in mind, February was not exactly known as a month in which a lot of kids and YA books got sold compared to adult books – that would be summertime. So… \o/

“I’d like to see what the numbers look like without Ms. Meyer’s books, just as an intellectual exercise. It would be exciting if YA was still doing so well.”

I would too, but I also think no matter what, the success if Meyer’s books means YA is doing well and will likely continue to. As with Harry Potter, Twilight has gotten people who would normally never pick up a a kids/YA books to do so. Not all of them will continue to read YA, but I think at least a significant number will.

It’s been rather interesting watching Twilight grow from something that – back when I was a bookseller – was spread mostly by word of mouth among teen girls to a series that now even my sister’s book club reads – and spends more time discussing than just about any other book they’ve read. While I personally think there are lots better YA books out there than Twilight, I do appreciate the fact that my sister is now much more likely to believe me when I tell her she should give some other YA books a try. That is part of the Stephenie Meyer effect as well.

That being said, a lot of my classmates discovered Reading after Twilight. It was the same with Hp.

hmm… i’m mad tempted to read The Forest Of Hands And Teeth….

Also, adult covers not pretty, Ted Lemon? Fie on that. Exhibit A, Everyman’s Rules for Scientific Living by Carrie Tiffany. Exhibit B, Breath by Tim Winton. Exhibit C, I seem to be getting on my high horse. Um, case closed.

I think a lot of it has to do with price-point too. And the fact that teenagers have way more spending power than they used too. I’m just glad they’re choosing to spend some of their cash on books. Crossing my fingers that trend keeps up through December and beyond.

The rest of the field is healthy, yes — healthier than many adult fiction categories, particularly the more literary end there — but the big jump is all Meyer.

So I read YA, which isn’t always perfect, but isn’t afraid to do new things, and isn’t afraid to let their characters do something BESIDES angst.

I buy a lot of books, and I know others who do who are the same way, as of late. Adult books can still woo me–Kim Harrison, Rachel Cain and so on, anyone?–but most just don’t. And yeah, I agree with what someone said earlier. They’re just not as pretty.

…

I’d like to see what the numbers look like without Ms. Meyer’s books, just as an intellectual exercise. It would be exciting if YA was still doing so well.

I’m dead curious about what that books was, but.

Consequently, YA novels and adult novels have the same “reading level.” Means squat.

This isn’t to disparage YA books in any way, in fact, I admire them more for conveying a message to an audience that generally doesn’t look for literary messages. Not to mention they’ve made reading cool again!

Especially since I just found out they are selling my slim adult paperback for FIFTEEN DOLLARS. (the three preceding this were $10). Yowza! My YA hardcover, by comparison, is 30k longer and only $1.99 more.

Side by side with a thinner hardcover that costs nine bucks more, a solid YA fantasy looks like a great buy.