New Study Says Most YA Books Are Purchased By Adults: Do You Read Young Adult Novels?

by SodaHead Living Posted 2012/09/17 01:45:50

Related Topics: Young Adult, Novels, Adults, Hunger Games, Twilight, Harry Potter

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	Yes	249 votes	66%
	No	131 votes	34%

According to a new study by Bowker Market Research, 55% of young adult novels are purchased by adults (18 years and older). In fact, the largest group of readers purchasing YA books is the 30- to 44-year-old demographic Of course, some of these individuals are buying books for actual “young adults,” but 78% admit that they are purchasing them for themselves.

Unsurprisingly, part of this trend is influenced by the popularity of The Hunger Games trilogy. However, according to Kelly Gallagher, Vice-President of Bowker Market Research, “Our data shows it’s a much larger phenomenon than readership of this single series.” Interestingly, respondents reported reading a vast variety of titles—over 220. Only two of them commanded more than 5%—Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Breaking Dawn.

Observers of the book world have been discussing this trend for years and it looks like it’s no passing fad. So far this year, Amazon has included young adult titles in its “Top 10 Picks” of the month list four times—not just in its separate “Kids & Teens” list.

What about you SodaHeads? Do you read young adult novels?

+12

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Pele Emerging 2012/09/17 02:01:23

Yes

+6
I'm a school librarian, so I read a lot of books classified as children's and young adult.
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Blackwi... to Illjwamh 2012/09/18 11:33:39

They weren't perfect. But at least they weren't run by teen girls back in the day. And movies people actually watched won awards.

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Illjwamh to Blackwi... 2012/09/18 18:45:42

Right, because nobody watched Harry Potter, The Hunger Games or Twilight. All those box office records must have been clerical errors and misplaced decimals.

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Blackwi... to Illjwamh 2012/09/19 09:25:13

Nobody above 25 watched them. Harry Potter maybe but not the other two.

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Illjwamh to Blackwi... 2012/09/19 18:51:03 (edited)

I did. Well, Hunger Games, anyway. So did both my parents. My mother even watched the Twilight films, though I can't imagine why. What you really mean is "I didn't watch them and therefore can't fathom anyone else doing so either."

And that's all irrelevant anyway. Who do you think MTV's target audience is? I'll give you a hint: it's the same target audience they had 15 years ago, when you were still watching it and it was still "good".

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Blackwi... to Illjwamh 2012/09/20 06:41:46

The Audience up until like 3 or 4 years ago was teen to tweentysomething. Now its only about teen. 10 years ago a justin beiber "movie" wouldn't even be a nominee.

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dv 2012/09/17 11:23:58

No

I dont

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.: LiVi :. 2012/09/17 11:03:37

No

Just never found them interesting or believable. But I did read harry potter, and loved that book

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Bulbasaurus Rex. 2012/09/17 10:58:03

Yes

I do, but I prefer to read adult novels.

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Osaka 2012/09/17 10:32:19

Yes

Temeraire Series by Naomi Novik, it was in the YA section when I discovered it.

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dani 2012/09/17 10:24:15

Yes

Sure do there are some good books

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katie 2012/09/17 10:19:52

Yes

But...I am one. :P

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Lordoftheringsrox 2012/09/17 10:06:02

Yes

I still love to read ya books. I love The Hunger Games. I don't think it matters, as long as you enjoy reading it. I outgrew the Twilight books though. I used to read Jodi Picoult's books but they became too boring and predictable to me.

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Artisan Rose ☽✪☾☥ 2012/09/17 08:47:24

Yes

And coming this December!!!

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Commander Pyle 2012/09/17 08:44:04

No

+2
I'm still stuck on my science textbooks, philosophical books, and distopian novels. No time for young adult stuff. Never heard of hunger games or twilight until I couldn't ignore it. I still don't know what hunger games is. I imagine it is a book about hungry hungry hippos.

Hmm...Sounds interesting, actually.

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caius m... to Command... 2012/09/17 13:05:39

Think the disappointment you felt when you first saw or heard about Twilight being a vampire movie, but then where presented with...... that. Or how Harry Potter was a magicians quest...... also lackluster and highly childish. The Hunger Games has distopian elements, be be not fooled, it is very kiddy at times, and feels equally disappointing. Hope it helps. Hungry Hungry Hippo's rocks! Distopian novels are the best.

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Omni 2012/09/17 06:22:39 (edited)

No

+1
YA novels tend to lack reality. The prose is childish (as intended), the plot is childish (as intended); the characters also come across as "simple." I don't know if it's a lack of reading comprehension in adults or a desire to revisit a simpler time that compels so many men and women to veer towards YA fiction.

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Beat Ma... to Omni 2012/09/17 09:50:56

+1
Can't be serious all the time. That's what work is for.

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caius m... to Omni 2012/09/17 13:08:47

I too wondered that as per the old people Harry Potter phenomenon. It just contradicts the entire point of the books existence. If you are older, it is unlikely that you will enjoy such shallow writing caveats.

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ariesheshelala 2012/09/17 06:00:56

Yes

sure do read them,already read all the hunger game books,as well as twilight and Harry Potter. I also read lots of Mangas

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sally 2012/09/17 05:54:34

Yes

Well I read some but not all. Next time I haven't read a YA novel that becomes popular I'm soooo not going to read it. Last time I did I wasted about an hour on Twilight before I realized Bella was really stupid and she wasn't going to change.

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Boo! 2012/09/17 05:49:02

Yes

Yes yes i do

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xRat a Tatx 2012/09/17 05:38:11

Yes

Oh god, The Book Thief

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Dark Demons 2012/09/17 05:33:13

Yes

+1
And i am too young to, i have read the twilight books over 24 times

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Boo! to Dark De... 2012/09/17 05:51:14

Haha same

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Omni to Dark De... 2012/09/17 06:24:21

That's quite sad, actually...

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Ameera 2012/09/17 05:26:30

Yes

a lot of them are good :)

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Jiorgia 2012/09/17 04:59:29

Yes

If they sound good.

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M A 2012/09/17 04:50:37 (edited)

Yes

+2
A good story, is a good story

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Apollo ~PHAET 2012/09/17 04:35:43

Yes

I do. Currently though I'm reading this very good, very intense book called Go Dog, Go.

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fallnhope 2012/09/17 04:14:59

Yes

+1
I read whatever catches my attention or whatever is put in front of me.

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Waiting in the Wings 2012/09/17 04:14:35 (edited)

Yes

+3
Sometimes. Twilight, no. Hunger Games, yes. It depends on the plot and the quality of writing.

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glass_b... to Waiting... 2012/09/17 04:58:24

+3
That's usually the case. I asked my dad and brother if they would ever read Twilight and they were like "Hell NO!" and after I made them go see The Hunger Games they were like okay I want to read that book. LOL

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BabyBear 2012/09/17 04:13:19

Yes

+3
I enjoy reading. Just because "young adult" is the target audience for a book doesn't mean it can't be good. I also read children's book.

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xcheshirecat 2012/09/17 04:01:46

Yes

sometimes. Harry potter and hunger games. But I'm sure we don't read those like actual teens

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Balladeer-PWCM-POTL 2012/09/17 03:59:07

No

Not since the Deathly hallows

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☆Katharina☆ 2012/09/17 03:58:22

Yes

I buy what has my interest so I am all over the place.

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Feria~THEZombieSlayingB!tch... 2012/09/17 03:53:34

Yes

+1
I am a young adult, however, I just like the way that they are written and I'll read any books no matter my age, be it for adults, young adults, or kids.

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Centrist_Bill 2012/09/17 03:46:45

No

Dont have time to read the books. I wait for the movie(s).

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mizzSHADYgirl 2012/09/17 03:41:57

Yes

Sure. Some adult books are a bore :p

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☼ Supersonic Jocy 2012/09/17 03:41:31 (edited)

Yes

+2
They are awesome! More creative and interesting. Then again, i'm a young adult. But even when i'm older I will most likely keep reading them. :)

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