While I was at that Margo Lanagan talk, I learned that Tender Morsels was published as an adult book in Australia. There will be a YA edition down under, but it isn't out yet. There are also adult and YA editions of the book in England.
England also did an adult and kid version of the Harry Potter books.
I think adult readers would be very interested in Tender Morsels. I think they'd be interested in Octavian Nothing, too. Same with The Book Thief. Fortunately, we live in a free country here in the U.S. of A., so they can read them if they want to.
But they'll never want to if they don't know about them. Sure these books are famous in kidlit circles. But most adult readers are not part of our circle. They have to know these books exist. I hate to say it, but they need to be marketed to.
I know I'm a lone voice on the subject of adults and picture books and will probably remain so. But, come on! They market YA to adults in other countries. I'm not suggesting something revolutionary.
Or do we Americans figure adults over here bought Harry Potter and Twilight without anyone having to make a special effort so we just aren't going to?
2 comments:
Adults read the Book Thief. I have four copies at my library, all of them have been checked out 20ish times, and not one time have I handed that book to a teen. Adult book clubs read it, not knowing its a YA (and I occasionally get a snide comment or an eyeroll or an "are you sure it's the right book? it's not for kids." to which I respond "you're talking to the wrong person, YA books are all I read." That shuts them up.) That's pretty much the only YA book the adult clubs will read though.
I don't know why we don't go after more of a crossover market but I suspect its the result of large corporate bookstores that want things in one easy category.
That's interesting. I know Octavian Nothing only went out three or four times at our library, and two of those readers were one of my friends and myself. Tender Morsels was on the shelf in the YA area for months before I took it out.
I just wish more adult readers could find these books.
Post a Comment