I originally started this post in just thinking about books that were good for boys and books that were good for girls to read. Not long into writing about this I found myself unimpressed. While acquiring new titles of books for both sexes is great, it doesn't feel that important or "worthy" to be considered #YASaves. So the post has taken a different turn. I found myself writing more about the trend of YA books mainly having a female audience and the lacking of a male audience. So forgive the change but I hope this will be worth of #YASaves....
When you walk into a book store, or even look at what is currently popular, it is clear that some books are meant for a very specific audience - I am talking about girls vs. the boys. While there are some YA novels that are written for both, it does seem that many are written with girls in mind. I am not saying that this is what the authors have intended, but it does seem that more girls are reading books than boys. When I say "seems" this is my opinion based on the overwhelming number of female book bloggers as well as the number of girls vs. boys I see at libraries and bookstores. But why?? The male audience is just as capable to read as the female audience....
Point of View
While I don't see this is a main reason, it could be possible that many YA books are told from female point of views. As least from the YA books that I have read, most often they are told from a female point view. While I love this I am aware that not every guy wants to read what girls have to think and say all the time. Yeah, they can get 'insider information' about what girls want and hope for (especially in contemporary YA books) but as we are all human, sometimes we just want to listen to 'our own kind' so to speak. However, I am happy to say that I have noticed a spike in multi-gender point of views. For example, Simone Elkeles
Perfect Chemistry and
Leaving Paradise series, which deal with both issues felt by guys and girls: drugs, popularity, gender expectations, sex.
Subject Matter
Let's be honest. In comparison to women, guys are not usually eager to read about crushes and love and all that girly mushy stuff. Just as many women prefer to read about all that mushy stuff (I'm raising my hand!) many guys prefer to read about what is typically 'manly' things. I'm not trying to be stereotypical here or say that women don't like to read about 'manly' things but we have to be honest here, especially when we are talking about teen guys. Their interests are simply different from girls. For example, sports (again I am not purposefully singling out girls). However, again I am happy to point out that at the same time I have personally seen and read more and more books that appeal more to a male audience while at the same time focusing on real issues. For example, Joshua Cohen's
Leverage explores expectations felt by guys through sports, use of enhancement drugs, bullying, and what many call the 'underdogs'.
Maturity, Acceptance & Pressure
Boys that mature early tend be more accepted and popular. However, boys that mature latter are not always aimed for popularity. In high school this is devastating. Even boys become consumed with their own issues and life, wanting nothing more than to fit in. Usually this means sports and games and dating the hottest girl (of course there are those rare gem of guys that manage to sideswipe this). Growing up, boys and girls deal with completely different issues. So it only makes sense that they read what they are going through, just as girls do.
Also, just as girls, boys feel the pressure. Boys are expected by most to be "macho" - this usually means not sensitive and 'uncool'. While girls who are seen sexually promiscuous (even if they really are not) as sluts, boys are pressured to be the exact opposite. Unfortunately, much of society sees boys who are sensitive, chase, caring, quiet, etc. as 'wimps' or not guy-enough. This even includes reading. Unfortunately during our teen years our sense to fit in creates a need for conformity - copying those that we hang out with, want to be friends with and even want to be.
But it is not just sports and 'manly' things that boys can read about. With the rise of paranormal literature, more and more YA Paranormal books are perfect for a male audience. Sherrilyn Kenyon's
The Chronicles of Nick series is about a boy who, for his whole life, has been made fun of simply because he has grown up poor with a mother who is a dancer. Little does he know that his own father, who is in prison for committing multiple murders, is one of the darkest demons out there. Also, Nick doesn't know he is literally the key to saving the world. He finds the world is much larger than he originally thought, and so is his future with new special powers and interesting new friends and enemies. As we have stated here many times, just because it is paranormal does not mean it cannot be considered #YASaves. Nick struggles with doing what is expected for him and what he wants to do, as do many teen boys.
So there you have it. My opinion on guys reading YA books. Remember, these are just my opinions. There are always those that can prove to be the exception - guys that are 'manly', sensitive, and readers of not just male point of view books but female views as well. Those exceptions is what I am hoping will speak up and prove me wrong!! And as you can see below, the number of books for boys are still growing!!
Some YA Book Suggestions
for the Male Audience
* Also Known As Rowan Pohi by Ralph Fletcher
* Ashfall by Mike Mullin
* Beastly by Alex Flin
* Blank Confession by Pete Hautman
* Box Out by John Coy
* Chronicles of Nick series by Sherrilyn Kenyon
* Crack Back by John Coy
* Everybody Sees The Ants by A.S. King
* Flash Burnout by L.K. Madigan
* Food, Girls, and Other Things I Can't Have by Allen Zadoff
* Holes by Louis Sachar
* iBoy by Kevin Brooks
* Infinity by Sherrilyn Kenyon
* Leverage by Joshua C. Cohen
* Leviathan by Scott Westerfeld
* My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George
* Stupid Fast by Geoff Herbach
* The Maze Runner by James Dashner
* The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton
* The White Gates by Bonnie Ramthum
* Tyrell by Coe Booth
* Vladimir Todd series by Heather Brewer
* When I Was Joe by Karen David
*
Where The Red Fern Grows by Wilson Rawls
*
Witch Eyes by Scott Tracey
Side-Note
I am not the only blogger to have explored this issue - nor will I be the last. In doing research on this topic I found some really interesting and amazing other posts and articles:
by Carley Moore (3/27/12)
