J Fic for Grownups

Because you're never too old for a great story

By Jennifer Leary
October 1, 2019
adult readers, book discrimination, not just for kids, reading perks, universal appeal

Many adult readers are drawn to the books on young adult shelves like Harry Potter, Twilight, The Hunger Games and so on. Even though these novels were written for teens and young adults they continue to appeal to adult readers. There’s no denying that we’re in the golden age of young adult fiction. If you don’t believe me, just ask CNN, they wrote an article saying just that a few years ago.

Unfortunately, the universal appeal of young adult fiction has not spread to the children’s shelves. This is really sad because many juvenile fiction books are just as good as their young adult counterparts. These juvenile books have wonderful stories with fantastic (and fantastical) characters that will still be with you years later.

Reading a great story is not the only perk of getting a book off of the children’s shelf. Here are a few more:

They are a fast read. Many of these books can be read in one day, leaving no cliffhangers or all night read-a-thons that will make you tired and grumpy the next morning.
They allow you to try new genres. If you are not an adventurous reader or you are stuck in a reading rut, reading these shorter stories will give you the ability to try new genres without the 300+ page commitment of an adult or young adult novel.
Instant gratification. No matter what you read, a sense of accomplishment and pleasure is felt when you finish the final sentences. By reading juvenile fiction, you can reach this sensation even quicker than you would with an adult or young adult novel.
They can be used as a brain break. Let’s face, sometimes you just need a brain break. After reading that intense new bestselling novel, are you really ready to jump into another intense novel? How about reaching for a brain cleansing children’s novel instead?
They can give you common ground with the kids in your life. Whether you have your own children, have friends with children or only talk to children while in line at Walmart, reading juvenile fiction can give you some insight into their thoughts and feelings. Bonus points if you encourage the kids around you to read the same book so that you can discuss it with them.

So, the next time you visit the library do not discriminate against books intended for juvenile audiences. Browse the juvenile shelves, talk to a Children’s Librarian or place one of these great juvenile fiction titles on hold and pick it up from the circulation desk.

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