Transitioning from J to YA

Navigate the next chapter of your reading journey

For parents of teens and tweens, moving from the juvenile section of the library to young adult can be intimidating. Young adult literature represents a wide range of ages, interests and comfort levels, which can make knowing where to start challenging — especially if you have concerns about content. Have no fear, your friendly neighborhood librarians are here with some tips to help you navigate the transition.

Don’t be afraid to ask a librarian for help. We understand a parent’s concerns and we know everyone has different interests, opinions, and comfort levels. More than anything, we want to help you find the right book for your child.
If your tween/teen is adamant about reading a book that you’re uncertain about, consider reading it together and discussing the book. It could give your child a sense of autonomy while giving you an opportunity to explore your comfort levels and beliefs together.
Let your tween/teen know that you trust them to stop reading if something makes them uncomfortable. This approach will give them more freedom to choose their own books, while letting them know that it’s good to have boundaries. After all, life’s too short to read books we’re not enjoying.
Websites like Common Sense Media or Rated Reads lay out potentially uncomfortable content for a large number of books based on reader’s differing levels of comfort. This can be a good place to quickly check the details of particular books.