Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

“Young Adult Horror” is the topic of discussion I would like to raise today. For example:

“After an orphan child endures his formative years being neglected by his foster parents and made to feel powerless, a mysterious stranger arrives with a revelation: the child was born with the blood of sorcerers in his veins. Taken to a hidden fortress under the cover of darkness, the child encounters disembodied spirits, nightmarish creatures, and enemies at every turn. Yet it is only when he discovers that his birth parents were murdered by the dark arts that his true path becomes clear.”

I wrote that three-sentence description for the express purpose of illustrating a point about YA Horror, but how many of readers would correctly identify this as the synopsis for Harry Potter and the Philosopher’s/Sorcerer’s Stone?

In offering to allow reviewers the chance to sample my book series, The Spooky Chronicles, I have repeatedly seen replies such as “(these) aren’t the type of books that I would read” or “(YA horror is) not my thing.” My question, of course, is “Why didn’t you give the Harry Potter books a chance?” To be perfectly honest, I submit that the entire series run of all seven JK Rowling books in the Potter series are not only YA horror but become more horrific with each installment (and, frankly, I loved every bit of it).

My point is this: I’m attempting to be fair in the description of what my books are about. Horror is not the only thing that happens in these stories; there is a fair amount of fantasy as well as drama, humor, adventure, and more, but the main character IS a zombie kid. What is creating this reaction to YA horror? Look at children’s nursery rhymes and Grimm fairy tales; the very essence of these stories is unmistakably horror. Hansel and Gretel (and the witch)? Ring Around the Rosie? My guess is that someone at some time has written a truly horrible book where something unspeakable must happen to all the young adult characters; if you happen to know what that book is, please send me the title because I’d like to give it a shot.

In the meantime, what do YOU think? Is a wizard who learns the value of destroying your enemies with sorcery more palpable than a zombie boy who is genuinely fearful he might accidentally start the Apocalypse?

I think it really depends on who you ask. A lot of people will say a book is fantasy when another would say it is science fiction, that a bit is romance when it is classified as mystery. I'd just tag it as you see it. You're the author, and if you think it's horror, then put it up as horror.

Alexandra wrote: "I think it really depends on who you ask. A lot of people will say a book is fantasy when another would say it is science fiction, that a bit is romance when it is classified as mystery. I'd just t..."

Am I pigeonholing myself with a label? I wasn't trying to specifically write a YA horror book or anything else; I just wrote a story. It wasn't until after I started to seriously consider continuing the series and market it that my research and encouragement from others even turned up the term YA, but it seemed appropriate.

Fortunately, the only person (and I do mean ONLY) who has given me less than a positive review is my editor, but he's a grammar Nazi with a hatred of all commas. I figured if I could get it up to "passable" by his standards, it would be at least acceptable to everyone else.

Well, you have to have some sort of "label" on it to target a certain audience. And simply "YA" doesn't really tell the reader what genre you're writing. But as far as whether it's horror or not, like I said, that is up to you. You're the writer, so you know best.

And I wouldn't worry too much about the criticism from your editor. That is what they are there for, to make the book better and point out mistakes/plot faults so you can improve your story. There will always be people who will like and dislike your stories.

Alexandra wrote: "Well, you have to have some sort of "label" on it to target a certain audience. And simply "YA" doesn't really tell the reader what genre you're writing. But as far as whether it's horror or not, l..."

Agreed on the label, but it's still a shame it has to be that way.

Also, that wasn't worry towards my editor's criticism; I was actually bragging on him. Too many people (especially family) are often afraid to "hurt feelings" or say what they're really thinking, and having someone I know will be brutally honest keeps me on my toes. I also wouldn't wish him on anyone but the thickest-skinned authors, because he will chew your manuscript up and spit it out.

I'm prepping to do a YA Zombie week on my blog and have been trying to find good zombie books written for YA readers, and apart from Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth series, I haven't yet found another that approaches zombies as horror. They try to take on the humorous, tongue in cheek stance and that's not really what I want from zombies. I want the gore, yet it seems as if authors and publishes are hesitant to give readers that. Maybe it is a lack of demand, but obviously with Ryan's success there is some. As for other subjects of horror, I think there's such a push in the YA genre to hit the majority of YA readers, young girls looking for the romance angle. Sadly this leads to an overabundance of Twilight rip-offs and less space on the shelf for other types of literature.

Angela wrote: "I'm prepping to do a YA Zombie week on my blog and have been trying to find good zombie books written for YA readers, and apart from Carrie Ryan's The Forest of Hands and Teeth series, I haven't ye..."

Angela, would you like ebook copies of my series for review? I can promise creepy things with sharp objects, the dead coming back to life, and overcoming personal tragedy (because, frankly, when you're an eleven-year old *dead boy* drawn into the dark world that created you, some of this stuff is pretty frickin' cool even when it's trying to destroy you). I further promise nothing that sparkles, monsters with no desire to bed their victims out of self pity, and a central character that steps up to embrace what he has become rather than brood about it for decades.