I worked for a couple of years in a public library. I found it very interesting that Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower was shelved in the YA section of the library.
In some ways, I think the publishing world and librarians apply similar classes: children's books are for 12 and below (with MG being for 10-12 yo, chapter books being for 7-9 yo, picture books being for 3-6 and board books being for 6 mos-2 yo).
ETA: I failed to mention that the YA section of our library was located downstairs with the adult fiction collection because co-workers argued that young adults often like to browse in the adult fiction stacks. What's so great about this YA boom is that we're seeing the reverse--adults who enjoy browsing in the YA section. Either way, it's certainly healthy that people are reading! :D
JD Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is often considered the first YA novel but it wasn't called this when it was published.
I found this interesting as well: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204261704574275941028138178.html#articleTabs%3Darticle
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I worked for a couple of years in a public library. I found it very interesting that Octavia Butler's Parable of the Sower was shelved in the YA section of the library.
In some ways, I think the publishing world and librarians apply similar classes: children's books are for 12 and below (with MG being for 10-12 yo, chapter books being for 7-9 yo, picture books being for 3-6 and board books being for 6 mos-2 yo).
ETA: I failed to mention that the YA section of our library was located downstairs with the adult fiction collection because co-workers argued that young adults often like to browse in the adult fiction stacks. What's so great about this YA boom is that we're seeing the reverse--adults who enjoy browsing in the YA section. Either way, it's certainly healthy that people are reading! :D
JD Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye is often considered the first YA novel but it wasn't called this when it was published.
I found this interesting as well: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204261704574275941028138178.html#articleTabs%3Darticle