From: Nina Lindsay <nlindsay>
Date: Thu, 29 Feb 1996 08:29:00 -600

Katy Horning asked: "How do you define "young adult" and do you think there should be an award, similar to Newbery, but for books aimed at readers 15 (or older?)". I would respond that, since age categories for books are so relative in any case, I'd like to see some overlap in target age between an "Elderbery" and the Newbery award. I believe many define "young adult" as 12 -- how about an award for "ages 12 and up"? I think having no upper bounds would respond to the fact that successful "young adult literature" can have a lasting effect on readers at many stages of "adulthood". I think the most generous definitions of
"young adult" include those up to age 25 -- if I have to stay perpetually at 24-and-a-half, I'll do it, as long as I can keep reading my YA books!

Roger Sutton wondered "if publishers would welcome and support such an award. Would it be seen as "second class"? " I'm intrigued ... do publishers ever not welcome awards? Can anyone speak to this? As far as "second class" goes, I think the issue is to remove the stigma teenagers have as being "second class" people.


Nina "Technically still a YA" Lindsay Student -- School of Library and Information Studies University of Wisconsin, Madison nlindsay at mail.soemadison.wisc.edu
Received on Thu 29 Feb 1996 08:29:00 AM CST