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Young Adult Storylines-The Requisite Love Triangle

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YOUNG ADULT STORYLINES-The Requisite Love Triangles

 

As most of you know I am NOT a fan of the YA love triangle for so many reasons but the biggest and most heartbreaking is the fact that everyone deserves to love and to be loved especially by the object of one’s affections. The YA (young adult) storylines are fraught with more love triangles than any other genre or age-defining series and with the new crop of authors and young adult series arriving on our virtual shelves at an alarming rate my angst is blossoming fourfold.  With the advent of the e-reader and the ebook, there are so many authors promoting theirbooks and storylines that as a reviewer I am unable to keep up with the daily proliferation.  And yet, there is nothing new or awe inspiring about many of these new novels, but there is one constant – that of the teen-aged love triangle. Whether the attraction is between humans, human and vampire, vampire and were, or a sub-species of supernatural being, the attraction between these young adults presents a conundrum of very large proportions on differing levels.

Does a YA storyline require a love triangle to keep the reader’s attention?

For some apparent reason, the love triangle is a major premise in the young adult storylines.  From Stephenie Meyer’s TWLIGHT saga (Bella, Edward, Jacob):  Cassandra Clare’s MORTAL INSTRUMENTS (Clary, Jace, Simon) and INFERNAL DEVICES (Tessa, Wil, Jem):  L.J. Smith’s VAMPIRE DIARIES (Elena, Stefan, Damon) to indie authors like Addison Moore’s CELESTRA (Skyla, Logan, Gage, Marshall) series the 3-way and sometimes 4-way love interests are heartbreaking, angst-ridden, gut wrenching and occasionally annoying and condescending. And in many of the cases, the heroine is in love with both man-boys (or more in some cases) and vice-versa.  This alone makes for a heart-breaking storyline knowing that one or more will not stand up to the unwritten guidelines set out in the young adult budding romance category. In many cases, the author will add another female character to appease the ‘runner-up’ for the heroine’s affections or in some cases (gasps) kill off the also-ran.  Fans of ‘Team Jacob’ were slightly incensed when Stephenie Meyers wrote a new ‘love interest’ for Jacob in the form of Edward and Bella’s newborn hybrid vampire/human daughter:  Cassandra Clare has found a partner for Simon with Jace’s ‘sister’ Isabelle:  and Infernal Devices’s Jem appears to be on his way out possibly succumbing to an addiction:  and in the case of Addison Moore’s Celestra series all 3 young men profess their love for Skyla and yet each is willing to risk her life and even kill (if necessary) the object of his affection –doesn’t really sound like love to me but it apparently works- each incarnation she is still deeply in love/lust with the man-boys and is willing to profess her love and intentions with each depending on whom she is with at the time.  I kid you not-this young woman is in love with all 3 man-boys and they are in love with her.  The intensity of the love is beyond the capabilities of most humans, yet this young woman professes her love to each as though he were the only one for her. And…each man professes his love for the girl hoping that he will be the ONE…*sigh*…my head hurts.

 

What I have to point out (and bear with me on this) is that these storylines are works of fiction and if there is one thing I know, many readers love these characters as though they are best friends and lovers. They will discuss the intimate details of the character’s lives and place human attributes, human rules and human laws on fictional, fantasy and supernatural beings.   When a reader places his/herself into the storyline, and becomes deeply involved with the characters and the premise, he/she will feel the angst and heartbreak associated with the loss of love or rejection by the heroine (in the cases I have mentioned).  Many young readers will side with the rejected lover because he is usually the underdog and can feel both empathy and sympathy for unrequited love.  The teen years are hard enough for many young adults fighting acne, hormones, first love, crushes and mood swings of epic proportions, and yet they endure the stories of rejection over and over in the hopes that perhaps one day, reflecting the reality of everyday life, the underdog may win the girl and live happily ever after. But real life is not a fantasy or fiction storlyline, and in most cases, the girl doesn’t get either boy because there is rarely the reality of the love triangle.  But fantasy/fiction is the operative concept.  We read to escape for a few minutes or few hours.  We are taken to magical worlds where men with wings swoop in and take us away to a hidden cave or secret location (looks around wondering if anyone noticed I lost my way). But I digress.


And yet many will read this and say ‘give these young adults more credit’.  Believe me, I am, but with the popularity of the Twilight Series and the uproar over Team Edward vs Team Jacob, many fans take their storylines and characters very seriously.  And to add fuel to the fire, the heroes and heroines are all beautiful and the images portrayed on book covers and in the movies reflect the unnatural perfection of the storyline characters, as do most adult novels, but most adults know the difference between reality and fictional characters.  When a face is placed on a character, that character begins to take on a believable persona.   Jacob (aka Taylor) and Edward (aka Robert) by any other name and face, would illicit a different reaction if the actors portraying the characters looked like the average teenaged boy with pimples who has yet to shave or reach his full height.

Do we (adults) do an injustice to young adults writing ‘romance’ stories where physical perfection always wins out? 

At a time where image is everything and is so pronounced in the media, on TV and the big screen, the young adult storylines are filled with beautiful teens, who overcome some tragedy to find the perfect mate waiting for them when their head comes above the proverbial water and yet there will always be the one who wasn’t quite good enough, perfect enough or destined by fate to be the ONE. And here lies the problem with the love triangle-someone will always be hurt.  Regardless of whether or not another ‘mate’ is found, the initial drama of the unrequited love will forever be part of the storyline premise and the boy left behind will always know he was never good enough on some cosmic scale of teenaged justification. And in some cases, it is the reader who will walk away with a broken heart wishing that Bella chose Jacob or Clary chose Simon. The reader will imagine him/herself waiting in the wings to rescue the runner-up in a tale of heartbreak and love. And there is usually something physically different or wrong with the one who didn’t get the girl.  In some cases the difference is subliminal (blonde hair vs black hair) where the reader is not wholly aware of the semiotics used throughout the story.

 

So like many others readers, the perpetual young adult love triangle breaks my heart when I imagine so many young teens facing their own reality of unrequited love although not on the same scale as most of today’s YA storylines.  The angst and pain of lost love or the experience of rejection is real enough when it happens to you, but to read about it in virtually every YA novel, brings it full circle with every publication and premise in the young adult genre.  I know my heart is breaking, the tears will fall and by the end of the book, I am exhausted. 

 

So, I offer this post up for thought.  I know I am not the only reader who is frustrated with the YA love triangle.  What is your opinion regarding the young adult love triangle?  Do you feel that today’s young readers are savvy enough to distinguish between the fictional love triangles and the reality of their own lives?  Do you think that these YA love triangles are too heartbreaking and angst-ridden for those readers already experiencing a tumultuous life as a teenager growing up in today’s world? Do you think the Young Adult storylines require or need a love triangle to keep the reader’s attention?

 

NOTE:  The series and storylines mentioned in the article are only a few of the young adult books I have chosen to acknowledge with regards to a three way love interest.  I am in no way pointing a finger at a specific author or novel, but use these as a few examples that come to mind where the love triangle is a major premise in the storyline development.  

My thoughts-Sandy

 

 

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SPOILERS – How Far Should Reviewers Go?

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Review Spoilers-Where and when to draw the line

 

The Reading Café has been a labor of love, and when I say labor, it has on occasion felt more like a job than a hobby. But like many hobbies, they seem to gather a life of their own, and 8 months later, The Reading Café has over 2050 members and a secure base with which we promote new and established authors and books. And our members and contributing reviewers are a major part of our success. We do not get paid: we have full time jobs: we have families: we have lives. We write reviews because of our love of books. But there are occasions when reviewers are questioned about a presumed spoiler. Let’s discuss the effect of a spoiler in a review and what truly constitutes a spoiler.

Writing a review takes time unless the review is only a few sentences long. We must first read the book, make notes and then write an overview of the book, all the while, remembering that many authors do not like spoilers. A spoiler is a major faux pas in the review world, and yet sometimes it is difficult NOT to reveal some important aspect of the storyline premise otherwise the review is nothing but a character critique or love fest of the author. The books we review come from various sources: self-purchase, ARCs, giveaways, publishers, publicist, assistants, authors and recommendations from friends.

Sometimes a reviewer is taken to task for a review that supposedly contains a spoiler. The admonisher could be a fellow reviewer, a site member, someone from Amazon or Goodreads or an author. At times, the book blurbs contain more of a premise spoiler than the review, but in the end, someone is not happy. Some reviewers write a quick, no fuss review-yes/no, good/bad, end of story. Others like to give a premise outline with some character description and a wrap-up of their opinion and what’s new. Some reviewers basically re-write the entire storyline-lock, stock and barrel, while others write a glowing overview about the author, and barely scratch the surface of the book. Where do you draw the line? What do you want to see in a review?

Now, here is a conundrum. What if the book/novel has been on the market for close to one year or longer? When should spoilers be allowed? At 6 months? 1 year? Over 1 year? At this point, if you are a fan of the series, you have already read the novel therefore the information in the review is old news. But what if the series or book is new to you? Do you want to know something about the storyline? If the book in question is older (6 months or more) is the reviewer still responsible for placing a-SPOILER ALERT-READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION?

 

On occasion the reviewer will be admonished for a presumed spoiler, when the actual excerpt or the part (spoiler) in question is taken directly from the book blurb or website.


I am not talking about telling the entire tale of twists, secrets, villains and death, but perhaps a path not usually travelled that may reveal a little too much of the story.

We want to know: Where do you think the line should be drawn as it pertains to reviews and spoilers? 6months? 1 year or longer? And how much information should the review contain? Many back cover blurbs or website promotions basically present themselves as a miniature version of the book premise, therefore all that is required of a reviewer is whether the storyline is good, bad or indifferent. When do you think a review has revealed too much of the story? What do you consider a spoiler? If you are an author, what do you want to see in a review?

Sandy

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YOUNG ADULT STORYLINES- Teen Sex in novels (editorial)

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YOUNG ADULT STORYLINES- Teen Sex in novels (editorial)

–>NOTE: Reposted as the original was deleted and lost.<–

Several years ago,  I posted my thoughts about the requisite love triangles found in many Young Adult storylines and this week I will endeavor to put words to the virtual paper, once again, to discuss teen sex–NO, not in general, but in YA storylines and novels. Although teen sex is a topic some adults would rather brush under the proverbial carpet, so to speak, it is a topic that should be addressed. In today’s society sticking one’s head in the sand with regards to teen sex ranks close to neglect but I am not going to address such issues. I would like to talk about teen sex in the YA storylines-virtual teen sex-so to speak.

I would like to start by saying emphatically…”I am not a prude. I do not preach about the morality or lack thereof of today’s society. I do not sit in judgment of anyone’s lifestyle, as long as the people involved are free from harm and everything is consensual”. But I am talking about adults-over 18 years of age. Saying that, as readers, we all know that YA storylines are no longer just for teens and young adults. Gone are the days of ‘Little Women’ and “The Hardy Boys”. Authors write many of their novels knowing that a large portion of their audience and readership are adults over 18 years of age. But there appears to be some unwritten guidelines as it pertains to the sexual content of young adult storylines. And keeping that in mind, I have noticed more YA storylines involving teen sex. These storylines are not sexually graphic: there is no erotica-style writing: there is rarely any description of a sexual or erotic nature: most of the sex is implied or ‘fades to black’, but there is a sexual encounter or more precisely-intercourse. The scenarios vary, the circumstances range from clumsy first times, implied intercourse to beautiful encounters but the reality of the situation is that an underage (under 18) character(s) is having sex. Most YA storylines talk around the issue of sex, the characters come close to participating or experiencing sex, but a few cross into sexual territory or engage in sexual intercourse.

Awhile back, The Reading Café had an author comment on a review regarding the graphic nature of the violence in his YA storyline. The author pointed out that, as a teen, he was reading novels that contained graphic violence and sex, but what he failed to note, was that these novels were written for adults. The novels he mentioned were not directed at the young adult market nor were they ever intended for the teen reader, but many teens do read novels from every genre and every age level, so they will be exposed to various styles of writing and content. I, myself, read only adult literature in my teens and didn’t think twice about the content and apparently neither did my parents-the maturity level of the teen was the motivating factor. Again, I will address that issue further along.

To prove a point, many readers were (2012) concerned about Karen Marie Moning’s (KMM) new release ICED. ICED is part of KMMs Fever series. The Fever series is an ADULT paranormal series, but ICED’s heroine is a young teen girl who ages from 14-17 years old over the next 3 releases. Karen has pointed out that her character of Dani O’Malley will NOT be engaging in sex but the other adults in the storyline will: KMM writes about sex and enjoys the storylines with sex. ICED is NOT a young adult storyline, but a continuation of her adult FEVER series.

October 15, 2012- Karen Marie Moning’s FACEBOOK:

Guys, ICED is NOT Young Adult. Dani ages during the next three books of the Fever Series. Yes, there’s sex. I like writing about sex. I always write about sex. No, 14-year old Dani doesn’t have sex. Other people do. Nor does 14 -year old (at the start of the trilogy) Dani make it a book by or for a 14 year old. I promise you all the magic you’ve come to expect from the Fever World. I don’t write YA. This series isn’t YA. Please spread the word so my inbox will calm down:)

This is an example how readers are concerned about potential storylines involving underage teens. And yet, all this uproar, involved an adult storyline not intended for young adult reading.

But, I am not talking about adult storylines. I would like to address the storylines that are written specifically for teens, where the lead characters are under 18 years of age. In a society where many teens ‘learn’ about sex from books, magazines and friends on the street, should the storyline heroine lose her virginity to the hero or anti-hero? A series I read recently, had an adult male, in a position of authority, engaging in sex with female students at the local high school. And to complicate matters, most of the leading characters in the storyline were very much aware of the situation, yet not one adult made any attempt to stop the male teacher in question. And the girls, with whom he had sex, were jealous of his many conquests. This, to me, lacks moral responsibility. It almost screams, that it is okay for a male teacher to have sex with female students. But, I will digress and add, the YA storyline in question is written in the paranormal genre, and the adult male is technically several centuries old (rolling eyes) and looking for his mate (again rolling eyes) which is not an excuse, only an explanation of this particular premise.

Another paranormal YA series had the female lead, a young teen of 15, trying to seduce many of the male characters including teens and adults, all in the name of over-active supernatural hormones. She was eventually successful in her attempts and lost her virginity to another supernatural being. The scenario did not contain any graphic sexual content, but the scene was written from the heroine’s point of view (as well as the entire series) throughout the encounter. And in the end, her over-eager need to copulate was written-off as over-active shapeshifter hormones.

In both of these circumstances, each sexual encounter was written as part of the storyline premise trying hard not to appear as gratuitous or unnecessary. Although in my humble opinion, both were unnecessary and not adequately addressed.

Here is where the reader’s maturity level will come into play. Like the requisite love triangle in many YA storylines, the readers must make the decision and understand the exact nature of the sexual premise. Some 14 year old readers are more mature intellectually than some 18year olds (and vice versa) but that doesn’t negate the fact that an under age character is engaging in intercourse. As a teen, I was reading my mother’s Harlequin romance novels where most of the sex was implied or glossed over with euphemisms, and there were a few novels that were questionable due to their sexual or violent content (The Happy Hooker by Xaviera Hollander and The Exorcist by William Peter Blatty). My attempts at Ayn Rand’s ‘Atlas Shrugged’ garnered me a few raised eyebrows from my friends, but it took me several reads to understand fully the nature of the ‘beast’ that was Rand. But I digress. These novels were written specifically for adults, with adult content and never with the intention of having a 15 year old girl from a small Canadian city holding court over the storyline content. But I was well ahead of my peers in the maturity level and my parents, especially my father, was always open to conversation and question if ever I was willing to talk or ask.

I guess we can look at this two-fold.

1. Should the young adult storylines include sexual intercourse between under-age (under 18) teens (or between teens and adults) in their YA novels and series? And if so, should there be a disclaimer as to the sexual content of the novel? Should the publishers have a rating system in place that warns of the sexual content in young adult storylines? Please note: that many writers are following the dictates of the publisher as it pertains to content of their novels. Whatever is ‘hot’ at the moment, the publisher may ask the author to ‘pursue’ that avenue as it pertains to the storyline content and premise.

2. Adult storylines and teens. What is your opinion, feeling or thoughts about teens reading adult storylines with sexually graphic scenes and premises? Would you want your 15 year old child reading many of today’s more popular storylines that contain BDSM and sexually explicit content?

Let me know how you feel. Oh, and let us know how old you were when you read your first sexually explicit storyline. Do you remember the name of the book?

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