Many large publishers now have imprints just for teens: Scholastic’s PUSH, Simon and Schuster’s Simon Pulse, and Penguin Group’s Razorbill Books. Some publishers and book packagers specialize in teen literature, offering humorous and edgy chick-lit series, as well as high-appeal series in fantasy, contemporary-supernatural, and adventure-thriller genres. Book packager Alloy Entertainment, for example, was the driving force behind Gossip Girl, The A List, and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series. These books come clad in slick, alluring packages to entice a more sophisticated audience, and entice them, they do.

“Look at what adult women read,” notes Holley. “It’s natural that chick lit has flowed down to teens. They’re fun to read and I think they had a little bit of naughtiness that made it especially appealing to teens.”

The rise of teen chick lit is emblematic of another trend in teen reading: the rise of the woman. In researching the new edition of Best Books for Young Adults, Koelling noticed that books about women in all genres — biography, literary fiction, fantasy, and elsewhere — began to pop up more often.

“Even at a glance, YALSA’s Best Books for Young Adult lists featured plenty of books featuring really strong female protagonists or those who were about to discover strength reserves they weren’t aware they had,” Koelling said. “They all feature this new sort of young woman, who faces adversity and truly believes that what doesn’t kill her makes her stronger. And the voice of these characters is very smart, very feisty.”

The increased activity in the teen publishing market has enhanced and expanded teen sections in bookstores and in libraries, which in turn contributes to an increase in challenges to and publicity about teen literature, ironically, almost exclusively from adults. Electronic discussion lists on teen library services and literature show a high volume of content challenges in schools and communities. But that’s not stopping teen-lit authors and their publishers.

“Since 2000, publishers have concentrated on sophisticated, experimental, and controversial books for older teen readers,” Koelling said. “With a more mature audience, authors are free to address complex issues, to explore darker themes and the difficulties that real life creates. And their publishers are supporting them.”

There is no doubt it is an active and exciting, if also exasperating, time in the teen book world. Studies may show that teens are reading less, but those that are reading are reading a lot.

“The teens who read, they read voraciously and they’re passionate about what they’re reading,” said Holley. “So even though Harry Potter will embark on his last adventure, those teens who started reading because of him will be looking out for what’s next—that’s why organizations like YALSA and book publishers have stepped up their efforts. And there’s a lot more teen lit now.”

This article is adapted, in part, from a chapter in the third edition of Best Books for Young Adults,” edited by Holly Koelling. Check out more from the American Library Association.

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