YA LGBT Books discussion

There's sometimes a lot of talk about "issues" in YA fiction. Some people (usually parents and teachers) complain about books that touch on topics like sexuality, drug and alcohol use, abuse, etc.

I have a hard time *not* touching on topics like that. As an author, I want to present authentic teenagers, and unfortunately, some authentic teens--possibly more than we realize--are dealing with those issues. As a former teacher, I saw and heard firsthand in high schools, and even middle schools, what teens and not-quite-teens are dealing with in school, at home, and with their friends.

And that isn't counting what I went through myself.

It shows up in my books, to the point that one editor commented that he couldn't remember so much drama in his high school. Sometimes I plan the things that my characters deal with; sometimes it just comes up as I'm writing and I run with it.

On the other hand, my tagline is "Anyone can be a hero," and to me part of that involves showing that someone can do something great regardless of what's happened in their life.

My books deal with topics like physical abuse (the Reality Shift series and one character's backstory in The Dark Lines series), sexual abuse/molestation (backstory in Reality Shift and The Dark Lines, and occurring within the story in my upcoming Fresh Meat), mental illness (Reality Shift, The Dark Lines, and the upcoming Dolphins in the Mud), teen suicide (Cluing In), teen pregnancy and abortion (Cluing In), bullying (Reality Shift, The Dark Lines, and Life Skills), and sexuality (Life Skills, Dolphins in the Mud, and to a lesser degree with two minor characters in The Dark Lines).

Ralph likes to say that when he's reading my Featherweight stuff, he needs LOLCats infusions afterward because my stories are so dark and issues-heavy. I'm actually trying with VJ's story to lighten things up a bit (hence trying to completely redo it as I mentioned in the What's On Your Mind thread), but even that's turning out to have some issues, since it's a coming-out story.

What do you think as a reader? Is there such a thing as too many issues in a YA story? Do you prefer gritty, "issues" stories or light and fluffy, or a little of both?

(Having just read this over, I've decided to use it as my blog post for tomorrow, in an expanded version...)

hahaha was having a part of this very conversation today..

I read YA because it's more emotionally charged story lines.. it doesn't 'HAVE' to follow the formula of having sex in it. Nor does it have to involve any particular sort of drama, because it's all different for everyone - which I'm sure is true of your characters to.

BUT if the situation is more 'adult' then I don't object to it in a YA story. I also think it's better for readers to see that life isn't all rosy. (That's why I read fantasy novels as well!)

MI, Abuse, Suicide, Pregnancy etc.. are ALL issues dealt with by teenagers no matter you gender/sexuality.. If you have an ability to write, and your able to write about those issues and they 'appear' graphic, and there is good reason to have them in the story - ie part of the story line, then write it.

At the end of the day, you and I know that no matter how it's written nor who by, it's NEVER going to be as bad (or good), as the actual situation happening to someone.

So Jo, keep writing as you see fit, you can neither make the 'adults' let kids read them, nor can you explain to kids that this is a story worth reading. You can only hope that it's taken on board by who ever does read it, and opens their world up to other peoples possible experiences.. (sorry for waffling!)

Brian, I think that's true...some romance focuses so much on the sexual relationship between the characters that some of the other emotions get lost.

In my YA fiction, even the stories that deal with things like teen pregnancy or sexual abuse, any sex that occurs is well off-screen (to the point that when Ralph was editing The Dark Lines book 3, he had to ask me if the narrator and his girlfriend had sex at the end of one scene because it wasn't immediately obvious). That's kind of where my "realistic teen issues" breaks down a bit. Because of my own history, I'm really not comfortable putting sex scenes in a YA book, even if they're not explicit, so I usually gloss over them entirely. And most of my characters aren't sexually active at all. I do realize that's unrealistic for some teens, but I have to draw a line sometimes between being realistic and staying in my comfort zone as an author. If I write something I'm too uncomfortable with, that will show in the writing.

You're not waffling, in my perspective :) You're exactly right. No matter what an author writes, there are going to be those who disapprove or outright condemn it, and those who enjoy or outright praise it. Life Skills is a perfect case in point; I've had readers say they hate the fact that Brian is dating two people, but I've also received praise for presenting a teen who isn't ready to be tied down to a relationship--and one email praising me for presenting a polyamorous character.

I like the "issues" storylines in my YA (remember this is coming from someone whose two published stories contain suicide, neglect, rejection, foster care...) I like the light stuff too but the books I come back and reread have some deep emotion at the core.

The light, fluffy stuff can be a good break sometimes, and some of it is well-written, but I'm with you, the ones that stick with me are the ones with emotions and issues.

Featherweight seems to be an issue magnet. First I get Jo's angsty books, then Kaje's, and then I get one that deals with a teen whose father is a pedophile, then TA Chase sends a book that deals with a school shooting and cutting. Next y'all are going to send me books about STDs and life threatening illnesses, aren't ya? I'm going to need an IV set up to inject LOLCats!

I do love a good, angsty read that deals with issues, but someone please send me a sweet, light and fluffy read! Pretty please?

<3<3

Actually, I do have a hopping plot bunny about a teen who's HIV positive... The book isn't about him being HIV positive, he just is, but the subplot is how it affects his life and the changes and adjustments he has to make as opposed to his non-infected peers. Haven't started on it yet because of my aversion to research...

And why do you think I asked you to brainstorm about VJ's story? I'm trying to make it sweet, light, and fluffy and he's being oppositional! LOL

On the other hand (and slightly more seriously) even though reading angst and awfulness isn't easy for an editor, there might not be anything wrong per se with Featherweight becoming an issues magnet; it gives it a niche in the sea of small presses and self-publishers who are swelling the ranks of YA publishing. The most "issuesy" publisher I knew of, WestSide Books (published Cheryl Rainfield's Scars, among others) has gone out of business, so there's room for a new gritty YA company...

Ralph wrote: "I do love a good, angsty read that deals with issues, but someone please send me a sweet, light and fluffy read! Pretty please?
.."

The one I sent you for HH is pretty fluffy.

Paulyanna International Rent-boy

I want young people to read my story, it contains many issues that I faced as a YOUNG adult. Abuse, Prostitution and Drug taking. I believe if I could handle the reality surely young people can read about it.