# Do You Read Juvenile Literature **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 15, 2011, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986 "2011-11-15T06:18:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 6:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/1 "2011-11-15T06:18:21Z")
By this I mean literature aimed solely for kids rather than something aimed for all ages like say Harry Potter. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 10:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/2 "2011-11-15T10:42:04Z")
The original Brother’s Grimm’s “Children’s and Household Tales”, better known as “Grimms’ Fairy Tales”, is one of my favorite books, which I’ve reread several times. Like most of us, I was introduced to them as a child in a shortened, watered down version, but I got me a complete edition of the original collection as an adult and loved it. Maybe this is a bit of a stretch, since I guess that the intended audience by the Grimm’s wasn’t solely children, but when today we here “Grimm’s Fairy tales”, we think of them as stories for children. I regard them as one of the treasures of German literature. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 11:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/3 "2011-11-15T11:20:19Z")
I will read anything you put in front of me: Cereal box to “A Brief History of Time”. If there be words? I’m-a readin’ it. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/4 "2011-11-15T11:28:50Z")
I have a three-year-old child, so right now I read more juvenile literature than anything else. But not usually by myself. I’ve been reading some “young teen” stuff by Philip Reeve too (the Mortal Engines and Starcross series) but that’s probably in the same category as Harry Potter. Mind you, there are a couple of kid’s television shows I would happily watch even without the child around - [Pocoyo](http://www.google.co.uk/search?q=pocoyo&hl=en&prmd=ivns&source=univ&tbm=vid&tbo=u&ei=4UvCTpGLG4Tj8APZoZS3BA&sa=X&oi=video_result_group&ct=title&resnum=2&ved=0CCUQqwQwAQ)and [Dipdap](http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b00xgpj9), to name two. They are happymaking. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 11:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/5 "2011-11-15T11:28:54Z")
I love young adult literature. I like to say that I read what my children are reading to talk to them about it and see what they enjoy, but I love it for it’s own sake. There is something very appealing to me about it. I’m a strong reader and love to read (I second **voguevixen’s** sentiment), but juvenile lit has a special place in my heart. ETA: By juvenile I mean books like: Chronicles of Narnia, Beverly Clearly/Judy Blume, A Wrinkle in Time, Little House Books, Jean Craighead George (My Side of the Mountain etc). ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 11:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/6 "2011-11-15T11:47:18Z")
@ **IvoryTowerDenizen** How YOU doin’? ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 11:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/7 "2011-11-15T11:53:38Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > @ **IvoryTowerDenizen** > > How YOU doin’? Not readin’ enough… you? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 11:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/8 "2011-11-15T11:57:19Z")
> [@IvoryTowerDenizen](#): > > Not readin’ enough… you? 😃 Your library or mine? ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 2:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/9 "2011-11-15T14:50:41Z")
yep - I’m reading juvenile & YA literature. Usually better edited, more tightly (tautly?) written than adult lit. ---
**Author:** ![delphica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e9a140/32.png) [@delphica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/delphica)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/10 "2011-11-15T15:06:23Z")
Yes, all the time. I reread favorites from my own childhood, and to be honest, with these I have less discerning taste. I will overlook a lot of flaws because of the emotional connection. I also like to stay current and read new stuff that’s being published now. This I am a little more critical of … I won’t stick with something that isn’t that well-written. Fortunately, there is a lot of terrific kid and YA stuff coming out these days. I disagree with the OP’s description of Harry Potter as something that is aimed for everyone. I think that’s true in the sense that people of all ages can indeed potentially enjoy a well-crafted children’s book, but HP was very definitely aimed at children specifically. Publishers tried to blur that line by releasing different versions marketed to adults, who presumably wouldn’t have felt comfortable carrying around a kids book (I don’t know why, I’ve never been hassled for pulling out a copy of The _Black Stallion Returns_ on the subway) but that’s much more of a marketing issue than anything about the book itself. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/11 "2011-11-15T15:12:02Z")
delphica - agreeing with you. the Potter series are children’ts book - and there’s nothing wrong with that. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/12 "2011-11-15T15:12:58Z")
I have maybe six Hardy Boys books that I kept from childhood. I’ll pull them out and reread about every three years. Then they go back in the box. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/13 "2011-11-15T15:15:15Z")
Harry Potter is definitely a childrens’ series. And there’s nothing wrong with that. I am currently re-reading the _Prydain Chronicles_, books that just recently came out on Kindle (yay!) Definitely children/young adult, but I like them even better than the _Chronicles of Narnia_. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/14 "2011-11-15T15:19:04Z")
one of the problems with juvenile lit is that folks who aren’t “into” it only read the big classics - I like lots of youth & YA books far better than Potter or Narnia. If those are the only ones folks read, they are missing a lot of good stuff (which has probably been recommended on this message board, of course). ---
**Author:** ![Dendarii\_Dame](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/bbce88/32.png) [@Dendarii\_Dame](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dendarii_Dame)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/15 "2011-11-15T15:19:45Z")
I frequently read children’s books, both because they’re often fun and well-written, and also because I write for children myself, and need to know what’s out there. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/16 "2011-11-15T15:20:31Z")
> [@voguevixen](#): > > I will read anything you put in front of me: Cereal box to “A Brief History of Time”. If there be words? I’m-a readin’ it. Me too. ---
**Author:** ![Wendell\_Wagner](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/8491ac/32.png) [@Wendell\_Wagner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wendell_Wagner)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/17 "2011-11-15T15:22:20Z")
Yes, I’ve read a lot of children’s and young adult’s fantasy. The Harry Potter books are certainly in that category. There’s no point distinguishing between children’s literature and literature for all ages. If a children’s book isn’t good enough to also be read by an adult, then it’s isn’t good enough to be read by a child. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/18 "2011-11-15T15:26:09Z")
I’ve read _The Satires_. ---
**Author:** ![StusBlues](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/dc4da7/32.png) [@StusBlues](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/StusBlues)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/19 "2011-11-15T15:31:33Z")
On occasion. There is a series juvenile biographies at my local library that provide a good “Cliff’s Notes” version of history that his generally reliable–the introductions were written by Arthur Schlessinger, so there’s some street cred there. Also, Lois Lowry’s \*Number the Stars \*is a darn good book by any standard. It’s not often that Newbery winners talk about handkerchiefs soaked in blood and cocaine. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [November 15, 2011, 3:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986/20 "2011-11-15T15:43:50Z")
another quick thought - I think there is much to be gained from reading “Tuck Everlasting” and “The Giver”. more interesting and insightful philosophical thoughts than in many ‘adult’ fiction books I’ve read than were purportedly covering similar ground. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-read-juvenile-literature/602986.md?page=2)