I have noticed this trend of every flipping YA paranormal
romance or urban fantasy or dystopia being described as 'sexy' in the blurb or
in the puff piece. I have noticed it creeping into contemporary YA, too, now. I
don't get it. Here are some reasons why:
1. The characters are like 16, 17. The person writing the
blurb or puff piece is 95% of the time a grown woman. I don't care that they're
fictional. It's weird. It's creepy. It's just... strange. Oh, so the
angel-vampire whatever guy is sexy? I do not get how that matters. Seriously,
this is something people care about? God, I've been approaching this writing
business all wrong.
2. How exactly is the book sexy? It just seems like an odd
adjective to apply. (It's important to remember I am not from your planet and
as a result understand very few of your human concepts.)
3. Do you not think we already rampantly overuse the word
'sexy'? Do you not think the entire notion of 'sexy' is focused on far too much
in our society? Do you not think these twelve-year-olds (and up) reading YA are
not really invested in how 'sexy' a book is? Do you not think YA is geared far
too much towards grown women now?
4. I legitimately understand nothing.
5. 'Like such-and-such book but sexier.' I AM THROWING YOU ACROSS THE ROOM NOW, BOOK.
6. To be fair, I was incensed and appalled by The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Thirteen
and three quarters or whatever it is, what an awkwardly long title, at the
age of ten because there was kissing in
it. Disgusting! I've not changed much in the past nine years, to be honest. I
don't think YA has to be devoid of sex but 'books that are sexy' and 'books
that realistically depict teenage sexuality' are two different things.
7. Just stop it already. I refuse to read any book that has
'sexy' mentioned on the cover, or in the blurb, or by whatever other author is
talking about how goddamn 'sexy' it is, especially
if it's a YA novel. This is for ages twelve plus, guys. I know basically
middle-aged women have hijacked it as a genre but I WILL NOT kowtow to their
RIDICULOUS demands of SEXINESS in books about/for TEENAGERS okay?
8. Kowtow, what a weird word. Did you know it's borrowed
from kòu tóu in Mandarin Chinese? Neither did I. Thanks, Wikipedia.
9. Don't use the word sexy, really. There are so many other, far superior, adjectives. If anyone cares to
explain the meteoric/moronic rise of sexy in the description of EVERY YA NOVEL
EVER, please share. Is this what the teenagers demand from their novels now?
Has someone done focus groups? Please explain.
