And there is definitely room to be angry about this, especially when they have been reaching out to literary agencies to ask them to categorize all their books using this system. Not for nothing, it’s also a system put together by four white women from Utah, and it seems to be more concerned with how books conform to Mormon values than a more general set of criteria — despite being marketed as a one size fits all system. — Erin Clyburn (@erin_clyburn) September 15, 2021 These kinds of classifications — which the founders want to be indicated by a sticker on the covers of books — can be really damaging for teen readers. They’re weaponized against queer people and people of color. They tell many kids that their personal experiences are obscene, inappropriate. They deny teens safe ways to explore difficult subjects. At the same time, this has received a unilateral rejection from the YA community, both readers and authors. I can’t imagine it’s going to become a reality in any sort of overarching way. In fact, at the time I’m writing this, the site is already down — likely crashed from people curious what all these joke tweets are referring to. — Molly Ker Hawn (@mollykh) September 14, 2021 So instead of outrage, let’s take a minute to admire the ways YA Twitter absolutely roasted this categorization system. Rebecca Mix, author of the upcoming YA fantasy The Ones We Burn, invented an alternate system, including the big questions, like, “Is there a cat?” and “Could someone write Shrek fanfiction about this?” I mean, this one from the author of Counting Down With You is legitimately useful, though. — rebecca mix 😵💫 (@mixbecca) September 14, 2021 There’s only room for one categorization scheme in my secret heart, though, and it’s this one. — Tashie Bhuiyan is on hiatus (@tashiebhuiyan) September 14, 2021 Of course, as soon as a meme or joke gets started on Twitter, it gets remixed. Here’s an Avatar: The Last Airbender take. — cw (the quiet pond) 🌷 (@artfromafriend) September 14, 2021 And a Met Gala version from the author of Never Saw You Coming. — Molly X. Chang✨ (@mollyxchang) September 15, 2021 Then there’s…this. — Erin Hahn is writing books (@erinhahn_author) September 15, 2021 Some authors scoff at the YA-4 categorization, like the author of These Violent Delights. — HAPPY JIMIN DAY 💛 (@samanthaistan) September 14, 2021 Remember Lev AC Rosen, author of Jack of Hearts (And Other Parts)? The one that got challenged in Irving, Texas? He’s understandably done with this shit. — chloe gong 🖤 but spooky (@thechloegong) September 14, 2021 Other writers just took the guidelines as a writing prompt. — Lev AC Rosen aka L.C. Rosen (@LevACRosen) September 14, 2021 Despite all the big talk on YA Twitter, most of them are living that YA-1 life. — psychopomp disaster (@ieatkillerbees) September 15, 2021 — Library of Bees (@LibraryofBees) September 15, 2021 Sometimes you need to call out your friends when they’re not living up to the standards of your YA category. And finally, let’s not forget the real star of these categories: “Light Travel of Hands.” — rebecca mix 😵💫 (@mixbecca) September 15, 2021 Want even more book Twitter shenanigans? Check these posts out: — MargAAAA!ret BOOwen (@what_eats_owls) September 14, 2021
Wow, Okay, Unfollowing Now: A Bookish Tweet Round Up If Romance Novels Have Taught Me Anything (A Tweet Round Up) Being Vaccinated Does NOT Mean (Bookish Edition)
