by Keirra McFadden

Reading has always been a part of my life. For as long as I can remember I have been able to bring the words in a novel to life in my head. In elementary school I started off with Junie B. Jones books and never looked back. Between middle school and high school, I found some of the best young adult novels, and I have continued to read them ever since. Now that I am 20 and in college, I have started to notice a problem; I feel slightly too old for young adult books and slightly too young for most adult books.

Before I continue, I want to say I don’t believe young adult novels are strictly for ages 12-18. Some of my favorite books are classified as young adult, and I have no doubt I will find more young adult books I will love in the future.

The problem is I would love to read more books that encompass issues I am facing. I am at the weird age where I do not feel like a full adult, but I am also no longer a high school student. I am facing new issues in life, like finding out where I want to go from here. Figuring out my future is no easy feat. I have all of these freedoms I did not have in high school and I have all this new responsibility too. I am still shaping my own identity, and with the new free rein I could take it anywhere. Mostly I am trying to find my place in the world.

Recently, I was looking for fantasy fiction books but with the main characters over the age of 18. I wanted to be able to relate to the characters’ problems. The method I used was to find a book that looked interesting, look up the main character’s age, and hope for no spoilers. As you might guess, this was a long process but it was rewarding. I connected with the main protagonists’ problems and feelings more fully. The characters in the books I read experienced some of the same pressures of figuring out the next steps in life once out of high school.

Discovering that there are books out there for this in-between age doesn’t completely solve my problem, since there isn’t a specific section at the library for it. See, most libraries have specific sections for kids, teens, and adults and Ames Public Library is no different. So, what should one do?

Ask a librarian! They are experts at helping us find exactly what we are looking for, and they love to get books into people’s hands. It takes more initiative to ask a librarian than to just browse some shelves, but it is easier than the crazy amount of time I was putting in trying to figure it out all on my own. Librarians can help us get the best out of our reading experiences and they are happy to share their knowledge.  

If you are like me and want to connect more with characters closer to your identity with similar problems, then don’t be scared to look for those specific books. Life experiences, heritage, age, personal problems, and other factors can all be criteria you use to chose your next read. A way you can accomplish this is by using the library’s “Personalized Picks” resource. All you have to do is fill out a form on Ames Public Library website with your book wants and preferences. Then experts at the library will create a customized book list for you. Don’t hesitate to ask, because no matter what the library will be here to help you find your next read!

Recommended Reads:

“Pretty Things” by Janelle Brown

“King of Scars” by Leigh Bardugo

“The Magicians” by Lev Grossman

“A Court of Thorns and Rose” by Sarah J. Maas

“Emergency Contact” by Mary H.K. Choi

“We Are Okay” by Nina LaCour