Crossover Appeal #5
Crossover Appeal is a weekly feature that challenges the idea that you have to choose a side between YA and adult fiction. Each week we’ll feature a book that has been marketed as YA and a book that has been marketed as adult and tell you why everyone should be reading them, no matter what happens to be your comfort zone.
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YA Books for Adult Lit Readers
Will Grayson, Will Grayson by David Levithan and John Green
The plot of Will Grayson, Will Grayson is simple enough: there are two Will Graysons and they live in the same city. Before today, neither has crossed paths, but when they finally do, they will cross paths in a big way. They have the same name but that’s about the only thing they have in common; until one Will’s best friend Tiny falls in love with the other Will. Will Grayson, Will Grayson is a novel about coincidences, friendship, and love. It’s also a novel about betrayal and forgiveness.
Why You’ll Love It
It was only a matter of time before I featured a book by John Green or David Levithan here and I can’t think of a better place to start than their joint novel Will Grayson, Will Grayson. These two have managed to create a hilarious and at times heartbreaking novel that is at once about adolescence and life in general. Tiny Cooper is an amazing over-the-top character that you can’t help but fall in love with. Levithan and Green’s styles shine through these two title characters.
Adult Lit Books for YA Readers
The Lover’s Dictionary by David Levithan
If you’re already a fan of Levithan’s YA work, like Will Grayson, Will Grayson, I’m sure you have picked up The Lover’s Dictionary, his first adult novel. Told through a series of dictionary entries, this novel beautifully details the relationship between the two main characters. Some entries are only a few lines, others a few pages, but all are poignant and intelligent.
Why You’ll Love It
This is a clever and beautifully written novel that uses the conceit of a dictionary to chart the ups and downs of a relationship. If David Levithan isn’t on your radar, he should be, whether you’re a fan of adult fiction or YA. His talent lies in portraying emotion and relationships, but beyond that, he’s just an excellent writer that can write clear, character driven novels and lyrical, experimental novels with the same skill.
