Moving On Up - How to navigate the Bookstore

BOOK CLUB, February 2010, by Jenny McWha


Moving on Up
How to Navigate the Bookstore


I don’t know about you, but I think one of the scariest points in my life was when I was about to change sections in the bookstore. You know, that time when you just know you’ve outgrown the 9-12 section, and are ready to move into the Teen section, or when it’s finally time to venture into the vast adult section? I remember when I was just a little wee bookworm and finally decided that it was time I tried “older” books. However, the first thing I saw upon entering the young adult section was ‘Angus, Thongs, and Full Frontal Snogging’, and ‘Gossip Girl’, which had been described as “Sex and the City for the younger set.” Terrified, I immediately ran away, convinced that some unknown authority would not allow me to be there to read such mature books. I didn’t go back until I reached the minimum age that the sign listed. At that point, I was a whole lot more comfortable with reading books in that section and it wasn’t long before anything was fair game in my eyes.

When Should You Move Up?
Now that I’ve told my embarrassing story of bookstore terror, you may be wondering how YOU will know when it’s time to take the next step in the bookstore hierarchy. It can be kind of scary, I know! Some of you may love the comfortable familiarity of the tween section, and others may be itching to read books about older characters and more mature situations. Either way is fine! My first piece of advice is to wait until YOU are ready. You’ll start to realize when the books you’re reading just aren’t doing it for you anymore. If you’re a little wary of moving to the teen section, take a couple of field trips over there. Make it an educational experience. Pick up some books and read what they are about, flip through them to see if you feel ready for the higher reading level and thicker books. Look at the covers and authors. You may have heard some of your friends talking about a particular author or book. If so, check them out!

Bring Some Help
You can also bring your parents along. I’m sure they’d love to spend the time with you and find out your taste in books. They may also have suggestions for you. Really, they can be a great resource. If you want to read something and you’re not sure if you’re old enough, ask them to take a look at it. They may give you the go-ahead or ask you to wait a couple of years (and usually by the time you can read it, you don’t even want to anymore!). Store employees can also be a great resource, and believe me, they know and love books just as much as us. When you feel ready, just go for it! Have fun exploring all the new possible books you can become friends with.

Ready to Leave the Young Adult Section?
Now, some of you are a little older and want to know about going into the adult section of the bookstore. That crossover happened for me just a little while ago, and I remember it a little more clearly. At first, I just decided that it was time to go. Probably not the best decision, as I just ended up staring at shelf upon shelf of books, deciding there were way too many, and ran back to the other end of the store. In a word, the adult section can be overwhelming! There is so much to look at that you may find yourself not knowing what to buy. What I suggest is to utilize family, friends, and the internet. Ask people you know for some good book suggestions. The plus of this is that they know your age and can recommend things that aren’t too mature. The problem with books is they don’t have a rating system like movies, and no one asks for your ID when you try to buy something. That means you can sometimes end up with WAY more mature content that you ever asked for. Again, it may look dumb, but bringing Mom or Dad along to flip through before you buy can be a good idea. They probably have an age for you where they will feel comfortable with you reading anything—ask them! Have a conversation. I never really did this and ended up thinking I was sneaking behind their backs. Turns out they had no problem with what I was reading, and I worried for nothing. But I do remember my mom saying “You have to read this great book—but not until you turn 18!” It always made me laugh, but now I know there was a reason for that, I respect her for making that decision.

Be Resourceful
The internet can also be a great resource for finding books. If you like a certain genre, search for a book blog about it (like historic fiction or sci-fi). There are tons of bloggers who will review tons of books. I also find lots of my favourite books through ‘fansites’ for other books. Whether you post or not, they usually give great suggestions for great books. A lot of my favourite authors also have blogs, and they often recommend good books that they’re reading. This is a great way to narrow down that daunting section, and you know there’s a big chance you’ll like them!

Overall, don’t be scared if you think it’s time to explore new places and new worlds. It’s not like you can never go back—I still read lot’s of books from the Young Adult section, and really enjoy them. There is no rule about what you can and can’t read, so just read what you want and like! Remember, no matter what section you’re in, you will be surrounded by your beloved books. And they’ll take care of you.

~ Jenny

 

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