Why Certain YA Books Are So Darned Popular

zolambrosine · Jun 17, 2011

I've researched different books on my own, trying to figure out why they're so successful and why they're so popular... but I'd be interested in knowing what you all think the reasons are for certain books. (If you want, you could also always bring up another book I don't mention and explain that book's popularity as well.)

Harry Potter (please don't say it's MG... a lot of people analyzing the books say that while it might've started out as MG, it ends as YA)

Twilight

The Mortal Instruments (City of Bones, etc.)

My analysis: The first thing I notice is that the books I see as most successful/popular are also series. Maybe coming out with book after book gains more exposure for the novels.

The other thing I notice is that all of the main characters were average, not-so-happy kids/teenagers in our regular world... and entered into a magical world that exists right alongside ours. Those MCs are special because they get to enter into that magical world, and other average folk do not. (Harry with the magical world, Bella with vampires, Clary with Shadowhunters.)

Harry Potter is the most successful and popular of them all, and I feel as though a lot of authors attempted to analyze why it was so popular and do the exact same thing JK Rowling did... (Rick Riordan's THE LIGHTNING THIEF comes to mind, no offense to Riordan fans!) It's my personal opinion that the "copy" books just aren't as well-written.

So - after analyzing popular books, do you as a writer attempt to put the same qualities into your own novel?

tcllnsfmly · Jun 17, 2011

kcallender said:
My analysis: The first thing I notice is that the books I see as most successful/popular are also series. Maybe coming out with book after book gains more exposure for the novels.

The other thing I notice is that all of the main characters were average, not-so-happy kids/teenagers in our regular world... and entered into a magical world that exists right alongside ours. Those MCs are special because they get to enter into that magical world, and other average folk do not. (Harry with the magical world, Bella with vampires, Clary with Shadowhunters.)

Harry Potter is the most successful and popular of them all, and I feel as though a lot of authors attempted to analyze why it was so popular and do the exact same thing JK Rowling did... (Rick Riordan's THE LIGHTNING THIEF comes to mind, no offense to Riordan fans!) It's my personal opinion that the "copy" books just aren't as well-written.

So - after analyzing popular books, do you as a writer attempt to put the same qualities into your own novel?

I'd also say that word-of-mouth helped these books! I learned about Twilight not from a commercial or book store but from other girls in my high school. Granted I didn't read it until my sophomore year in college/, but either way I knew people were obsessed with it. Also, I'd say the MC are people that the reader can root for and they really do have something to lose.

Twilight-Bella can either become immortal and live with Edward or she can remain human and risk not living to eternity with him (there's more but for the sake of my weary hands I'll stop here!)

Harry Potter-He's already lost his parents and almost everyone close to him. All he has left are his memories of Dumbeldore, Hogwartz, the teachers at hogwartz, his friends there and his new family.

I've incorporated many of these things into my book but I know that it will only catch fire if people talk about it and they want to know about the MC!

Alitriona · Jun 17, 2011

I received Twilight from my sister-in-law, who received it from her mum, who received it from a student.Word of mouth recommendation means a lot.

aekap · Jun 17, 2011

I think that in the case of Harry Potter, there's just something there to please everyone. You've got your pre-teen angst, your mystery, your fantasy, your humor... it just has such a wide appeal that it manages to pull in readers from all kinds of sub-genres.

Another significant aspect of Harry Potter is that the writing manages to be simple and satisfying at the same time, which is no small thing. It's very accessible, yet doesn't make kids feel like it's been dumbed down.

cherita · Jun 17, 2011

I actually think those books are all popular for different reasons. I mean, lots of books feature regular kid protags because that makes them relatable. And the idea of starting in the regular world then moving to a magical one is sort of the underpinning of most urban fantasy, so I don't think that's it either, although I do think that's part of it, and a reason why that genre is so popular.

Specifically, I have no idea what makes Harry Potter successful, as I have never read the series because I just cannot get through the first book. *shrug*

But, I think Twilight is so popular because of the romance, pure and simple. Because no matter what feminists all over want to believe, there is something utterly compelling about the kind of dangerous/stalkery/obsessive love that was present in Twilight to a lot of women, especially in the teen years when you're too young to know any better.

And the Mortal Instruments, I think it's popular because a) Cassandra Clare is a marketing machine and b) those books have a quite a few interesting elements that make people go oh, that's cool with enough action that you don't stop to think about the gaping holes in the worldbuilding and plot. And they read almost like movies, which I think helps as well.

My thoughts, anyway.

Lydia Sharp · Jun 17, 2011

Just going by what I've seen among my non-writerly circles...

Harry Potter and Twilight were widely enjoyed by adults as well as the younger audience. Wiiiiiiidely. Even adults who did not have children (that they could hide behind as an excuse, like, I'm just reading this to see why my kid likes it so much).

Without that broadened readership I don't think they would have done as well as they did. Same goes for the movies (of both). More than just teens are spending money on it.

This doesn't explain WHY so many people loved those books, however. It just explains why they turned into enterprises. But I don't think anyone can really pinpoint why *any* book/series takes off like that. Too many variables.

Lord of Chaos · Jun 17, 2011

I can only comment on Harry Potter because that is the only one I have personally read, but JKR's storytelling is unbelievable and that is one of the biggest reasons she succeeded. Few authors can match her ability to tell the story even though their prose are better or their plot holes less defined. In addition, the HP series addresses issues in a way children can easily understand while at the same time (esspecially in the later books) present a darkness that is more attractive to adults.

My girlfriend read Twilight and I can say with complete certainty she got addicted to it because of the emotional response SM managed to instill in her readers.

As for whether you should analyze them in an attempt to copy what made them successful it is pointless. No amount of analysis will allow you match them because you are not writing Harry Potter or Twilight. The keys to success are the same for every book -- hit the market at the right time, create and maintain a plot that drives the reader forward, and, last but not least, get the reader emotionally invested in your characters and plot. Those are the traits that are present in every novel supergiant but the ways the authors do it are as different as their books.

Alouette · Jun 17, 2011

For Harry Potter, I think JK Rowling creates an amazing and attractive world really skilfully. What 11 year old doesn't want to get their letter from Hogwarts'? I'm 17 and still waiting for mine! Plus, it's very accessible and the writing is fairly simple so younger children can understand but not so simple that it feels too childish to older readers.

Twilight...I guess a lot of girls like the romance aspect and want their own sparkly vampire to whisk them away and make their dull, Bella-pre-Edward-esque lives more exciting? I don't see the appeal myself...I didn't like the books personally but I did find myself wanting to know what happened next, despite not caring for the characters which doesn't happen often. They are somewhat addictive so I guess that has helped. And word of mouth as someone said! Everyone I know read it because someone else told them.

I quite enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series. The characters (except the main one) are pretty engaging and quirky, there's a sarcastic blond hottie and an angsty romance so I'm guessing others like that too! The idea that there's this whole other, exciting world hidden right under our noses is appealing (applies to the others too) and the prose is quite nice and very readable. Some have said it's a bit purple in places but I didn't notice when I was reading.

Becca C. · Jun 17, 2011

In Harry Potter, JKR created a world that I would gladly leave my own for. As Alouette said, what 11-year-old didn't bawl their eyes out on their birthday when they didn't get that Hogwarts letter? I know I did. The Potter universe is just so quirky and funny and delightfully absurd. It's a whole lot more fun than our world, especially from a kids' perspective. I mean, imagine going to a school where you learn charms and transfiguration instead of math and science. Doesn't that sound freaking awesome? Just look at the hundreds of thousands of Harry Potter fanfictions out there -- JKR made a world we want to be a part of.

Twilight is pure wish fulfillment (not my wishes, but apparently a large chunk of the female populations').

I only read the first book, but Mortal Instruments (in my opinion) just copied everything from Harry Potter and seemed to replicate some of its success.

thebloodfiend · Jun 17, 2011

Twilight ripped from Blood and Chocolate and The Vampire Diaries (which, in my opinion, were pretty bad).

MI ripped HP.

HP is just awesome. Nuff said.

Everyone else has stated my thoughts on the matter. Though I will always say that HP is Upper MG, like His Dark Materials, Eragon(which isn't YA either), or Narnia. Upper MG doesn't mean lesser quality, just different audience. HP readers grew up with the books, which means the tone changed, much like the Animorphs, which is still Upper MG. Libraries(which are sometimes wrong) still stock it in the Children's section, not the teen/YA section. But that's for a another thread.

Though, since I hated MI and most of Twilight, I'm not really qualified to speak on why they're so popular. Other than that 75% of readers don't know when they're reading a) a fan-fic of a fan fic, or b) a housewife's fantasy to break free of her sexual repression (and hate on blondes, American Indians, and anyone but white vampires).

thebloodfiend · Jun 17, 2011

And to answer the question...

No. I don't write to become popular. I write because I like to write. I've never expected to become a famous author. That's why I decided against majoring in English and took up Architecture instead. I'll also say that while I liked HP, JK Rowling isn't a very good writer. She's decent, but at times her prose can get a bit... yeah.

I write for a small audience that has the potential to expand. Sure, I write mainstream contemporary with a romantic angle, but I'm way too diverse with the racial make-up of my characters. I'll probably get labeled as a multi-cultural author since the MC of my WIP is Japanese and his love interests are a) black, b)Lebanese, and c) half-Japanese. But I doubt that I'll get praise for writing such a diverse book since I'm black. Once upon a time, I was worried that I'd get a chick-lit label instead of just contemporary like John Green. Nothing against chick-lit. I just don't like 90% of it.

Have you noticed that every PNR book that debuted after Twilight is part of a trilogy? It annoys the hell out of me. I want a solid stand alone novel. And half of these books could be compressed into one with a good editor and a decent designer (one who knows how to shrink the text from 16pt to 10pt so that the book doesn't look like it's 100k when it's really only 60k).

tcllnsfmly · Jun 17, 2011

thebloodfiend said:
HP is just awesome. Nuff said.

I agree. I love HP so much. The hallows or a wand will be my next body adornment! *runs out of room screaming finite incantatum*. Everything floats around...I'm serious too lol.

Cyia · Jun 17, 2011

Remember, too, that Cassie C. had a built in audience of rabid fic-readers from the HP-verse behind her when she went mainstream. She borrowed heavily from her fics (or so says the fan-wank) and there's nothing small about the numbers of HP fic-readers out there, so it was familiar territory for them.

frimble3 · Jun 17, 2011

I think 'familiar territory' is part of the appeal of these books. I can't speak of 'Mortal Instruments', as I haven't read it, but the first 'Harry Potter' is an obvious take-off on any classic English boarding school story. Child is sent away to school, finds best friends, bullies who are hostile for no particular reason, a teacher who's out to get him, a school sport that he triumphs at. It's what she does with it. He's leaving a miserable home-life, the school teaches magic, he has a mysterious past and an ominous destiny. It's the details that make it special.
'Twilight' is a teenage romance. Girl comes to new school, meets a mysterious and exciting boy, then another one, and has to choose. Once again, it's the details. A generation ago, it would have been a broody kid with a dubious past and a jock. Now, it's a vampire and a werewolf. Gotta have the contrast. It's a cool, updated version of a classic story, with a paranormal hook.

DennyCrane · Jun 18, 2011

What these books have in common, story and execution aside, is an ability to portray something that is fundamental to the human experience and can be related to by a great many of the population.

Harry Potter has that uniquely British schoolyard experience; Twilight at its core, is primal lust. Of course, they are both more that just this, but I think these familiar themes was what allowed people to make that connection.

Mandiloo322 · Jun 18, 2011

frimble3 said:
I think 'familiar territory' is part of the appeal of these books. I can't speak of 'Mortal Instruments', as I haven't read it, but the first 'Harry Potter' is an obvious take-off on any classic English boarding school story. Child is sent away to school, finds best friends, bullies who are hostile for no particular reason, a teacher who's out to get him, a school sport that he triumphs at. It's what she does with it. He's leaving a miserable home-life, the school teaches magic, he has a mysterious past and an ominous destiny. It's the details that make it special.
'Twilight' is a teenage romance. Girl comes to new school, meets a mysterious and exciting boy, then another one, and has to choose. Once again, it's the details. A generation ago, it would have been a broody kid with a dubious past and a jock. Now, it's a vampire and a werewolf. Gotta have the contrast. It's a cool, updated version of a classic story, with a paranormal hook.

And I also think Averon 2011's points are amazing - informative and correct! My two cents is that HP draws on a basic good vs. evil plot that has been absent from the YA section for awhile. That section was so full of teens "finding themselves" that character development was crowding out typical plot structures. I think with today's world making evil (terrorism, etc.) feel more present, people enjoyed a story about a boy triumphing over the ultimate evil in his world.

As for Twilight...it allowed millions of women to read a romance novel without the embarrassing cover art. I don't really get it myself because I found all the MC's in need of a straitjacket, but something about "tracing the perfectly carved planes" of Edward's chest drew them in. That phrase was repeated so many times it's burned into my memory. Ugh.

ZapAdRem · Jun 18, 2011

I think HP's so successful because of the writing. It's simple but not stupid, the vivid and very 3-D world draws you in, it incorporates a variety of genres, and has tropes that are easy to recreate and get into. Being sorted into houses, living in a boarding school, dealing with teachers, homework, drama, etc. Plus it has that overarching good vs. evil clearly-drawn conflict.

Twilight is popular because Bella is a vessel for the reader to live the romance with Edward. Because Bella adores Edward and overlooks his often distasteful behavior, so does the reader.

I've never read any of the Mortal Instruments, but I've heard it's easy to get lost in and reads a lot like well-crafted fanfiction.

Becca C. · Jun 18, 2011

Mandiloo322 said:
My two cents is that HP draws on a basic good vs. evil plot that has been absent from the YA section for awhile. That section was so full of teens "finding themselves" that character development was crowding out typical plot structures. I think with today's world making evil (terrorism, etc.) feel more present, people enjoyed a story about a boy triumphing over the ultimate evil in his world.

I agree that HP's good vs. evil core is part of what makes it resonate so strongly with millions of people, but remember that Harry Potter has been out now for longer than my 13-year-old sister has been alive. From what I remember of being a voracious reader at the time, the children's book market (because HP was and is marketed as a children's book) wasn't exactly flooded with character-driven stories in the mid-to-late 90s... I remember there being a LOT of plot-driven, rather empty-feeling adventure stories. HP boomed in popularity because it stood out as an awesome adventure story that also had great character development. Best of both worlds!

(Also, HP first came out a good five years before 9/11 and was already rampantly successful by 2001, so terrorism wasn't foremost in anyone's minds yet. I don't think the state of world fear had anything to do with the good vs. evil thing becoming popular; it already was. Always has been, for that matter.)

Windcutter · Jun 20, 2011

Series. Maybe I'm wrong but it seems lately than all successful genre books are series.
Fandom potential. Which means there are several characters to choose a favorite from, and there are some secondary plot lines that can be used for fans to make up fantasies and alternative endings. A big interesting world is also another part of fandom potential (re: imagine how cool it would be to receive a letter like Harry did).
A hidden side of reality in our own world. I think it's one of the reasons why urban fantasy in general is so popular. A lot of comics draw on the same theme. You never knew... but there are amazing, dangerous, wonderful, mysterious things happening right where you live. Harry Potter especially gives this sense of 'secret world within our world'.

sadbeautifultragic · Jun 21, 2011

Alouette said:
For Harry Potter, I think JK Rowling creates an amazing and attractive world really skilfully. What 11 year old doesn't want to get their letter from Hogwarts'? I'm 17 and still waiting for mine! Plus, it's very accessible and the writing is fairly simple so younger children can understand but not so simple that it feels too childish to older readers.

Twilight...I guess a lot of girls like the romance aspect and want their own sparkly vampire to whisk them away and make their dull, Bella-pre-Edward-esque lives more exciting? I don't see the appeal myself...I didn't like the books personally but I did find myself wanting to know what happened next, despite not caring for the characters which doesn't happen often. They are somewhat addictive so I guess that has helped. And word of mouth as someone said! Everyone I know read it because someone else told them.

I quite enjoyed the Mortal Instruments series. The characters (except the main one) are pretty engaging and quirky, there's a sarcastic blond hottie and an angsty romance so I'm guessing others like that too! The idea that there's this whole other, exciting world hidden right under our noses is appealing (applies to the others too) and the prose is quite nice and very readable. Some have said it's a bit purple in places but I didn't notice when I was reading.

When my little brother turned 11 I put a fake Hogwarts letter in the mailbox.

cherita · Jun 21, 2011

Averon 2011 said:
* It is the one genre that can be read by both children and adults so it has the largest audience - it's not just for kids and it's not just for adults, it's for both.

Lydia Sharp said:
Harry Potter and Twilight were widely enjoyed by adults as well as the younger audience. Wiiiiiiidely. Even adults who did not have children (that they could hide behind as an excuse, like, I'm just reading this to see why my kid likes it so much).

Without that broadened readership I don't think they would have done as well as they did. Same goes for the movies (of both). More than just teens are spending money on it.

Good point -- this is a huge reason why these books are so commercially successful. It's exactly like movies, why so many strive for the PG-13 rating because those are the ones most likely to end up crazy successful.

Chumala · Jun 21, 2011

Twilight was able to show every female girl that you shouldn't be afraid of vampires. In fact you should date them because they are so hot and they sparkle.

But in all honesty...

I'm a guy and I read Twilight, it was a really cool book with an awesome concept. Seriously... a vampire and a human is a great concept. Also instead of falling head over heels for Edward, my favorite character is in fact Alice. I think she's adorable! THe way it was written for some queer reason had me always turning the page, trying to learn what's going to happen next. Sure I skipped most of the paragraphs with needless talking about Edward and how he is an angel sent from heaven, but other than that I enjoyed all four books.

Most of the YA books that get popular are concepts that have rarely been explored before.

Hunger Games --- Free for all arena style death match? Yes, thank you.

Percy Jackson - I love the old greek gods and all that other myth stuff so yes please.

Also word of mouth makes many of them popular. A guy in my English class told me to read hunger games, so I did. Word of a mouth is a powerful tool for books, a girl from a different class told me to read Twilight, so I did and ended up enjoying it. So.... if you learn to control the way people speak about your book by making it something they wish to share, then your book should become popular.

Netz · Jun 21, 2011

strategic_tragedies said:
When my little brother turned 11 I put a fake Hogwarts letter in the mailbox.

Did he forgive you?

Alice Grace · Jun 29, 2011

The reasons are three and in the following order:

1. Being persistent and not giving up on your work
2. Getting lucky
3. Being a really good writer

I've heard somewhere that HP was rejected A LOT of times before it was published. I think, I've read somewhere that Twilight was written years before it became popular. Immortal Instrument, I am not really up to date on but I wouldn't be surprised.

This is what I think anyway. Maybe if you're really persistent and really lucky, you don't even need number 3....

cherita · Jun 29, 2011

Alice Grace said:
I've heard somewhere that HP was rejected A LOT of times before it was published. I think, I've read somewhere that Twilight was written years before it became popular. Immortal Instrument, I am not really up to date on but I wouldn't be surprised.

Definitely the first two. That third one, not so much. There are a *ton* of people who question the writing ability of both Stephenie Meyer and Cassandra Clare. Also, it's true HP was rejected a lot before it was published -- and JK Rowling spent years writing it. But Twilight is pretty much the example of an overnight success in the publishing industry, so I don't know where you read it took years. She had a dream in June 2003, wrote the first draft in 3 months (118K words! and before editing it was probably more!) and it was on bookshelves by October 2005 and within one month it reached #5 on the NY Times bestseller list.

Why Certain YA Books Are So Darned Popular

zolambrosine

tcllnsfmly

Alitriona

Attends The School of AW

aekap

New kid, be gentle!

cherita

Lydia Sharp

for the love of love

Lord of Chaos

Let Chaos reign

Alouette

bad apple

Becca C.

thebloodfiend

Cory

thebloodfiend

Cory

tcllnsfmly

Cyia

Rewriting My Destiny

frimble3

Heckuva good sport

DennyCrane

Dude. Seriously.

Mandiloo322

[Shhhh....I'm writing.]

ZapAdRem

YA Sci-Fi: Hoo-Rah!

Becca C.

Windcutter

sadbeautifultragic

cherita

Chumala

Netz

Freshly caught writing bug lives!

Alice Grace

cherita