Torgo said:
I'm going to go for the lower limit, actually - I think minimum 25-30K
I'd say that 25-30k is very short for a YA novel. Bear in mind that kids in this age group are probably already reading adult novels, whether chick-lit or Stephen King. However, there is space in this market for those teenagers who have a low reading age, but don't want to be stuck with 8-12 age group books. If that's the case, then this audience should be considered from the outset because you're going to have to be careful with vocabulary.
I'd agree with Mdmkay up there, that it's not necessarily the word count you should worry about, but the focus of the story. Adult novels can wander here there and everywhere, have loose ends, subplots that are left and resurrected (basically, just bad writing
). YA novels require a lot more control.
I guess the best way to find out how is to read everything you can get your hands on - and not just the good stuff. We often learn more from the books that miss the mark than the trying to unravel the mysteries of the YA blockbuster.
GreyMalkin