I raised this month’s question partly because many, many of the young-adult books I read are better than the adult books. When I was growing up, so many YA seemed to be trashy — unless I just gravitated to those instead of others. And the trashy ones are still around, but the overall quality seems to have improved.

Does your committee ever select graphic novels, or does another committee do that? I’m very new to that genre, so welcome all suggestions –

I’m on a committee that selects nominees for a state book award for teen readers. (The committee picks the nominees and they are voted on by teen readers) So…I read a lot of teen books but not as many adult books. We try to have at least one book on the final list of 20 nominees that was actually marketed to adults but that teens would enjoy, to promote crossover reading.

I read one recently that was excellent for any age from about 14 up. It is called Impossible, by Nancy Werlin. It’s a combination of a realistic-fiction type contemporary story, with folkore and fantasy elements, and a lot of music lore. It is very intriguing on a number of levels. I don’t think it has been published yet (I read an ARC) but it should be out soon.

I think that overall the quality of fiction being written for teens has improved dramatically over the past few years. I have read a number of “teen” books that I would recommend to adult readers.

For teens: Junot Díaz’s The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao.