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A recent issue of Publishers Weekly featured an article by 13-year-old Max Leone which urges authors to "read this b4 u publish."

The young man goes on to tell authors/publishers the real reasons why young people, particular boys aren't interested in most of the stuff that's supposed to be published. Among the advice he offers, here's one that many of us forget:

Another giant, oily blemish on the face of teenage literature (that was entirely intentional) is whatever urge compels writers to clumsily smash morals about fairness or honor or other cornball crap onto otherwise fine stories. Do you not think we get enough of that in our parents' and teachers' constant attempts to shove the importance of justice and integrity down our throats? We get it. I assure you, it makes no difference in our behavior at all. And we will not become ax murderers because volume 120 of Otherworld: The Generica Chronicles didn't smother us in morals that would make a Care Bear cringe.

Good point, one that I have to keep in mind for my own YA writing.

Leone leaves us with another piece of teenage wisdom:

Finally, here is what I consider the cardinal rule of writing for young adults: Do Not Underestimate Your Audience. They actually know a lot about what's going on in politics. They will get most of the jokes you expect them not to. They have a much higher tolerance for horror and action than most adults. Most of the books I read actually don't fall under the "young adult" category. I can understand the humor in Jon Stewart's or Stephen Colbert's books as well as any adult.

You can read the entire article here.