Teenage fiction (pet plus 2/ test3)(10)
Teenagers have their own TV channels, websites and magazines. So what about books? Last year one publisher, Martins, started publishing a series called Waves. We spoke to the director Julia Smith. She explained, “Teenage fiction has been published since the 1970s but publishers have never been particularly successful in getting teenagers to buy and read books. Now they’re realizing that teenagers aren’t just older children but they’re not adults either and often aren’t interested in adult fiction. For this series we’re looking for new writers who write especially for teenagers.
” Athene Gorr’s novel was published in the series last year and is selling well. Its title is The Purple Ring. She says, “The important thing is to persuade teenagers to pick up your book. I’m a new writer so, although I’ve got an unusual name which people might remember, nobody knows it yet! But my book has a fantastic cover which makes people want to look inside. Then they realize what a brilliant story it is!”
And what do teenagers themselves think about the series? We talked to Sophie Clarke, aged 15. She said, “I’ve read a few books in the Waves series. They say they’re for 14-19 year olds and I agree with that. We’re not interested in the same things as people in their twenties and thirties. I like them and I think they look really good too. The only thing is that because bookshops put them in the children’s section, lots of teenagers won’t find them so they may not do very well. And it’s a shame there’s no non-fiction in the series as I think lots of teenagers, especially boys, might buy that.”
1. What is the writer trying to do?
A persuade authors to write more teenage fiction B explain why teenage fiction is easier to write than adult fiction
C give information about a new series of books D compare different series of teenage fiction
2. Julia Smith says publishers now recognize that teenagers
A can enjoy the same kind of stories as adults. B are neither children nor adults.
C grow up more quickly nowadays. D are more interested in reading nowadays.
3. Athene Gorr thinks teenagers were attracted to her book because of
A her name. B the story. C its title. D its cover.
4. What does Sophie Clarke say about the books in the Waves series?
A They shouldn’t be kept with children’s books. B She would prefer to read adult fiction.
C They will be bought by lots of teenagers. D She isn’t keen on the design.
5. Which of these paragraphs could be used to advertise the Waves series?
A “This series is for all teenagers and those who are nearly teenagers. Whether you’re 10 or 19, you’ll find something here to please you.”
B “Choose a book from the Waves series. It includes both fiction and non-fiction and is aimed at teenagers aged 14+.”
C “If you’re aged between 14 and 19, don’t miss the Waves series which has novels by new authors.”
D “The Waves series has been popular with teenagers since the 1970s. This year we have added 20 new writers to our list.
