It’s a known fact in the literary world that the young adult market is hot right now—witness the phenomena of The Hunger Games, Twilight and Harry Potter. It’s also well known that YA books are just as entertaining for all ages.
Case in point: I just finished reading The Disenchantments, by Oakland writer and high school English teacher Nina LaCour (pictured), and I couldn’t put it down. Narrated by 18-year-old Colby, who roadies for his best friend’s band on their first (and last) tour, the story takes the not-very-good but doggedly passionate band from San Francisco to Portland in a borrowed VW van.
The book skillfully captures the fleeting energy of young love, dance parties, Sleater-Kinney obsession, wistful glances, road adventures and punk rock. Anyone who’s ever been on tour, played in a band, wanted to play in a band or been in love with a best friend will find pieces of themselves in this tale of love, music, art and friends. Pick up a copy of The Disenchantments—for your daughter or yourself—when LaCour makes a stop in Petaluma as part of the YA or Bust! tour. The tour also features young adult novelists Stephanie Perkins (Lola and the Boy Next Door), Gayle Forman (Where She Went) and Jess Rothenberg (The Catastrophic History of You and Me). The writers discuss their work on Thursday, April 19, at Copperfield’s Books. 140 Kentucky St., Petaluma. 7pm. Free. 707.762.0563.
