I’m just going to go ahead and say it: I still read Young Adult (YA) novels. What are the first images to come to mind? Vampires that sparkle in the sun, dystopian rebellions led by Jennifer Lawrence, or just cheesy high school romance books?

If these are the first things coming to mind, clearly someone in PR did their jobs right. But despite the plethora of different kinds of YA books, most non-YA readers base their opinions of the genre on the few franchises that have broken through. Thus, the average reader isn’t aware of just how incredible a YA book can be.

For starters, the YA genre is not defined by teen angst, shallow romances and contrived high school drama. A bit unlike the “teen” genre in movies, not every YA novel is a romance, or even has a romantic subplot.

The sole determinant of a YA novel is that its protagonist is roughly between the ages of 13 and 18. Some say there should also be themes about growing up, but the main character's age is really the only rule in the genre.

SEE ALSO: Veronica Roth: YA Novels Aren't Frivolous Teen Fiction

This should be enough to assure readers that YA novels are not confined to just a few overworked issues.

The last three YA books I read were about a girl awaiting trial in Aruba for the murder of her best friend, a boy struggling with anorexia as told through the point of view of the disease and a physically scarred boy recounting his formation of a rock band in the ‘80s. 

The beautiful thing about YA is this versatility. I could walk into the YA section and pick up a thriller, a coming-of-age contemporary and an adventure novel all in one swoop. If YA is so diverse, why read the sub genres of it instead of picking up an actual thriller or contemporary in the “adult” book section?

For most readers, what really separates YA from other genres is the energy written into every book. Adolescence is such a strange, unique time, where characters are stuck somewhere between naivety and a burning desire to prove themselves. Readers, therefore, get to read stories with complicated protagonists who have inner conflict woven into their age and have to decide whether or not to jump headfirst into their circumstances and manipulate the inherent obstacles of teenhood to accomplish their goals. 

SEE ALSO: The Era of YA Dystopian Novels Is Ending: 7 Things Readers Will Miss

It’s one thing to watch a seasoned cop run around questioning suspects in the underbelly of a city, and it’s another to watch some plucky teenager do it. After all, don’t we all love an underdog? In a way, teenagers are the ultimate underdogs, and maybe it’s even some wish fulfillment: wouldn’t it have been awesome to live that kind of life as a teenager?

Beyond it all, however, a good YA book is no different than any other good novel: it has to have a great story populated by amazing characters. Why should anyone care if a book is labeled “for teens” if it’s a good book?

While YA books may once have been oversimplified, modern YA books often treat the readers as non-patronizingly as any adult book (meaning: it’s a toss up—surely other people felt Amy Dunne thought they were idiots while reading “Gone Girl”). 

Overall, for the seasoned YA reader, there are enough quality novels out there that YA doesn't have to be a label of shame. The voice of YA is something that never seems to get old, and the creativity of its authors never seems to wear out. Plus, just as YA is one of the most rapidly growing genres on the market to date, it’s a quickly evolving genre; everything from the addition of POC and LGBTQ protagonists within the library to loosening rules about “edgy” (violent, sexy) content is becoming more prevalent in YA. Who doesn’t love something new?

So, go ahead, don’t be embarrassed holding that YA book. The haters are just missing out.

Books mentioned, in order to reference: "Dangerous Girls," "A Trick of the Light," "The Scar Boys" and "When Mr. Dog Bites."

Contact Staff Reporter Carlyn Greenwald here and follow her on Twitter.