Sci fiction and 'issue' fiction in YA writing

In the past two weeks I've read two YA novels: Give me Truth by Australian writer, Bill Condon and The Sky Inside by a US writer, now living in Germany, Clare Dunkle.

Condon's book fits under the 'issue' genre in that it deals with the lives of two teens, David and Caitlin, whose parents are going through marriage problems and separation. It's written in multiple first-person perspective, with each of the main characters narrating in alternate chapters.

Dunkle's book is classic sci fi, set in a futuristic world of made-to-order children, lifelike robot toys, deadly game shows and an environment controlled by consumerism. It's written in the third person point-of-view.

I chose to read Condon's writing because I was interested in how he would use the multiple first-person narration, and because he's an Australian writer. Plus I'm interested in the 'issue' genre. I chose to read Dunkle's book because I read the blurb on the back and it sounded awesome.

I read Give me Truth first. I read it quickly: the story moved along well, most of the writing was very good; some of it was excellent. There were a couple of key scenes that really packed an emotional punch. The issues were true to life, the characterisations realistic and believable. But I got to the end of the story and felt, well, 'meh' probably best describes it. Although it was a good book from a writer's perspective - well edited, good use of language, etc etc; it was, well, a bit boring. I really hate to say that because I'm aware that like any writer (including me) I am 110% sure that Condon put everything he had into this book. But I'm being honest here, and the book really left me cold.

In contrast, Dunkle's book had me hooked from the first sentence. It was fast-paced, scary, thrilling with great charactersation, impressive world building and attention to detail. Although I prefer to read (& write) YA fiction that's in the first person perspective, I really got drawn into this book. It wasn't perfect - some of the plot devices (eg game shows where people die) are hardly new. And some passages of description were a little clumsy. But I loved, loved, loved this book.

Perhaps it comes down to a personal preference - I like sci fi more than realism. But that's not true. Freaky Green Eyes, by Joyce Carol Oates, was an issue book, firmly realistic, and it packed a powerful punch.

I think the problem with Condon's book was that it was too realistic - it was so lifelike that it was a bit like life itself. Parents go through divorce and it sucks, and they may even do things that scare us, but life goes on. For me, the book just didn't do or say enough to hold my interest.

For me as a writer (as yet unpublished in trade, unlike Condon) I guess the point to take from my experience of reading these two books is that, if you're going to write realism/issue fiction, it needs to have a little extra - a dramatic twist, a fresh angle, something a little out of the ordinary - if it's going to truly hold the readers' interest. Because if that something special isn't there, the book won't connect with them. And really, that's the whole point of writing.