YA Fresh

How do you like your YA novels?

I've been thinking what I like in a YA novel, and I guess it really isn't different from what I enjoy in other genres too.

When I started writing, it was all about the love of a good story. Characters to root for. A story to suck me in and pull me quickly along. To make me *feel*. And that's what I like in YA novels and how I try to write my own. :)

And since I feel like I've grown up soaking up movies instead of books--bad, Kelly!--I see my books unfold in my mind, scene by scene, rather than the words flowing from my fingers.

I try to write my scenes like a movie. For me, there is just something great about visualizing scenes as I read along with the character's journey.

So how do you like your YA novels? Heavy on characterization with a side of plot? Or something different? :) :)