I don't know if you realized, but young adult titles have been cleaning house in the awards circuit.

Ursula K. Guin's Powers, the third in a children's trilogy, won the 2008 Nebula Award for Best Novel.

Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book (along with Corey Doctorow's Little Brother) is a contender for the Hugo Award after winning the Newbery Medal, the more conventional children's award.

And Patrick Ness' The Knife of Never Letting Go was honored with the James Triptree Jr. Literary Award, along with Nisi Shawl's "adult" Filter House.

So if you've been avoiding certain sections of the library or book store because you didn't want to waste your time on juvenile reads, it may be time to reassess your position. In my case, I find coming-of-age stories to be some of the most gratifying reads, and I think it's more than nostalgia that keeps my childhood favorites on my bookshelf even today.

Twilight may not be your cup of tea, but remember this: If To Kill a Mockingbird were published today, Scout and Atticus would probably be nestled right next to Harry Potter.

And if you haven't picked up anything written by Neil Gaiman, whether it be comic, childrens book or novel, I'd suggest you put that at the top of your list. He really is a magical writer.