Three Fundamental Life Lessons That John McCain Did Not Learn Because He Never Read YA Novels

[siobhan]

Siobhan Vivian is the author of A LITTLE FRIENDLY ADVICE. Her new book, SAME DIFFERENCE, will be out in March 2009.

Three Fundamental Life Lessons That John McCain Did Not Learn Because He Never Read YA Novels

1. Talking Bad About Someone Will Turn People Against You.
This is one of the biggest lessons to be learned in YA, an updated version of the classic motherly mantra—If you can’t say something nice (or truthful) don’t say anything at all. Really, McCain…how has this fundamental escaped you? All your insults, smack-talking and lies just make you look bad and desperate for attention. If you’d only read a YA novel and saw how the social climbing kids can crash and burn, maybe you would have been a little more honorable.
Recommended Reading: Gossip Girl

2. Don’t Listen to Who Your Friends Tell You To Like…Make Your Own Decisions!
It has been said by many that McCain really, really wanted Joe Lieberman to be his running mate, but that the Republican Hard Cores told him NO WAY. Instead of being a true maverick (gag), he followed the advice of shady people and picked Palin. And…just like in every YA novel, his choice has come back to bite him in the ass. Perhaps if McCain had read a similar situation taking place in the cafeteria, he might have stuck to his guns and picked the person he really wanted.
Recommended Reading: The Queen Of Cool

3. True Love Is Good For Everyone!
McCain, love is so special. People spend lifetimes looking for it! But once it is found, it should be protected and supported and nourished! Almost all YA novels have a love story full of obstacles, heartache and struggle. Then, once everything works out and the lovers come together, order in the entire universe of the novel is restored. So, do me a favor and protect all forms of love, be it between girls and boys, boys and boys, girls and girls. All of it is precious. Love makes all of our lives better.
Recommended Reading: Boy Meets Boy

[Kate Loving Shenk]

So true!!

Being cruel and nasty is not a reflection on anyone but yourself!!

What's a Ya novel??

Kate Loving Shenk
http://katelovingshenk.com/blog

[Stephanie Kuehnert]

Great blog! I love it!!!

[siobhan]

that's awesome! thanks Mags!

[Mags]

I posted it as a note on Facebook, by the way (I credited Siobhan and this site of course).

[Mags]

This. Is amazing.

[Sara Zarr]

Whee, Siobhan, very good!

[Joe Monti]

Nice Siobhan. I'd also add that what the Republican Party has done over the past eight years is to curb free speech by limiting the what you can say about certain subjects. If you were against the war in Iraq, you weren't a patriot; if you're from Northern Virginia and voting for Obama, you are not a real American.
Fortunately YA literature has two (among many) recent novels that asks its readers to question authority:
Feed by MT Anderson, and Little Brother by Cory Doctorow.

[SupernovakGirl]

So true!

[Max]

Haha - great post! And so true, too.