Are Teens Embracing E-books?: The Digital Divide – Publisher’s Weekly – Karen Springen

A recent PubTrak survey from R.R. Bowker indicated that teens remain reluctant when it comes to e-books. Accustomed to social media, they find that electronic stories have “too many restrictions,” according to the report. But many industry players—agents, booksellers, publishers, and authors—are saying just the opposite: digital sales are booming for YA fiction.

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As for the dreaded cannibalization of print, it does not appear to be happening in YA. “The whole pie grows,” says Hilt. “There’s a lot more evidence that users are going back and forth between digital and physical. People are now buying more books when they become digital readers. The key is to have the book available in all formats.”

The goal for books of any format is to create more readers. The article is very optimistic that more and more teens will embrace the e-reading experience. The YA market is expanding, and it also allows for any self-conscious adults who may otherwise steer clear of the YA/children’s section of bookstores to browse more freely with e-readers.