College Board, What's Good?

The great D. J. Smith once asked, "what is literary merit, anyway?" and of course I wanted to promptly reply with a typical Mariah answer, you know sarcastic with a hint of seriousness, but I didn't. I too wanted to know what literary merit is. Why are all of these books worthy of being mentioned for all eternity? Why is Their Eyes Were Watching God, one of the worst books I have ever read, considered a work of literary merit?
I feel like the term "literary merit" is like this award bestowed upon those who are memorable or make a difference, kind of like a noble prize, but not as prestigious. But there are a lot of books that are both memorable and make a difference, but they aren't considered a work of literary merit. Well, yeah, but there's a difference. Works of literary merit have this thing about them that makes them eternal. They have this flame that will never go out. Books that are just memorable or just make a difference only have a spark of what works of literary merit have.
I recently read Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee and I must admit, I was disappointed. Maybe it was because I thought Lee was going to create another To Kill Mockingbird or it was simply just not good. Based on that, I wouldn't say it is a work of literary merit. It is only memorable because it wasn't as good as expected. I understand that it was a rejected draft, but still. Lee could have done so much better. It was obviously rejected for a reason. I don't think it was that well written and the content wasn't too great either. It's not awful, but being a fan of Mockingbird, I expected more.  
You know what novels are of literary merit though? The Twilight Saga. Oh my sweet Lord, those books are perfect. College Board needs to include them in the AP Exam. Nay, they should create an entire AP course based on The Twilight Sags. I'd get an A+ every term and a 5 on the exam. I'm going to write a letter.

Barbara Parks Made Me Fall in Love

     I fell in love at a young age, probably in first grade. Maybe even younger than that. I fell in love with reading. At any given point you could catch me reading. I wasn't reading just the stereotypical young children's books, I was reading young adult books and the occasional Danielle Steel that my mom would have lying around the house. (Check out some of her books here!) Reading was my first love to say the least.

     In first grade, I was in an advanced reading group (I guess I was way above the typical reading level) and that was when I was acquainted with Junie B. Jones ("the B stands for Beatrice, but I just like B and that's all"). Of course I loved her! She was fun and imaginative, everything I aspired to be at my young age. Her shenanigans were my enjoyment. I read probably every book in the series. I still love Junie B. today. Barbara Parks' (the author of Junie B) writing is a literary gem. She inspired my love for reading. Oh, and Junie B has a website and yes, it is pretty cool.

     As I grew older, my love of reading never left me. My book choices became more mature as did I. Before you ask, yes I read all of The Twilight Saga and yes, I am still a die hard Twilight fan today.  I won't say most of the books I read are really something of literary merit, but they are nice and I enjoy them. I will start reading more respectable titles, but for now let me cry over the untimely death of Augustus Waters.

Check out some books that I fell in love with. I included links so you can fall in love too!

Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo

Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom

And Sometimes Why by Rebecca Johnson

Beautiful Disaster by Jamie McGuire (this one is basically my favourite)

The Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyers

If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Saving Max by Antoinette van Heugten

Bad Girls Don't Die by Katie Alender

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green