One reporter reacts to JKR's revelations

[slytherin_jenn]

Carol responds:

I'm not saying that sex isn't being depicted in "YA" books (although i
think that's disturbing). I'm objecting to the term "young adult
literature" for readers who are actually children or younger
teenagers. They're not young adults. The term is a euphemism, as if
"adolescent" or "pre-teen" or "teenage" were somehow insulting terms.

Celoneth:
I don't think it has anything to do with political correctness - I've
always thought it was a marketing term. Teenagers want to appear
grown-up, having a book section called "young adult" appeals to
teenagers and makes them more likely to pick up some of the books.
There's nothing sinister about it, teens want to be treated like
grown-ups so companies use terms like "young-adult" or "junior" to
market to teens (just like they use "misses" and "big and tall" to
refer to clothing lines of certain sizes). It probably wouldn't appeal
to teens to have a "teenage" book section (and definitely an "older
children" or "pre-pubescent" section). 
Celoneth