From what you describe, YA seems to be the best genre for it. So I'm kinda befuddled, too. Could it be because of some readers/authors being snooty about YA?

(I keep forgetting people do that, and keep being reminded. Bunnytrail: yesterday the bank teller saw me with The Neverending Story. We started talking fantasy, and she half-apologetically said she liked YA. I said I did, too, but it bugged me she had to brace for possible snootery.)