tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post3688008807567981642..comments2024-01-12T00:48:48.031-06:00Comments on Go Teen Writers: How to Know If Your Book Is Middle Grade or Young AdultStephanie Morrillhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13128389560727867719noreply@blogger.comBlogger62125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-79424343156237658572016-04-22T15:42:10.531-05:002016-04-22T15:42:10.531-05:00Something I just want to mention is that if your ...Something I just want to mention is that if your book is in a library, there may be a third option for your "target" audience. I am a middle school librarian in a public library, and the age range for this is 12-14, as most middle schools are 6th grade through 8th grade. I'm often trying to figure out which books are most appropriate for my collection. Some YA books are thematically inappropriate for my section, while some are fine for a 14-year-old reader. While the age of the protagonist and/or characters is a great indicator, this isn't always the best criteria for selection. Some middle schoolers want to read books about teens, and some books (such as Midwinterblood) I could see recommending to anyone 13+. Therefore, I look at content and context just as much as age. It's important when purchasing books that may or may not be read based on where they are placed in a library's collection. Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08514994564064767786noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-88323742084439450372016-02-10T13:22:11.049-06:002016-02-10T13:22:11.049-06:00I'm planning to write a series. The first one ...I'm planning to write a series. The first one is definitely middle grade, but the second one is going to be more character driven. What should I do?Corgi Writernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-85495250488607155792015-12-20T05:36:48.605-06:002015-12-20T05:36:48.605-06:00Yeah, Upper Middle Grade. It usually gets put in w...Yeah, Upper Middle Grade. It usually gets put in with either Middle Grade or YA, but it is there.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-64225989502058363432013-10-14T20:01:46.490-05:002013-10-14T20:01:46.490-05:00Also, is there any in between genre, one that isn&...Also, is there any in between genre, one that isn't quite YA but is too old to be MG? :/ If so, that's probably where my book fits in.The Magic Violinisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889060820055920735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-24439374021042964992013-10-14T20:00:07.824-05:002013-10-14T20:00:07.824-05:00Okay, I've read through this (twice, now) and ...Okay, I've read through this (twice, now) and I'm still confused on whether or not my novel is MG. I've always thought it was (it's short, just 20,000 words, the protagonist is 10, there's no swearing, some violence but not terribly graphic) but now I've had several CP's ask me if they're right in saying that it's YA. Any advice on how to be sure? :/The Magic Violinisthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08889060820055920735noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-46155115664348285942013-06-21T01:46:54.136-05:002013-06-21T01:46:54.136-05:00Oh, wow! That definitely confirmed for me that min...Oh, wow! That definitely confirmed for me that mine is YA!!!! Thanks!!<br /><br />Layla Layla https://www.blogger.com/profile/08978531769125028934noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-12947705505723621872013-06-15T13:16:36.860-05:002013-06-15T13:16:36.860-05:00This was very helpful - thanks, Jill!
I took a cr...This was very helpful - thanks, Jill! <br />I took a creative writing class for college and one other differentiation the professor used was this: Middle grade fiction is more rooted in worldbuilding, since oftentimes, kids at that age read to escape the world they're in and experience new surroundings. YA fiction concentrates more on identity and searching for oneself, since a lot of teenagers read to try and find themselves in books.Ellynhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01902646780678873511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-59157767811938923002013-06-13T19:40:40.922-05:002013-06-13T19:40:40.922-05:00I would probably make that a YA. Maybe the 12-16 c...I would probably make that a YA. Maybe the 12-16 category. That's just my opinion, though :)Alexa Mintahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865586987033390255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-27861601569349246732013-06-13T19:24:30.014-05:002013-06-13T19:24:30.014-05:00This was a great post! I think mine is a middle gr...This was a great post! I think mine is a middle grade/YA crossover. My MC is 14 and the issues that are dealt with are not extreme, but they're a bit much for anyone under 10 to read about.Alexa Mintahhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13865586987033390255noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-54108467970021862772013-06-12T09:32:34.731-05:002013-06-12T09:32:34.731-05:00This was a helpful post!
Is it possible, though, t...This was a helpful post!<br />Is it possible, though, to have a character who starts out being eight and ends up being sixteen a couple chapters later, and still call it a middle grade book?<br />I'm in the midst of plotting and preparing for said novel. At first, I thought it would be a middle grade novel. But two characters die, and it is a little intense. Any suggestions?Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10469955355822267713noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-39381198869319144712013-06-12T09:03:06.504-05:002013-06-12T09:03:06.504-05:00Both To Kill a Mockingbird and Ender's Game we...Both To Kill a Mockingbird and Ender's Game were published for the adult market. The "YA" market is a fairly recent thing. Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-57925048802375643652013-06-12T09:00:07.236-05:002013-06-12T09:00:07.236-05:00You're welcome! Sometimes this writing gig is ...You're welcome! Sometimes this writing gig is trial and error. :-)Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-51550245356106592092013-06-12T08:58:52.202-05:002013-06-12T08:58:52.202-05:00You guys are welcome! I'm glad this was helpfu...You guys are welcome! I'm glad this was helpful. :-)Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-63082170095019003212013-06-12T08:58:13.763-05:002013-06-12T08:58:13.763-05:00Yeah, every place is different. And it's confu...Yeah, every place is different. And it's confusing to readers too. Most of them don't know the difference. Many assume YA is for middle and high school readers.Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-5930398651793412732013-06-12T08:56:03.006-05:002013-06-12T08:56:03.006-05:00It depends who you're writing for. If you'...It depends who you're writing for. If you're writing for adults, you should strive to get the language correct. If you're writing a chapter book, WAY simplify it. A bit more for middle grade, a bit more for YA.Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-19154810584087471422013-06-12T08:53:01.096-05:002013-06-12T08:53:01.096-05:00Why wouldn't your friends support you regardle...Why wouldn't your friends support you regardless if you've written a YA novel or a kids' picture book? My parents and adult friends read my books and enjoy them even though they're not teens.If you have a gift, I can't imagine that your friends wouldn't support that. Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-81465351704606993422013-06-12T08:50:13.092-05:002013-06-12T08:50:13.092-05:00You're very welcome! :-)You're very welcome! :-)Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-56277461226243317512013-06-12T08:50:02.586-05:002013-06-12T08:50:02.586-05:00Yeah, subject matter is key for YA, otherwise youn...Yeah, subject matter is key for YA, otherwise younger kids can and will read it. Kids like to read about characters who are older than them anyway.Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-79176456949770613642013-06-12T08:49:00.248-05:002013-06-12T08:49:00.248-05:00That is a fun way to describe it, Sarah! Thanks fo...That is a fun way to describe it, Sarah! Thanks for sharing that. That rule should work for most books.Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-19840873896011277572013-06-12T08:46:41.622-05:002013-06-12T08:46:41.622-05:00As far as "how bad the topics," consider...As far as "how bad the topics," consider the other books the publisher you are targeting publishes, then consider what a mom would say.Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-973857383601297402013-06-12T08:45:07.293-05:002013-06-12T08:45:07.293-05:00You're welcome, Hannah!You're welcome, Hannah!Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-73942620300488958912013-06-12T08:44:53.945-05:002013-06-12T08:44:53.945-05:00It is confusing. And every publisher is different ...It is confusing. And every publisher is different too. As long as you know whether your book is middle grade or YA, you should be in good shape.Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-39866548855183155622013-06-12T08:43:47.918-05:002013-06-12T08:43:47.918-05:00That's cute, Alyson! Tell your dad, "Good...That's cute, Alyson! Tell your dad, "Good job!"Jill Williamsonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11943570354349667196noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-40316134479489823912013-06-12T07:33:53.049-05:002013-06-12T07:33:53.049-05:00*gasps* It IS!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness!!!!!! *jum...*gasps* It IS!!!!!!!!!!! Oh my goodness!!!!!! *jumps around in excitement* :) Congrats Aidyl!!!!!!!! <br /><br />-Koren <br />A writer for Him. <3Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4024721400572472213.post-25137820334182178082013-06-12T07:29:36.592-05:002013-06-12T07:29:36.592-05:00Hey, congrats Aidyl!! :D That's so exciting!Hey, congrats Aidyl!! :D That's so exciting!Amanda Fischerhttp://alifeonmission.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.com