I’ve had some interesting insights into middle grade since I have been a youth librarian, an English teacher, a writer, and a parent of a now 14-year old. One of the things that surprised me is that the beautifully written, poignant stories that are purchased and read by librarians are rarely read by the intended audience (unless they are assigned by teachers). Kids tend to want “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” or ‘Harry Potter.” They want humor or adventure. Maybe this is just true of my state. Folks in the comments, what has been popular with your kids, students, or patrons?
That’s interesting and I do tend to wonder about that. I think I got the feeling that books popular with kids were more series type books than ones that tend to win awards in adult circles, though I also find that to be the case across the board sometimes. It’s very interesting to see your perspective as someone who worked as a teacher and librarian
Me, as someone in middle school i do gravitate towards book series i think it's because once i like the book, i would want to read more. So if i pick a stand-alone book, i will be sad for the book to end since there's no second book for me to read.
I struggle so hard to read while I'm drafting. I'm writing a high fantasy and every time I break out of my world, getting back into the flow of it is either so hard or impossible. I was reading some old work of mine from before I was thrust out of my world, and the world building took me by surprise. I was like "I wrote this? This is good stuff." but every time I read my creativity goes into overdrive and I start re-analyzeing my story and then I start re-plotting the same novel I'm writing. It's like Shiney new idea syndrome but with the same story. And I love all the ideas I have but not sure which to stick with. Which will have the better grip on people. But I love reading and getting sucked into a world.
I definitely know people like that and they’ll often read something in a completely different genre from what they’re writing so it doesn’t distract them. But I could see how if you’re stuck in your world and working on it, it would be hard to get thrown out of it.
This was really interesting. I feel like one of my earlier books is lower YA and more MG but with the characters being 13 and some of the story being what it is, I think its between the two.
I’m pretty sure 13 is still considered middle grade, no? Since they would technically still be in middle school at that time vs 14 when they would be in high school. Mind you, that’s by North American school standards. Though it also depends on subject matter and style
Totally gonna pick up these books! (Also suggestion - if you want - can you add a GR link to the books mentioned in the video in the description? Totally up to you tho!!!)
I have a concept I believe for lower middle grade and all the research that I have been doing is so confusing. I want to do an illustrated version, but all I see is graphic novels or most of the illustration looks like Diary of a Wimpy kid. There are too many options and it just confuses me even more...especially since this is my first book
Ah that is definitely confusing. I don’t know much about lower middle grade or any of that, but I might suggest looking for community groups on Facebook or things like that for people who write those sorts of books who you can chat with. They’ll likely have more insight.
The Characters in my book are usually around ten years old and not Twelve. I don't understand why it's some kind of law that the kids are all twelve. It's not a law. As someone who has worked in a primary school, and worked with a children's drama group, There's a big difference between a ten year old and a twelve year old. Twelve year olds are adolescents. I write lower middle grade books. I don't understand this idea of children reading up.
Nothing is any sort of law. I’m simply expressing what I’ve heard within traditional publishing during my time within it. It is a business that sometimes has “rules” (I put in quotes because they break their own rules often) that feel arbitrary and even inaccurate, but when you are publishing within the system, it can sometimes be helpful to understand the mindset of those within it. Everyone is, of course, always free to write what they wish. I’ll also note that this video is about me learning as well. I am certainly not an MG expert by any means, nor did I intend for anything I saw in this video to be seen as a “law” about middle grade books.
I’ve had some interesting insights into middle grade since I have been a youth librarian, an English teacher, a writer, and a parent of a now 14-year old. One of the things that surprised me is that the beautifully written, poignant stories that are purchased and read by librarians are rarely read by the intended audience (unless they are assigned by teachers). Kids tend to want “Diary of a Wimpy Kid” or ‘Harry Potter.” They want humor or adventure. Maybe this is just true of my state. Folks in the comments, what has been popular with your kids, students, or patrons?
That’s interesting and I do tend to wonder about that. I think I got the feeling that books popular with kids were more series type books than ones that tend to win awards in adult circles, though I also find that to be the case across the board sometimes. It’s very interesting to see your perspective as someone who worked as a teacher and librarian
Me, as someone in middle school i do gravitate towards book series i think it's because once i like the book, i would want to read more. So if i pick a stand-alone book, i will be sad for the book to end since there's no second book for me to read.
Thank you for this! I have been working on a manuscript for YA but decided to adapt and go for Middle Grade. Your insight is great.
Glad to help out!
I have a middle grade premise I’ve been marinating for years so I’m loving this content since I don’t know the first thing
Laura Writes yay for learning together! It’s been a good experience honestly cause I’ve found so many MG books that I like now
I struggle so hard to read while I'm drafting. I'm writing a high fantasy and every time I break out of my world, getting back into the flow of it is either so hard or impossible. I was reading some old work of mine from before I was thrust out of my world, and the world building took me by surprise. I was like "I wrote this? This is good stuff." but every time I read my creativity goes into overdrive and I start re-analyzeing my story and then I start re-plotting the same novel I'm writing. It's like Shiney new idea syndrome but with the same story. And I love all the ideas I have but not sure which to stick with. Which will have the better grip on people. But I love reading and getting sucked into a world.
I definitely know people like that and they’ll often read something in a completely different genre from what they’re writing so it doesn’t distract them. But I could see how if you’re stuck in your world and working on it, it would be hard to get thrown out of it.
Excellent advice!
This was really interesting. I feel like one of my earlier books is lower YA and more MG but with the characters being 13 and some of the story being what it is, I think its between the two.
I’m pretty sure 13 is still considered middle grade, no? Since they would technically still be in middle school at that time vs 14 when they would be in high school. Mind you, that’s by North American school standards. Though it also depends on subject matter and style
@@LiselleSambury yeah here its secondary school from 11, so I wasnt sure on the ages of MG when it was written!
Joey Paul ahhh yeah I guess it would depend on where you were publishing it. It may be different in different regions.
Ouhhhhhhhh! This is my jam!
🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾
Totally gonna pick up these books! (Also suggestion - if you want - can you add a GR link to the books mentioned in the video in the description? Totally up to you tho!!!)
Can totally do that! I thought I did lol so that’s definitely an oversight on my part
It’s updated now!
I have a concept I believe for lower middle grade and all the research that I have been doing is so confusing. I want to do an illustrated version, but all I see is graphic novels or most of the illustration looks like Diary of a Wimpy kid. There are too many options and it just confuses me even more...especially since this is my first book
Ah that is definitely confusing. I don’t know much about lower middle grade or any of that, but I might suggest looking for community groups on Facebook or things like that for people who write those sorts of books who you can chat with. They’ll likely have more insight.
The Characters in my book are usually around ten years old and not Twelve. I don't understand why it's some kind of law that the kids are all twelve. It's not a law. As someone who has worked in a primary school, and worked with a children's drama group, There's a big difference between a ten year old and a twelve year old. Twelve year olds are adolescents. I write lower middle grade books. I don't understand this idea of children reading up.
Nothing is any sort of law. I’m simply expressing what I’ve heard within traditional publishing during my time within it. It is a business that sometimes has “rules” (I put in quotes because they break their own rules often) that feel arbitrary and even inaccurate, but when you are publishing within the system, it can sometimes be helpful to understand the mindset of those within it. Everyone is, of course, always free to write what they wish. I’ll also note that this video is about me learning as well. I am certainly not an MG expert by any means, nor did I intend for anything I saw in this video to be seen as a “law” about middle grade books.
I too am wondering how long an MG book should be lmao. But I feel it rlly depends on genre
Sarena Nanua yeah I suspect that fantasy has a lot more flexibility but how much flexibility is still up in the air lol