Blurring Boundaries

[Jay Aitch]

My manuscript has troubled me for a while. It is a fantasy with two 13 year old protagonists. Their age is absolutely deliberate, and the cause of my confusion.

From its inception, it has always been a "cross-over" novel. Not because I seek the Holy Grail of mass appeal, but because I have always enjoyed books that have the qualities (of escapism and timelessness) I associate with stories read as a teenager and so easily accepted as an adult. The style and content is directed at an audience that appreciates a complex world but retains a measure of hope and optimism. There is no sex or "real-world issues", but there is violence (of the adventurous sort) and plenty of made-up vulgarity.

And therein lies the ongoing quandary. Does my novel belong in upper Middle Grade, or Young Adult? Or the ill-defined teen fiction arena? I have in recent months come to the conclusion that it is the latter, but would appreciated others' thoughts and ideas.

 

[AliG]

MG as YA wouldn't read about such young kids. Depends on content though and how violent the violence is. Also country of intended publication. USA is very severe on violence; UK a bit more tolerant, said a USA editor in conversation recently. Length of ms matters but that can be adapted if needed when you work out what genre it is. I think 13 and 14 year old protagonists are a tricky group to classify.

 

[Barbara]

Ah, the dreaded reader age confusion. I know it all too well. I recently wrote a kid's book for adults (or was that an adult book for kids, who knows).

I once read somewhere that in regards to classifying Mid G or YA, the word count is one of the defining factors. Not sure if this is true though, and I would love to get other people's input on that one, but it might be worth looking into. In any event, could your novel be adapted, 'gritted-up' to fit the adult market? Might be interesting to tell an adult novel from a young view point. You say you enjoy books which remind you of stories you read as a teenager. Many others will do too.

Or maybe just send it off to agents who deal with both, and let them decide?