Comments | jennifer_d_g: Need help - Question about tween novels

jennifer_d_g

Need help - Question about tween novels

Feb 22, 2010 18:47

My current wip really wants to be a tween in spite my agent's advice to keep the story smack dab in the middle of MG. It's a funny, upbeat, and non-message-y story about a boy and girl who've been close friends since they were toddlers and they discover something in their past that makes them become uncomfortable with each other. (I can't tell you ( Read more... )

Comments 19

tracyworld February 23 2010, 03:15:59 UTC

I think it's wise to follow your muse, and if your muse is saying crush and 12-year-olds, then write that story. It might change as you go along but it always seems best for me to let the story that wants to be told get told. At least once, anyway.

jennifer_d_g February 24 2010, 02:30:44 UTC

Well said. I totally agree and Wendy would agree too. However, she has suggested that especially for debuts (let's hope this book won't be my debut, but, just in case...) it's better if the book falls solidly into a category. But, yes, we can't always control that.

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jennifer_d_g February 24 2010, 02:42:05 UTC

That's a good question. I mean, where does "upper MG" end and "tween" begin? Maybe tween is just another word for upper MG.

ex_kmessner February 23 2010, 03:37:22 UTC

For what it's worth, GIANNA Z. is considered middle grade, and I think you're talking about the same sorts of innocent first crush feelings. I think "tween" as a category is generally just a little edgier/lip glossy...more like the Canterwood Crest series and books like that. What you're describing still sounds quite MG, at least to me. (And it also sounds intriguing!)

jennifer_d_g February 24 2010, 02:45:42 UTC

Oh, good, I'm glad to hear you say it sounds MG. Yes, the tone will be young in the same way Gianna's voice was young. I don't have plans to put anything edgy in the story. (And I'm glad you're intrigued.)

ex_kmessner February 23 2010, 03:37:57 UTC

And also, thanks for the kind words about Gianna! :^)

jennifer_d_g February 24 2010, 02:48:15 UTC

I love Gianna! Gianna's voice has been one of my favorites in years.

boreal_owl February 23 2010, 03:54:54 UTC

If you see the kids as being twelve, it means the book is probably MG. Most MG novels have a 12-year-old protagonist. I think the tween reader is about 12-14, which means the protagonist should be 14.

Crush and 12-year-olds describes SHUG, which is solidly MG.

Unless the element you're leaving out is something dark and edgy, something like abuse, it sounds as if you're writing a MG novel.

I think an example of tween would be the Georgia Nicholson series, where Georgia starts out being 14 and slooooooooowly becomes 15 over the course of ten novels. (The Amazon rating is Grades 7 - 9).

jennifer_d_g February 24 2010, 03:01:43 UTC

Funny, I see SHUG (another fav!) as the ultimate tween novel. To me, it has all the ingredients of a tween: Shug wants to kiss a boy; she's self conscious about her looks; she becomes aware that her mom has a drinking problem. But it's reassuring to me that you find it MG. Mine is MG then too.

I'll definitely take a look at Georgia Nicholson.