What distinguishes Middle Grade from YA? This article offers some keen observations: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/63358-middle-grade-and-ya-where-to-draw-the-line.html
What distinguishes Middle Grade from YA? This article offers some keen observations: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/63358-middle-grade-and-ya-where-to-draw-the-line.html
I really thought this article was interesting because I can see the difficult of putting certain types of books on the wrong shelves. There are a lot of books that I’ve read found on the wrong shelf in the bookstore and I have always wondered who is responsible for setting certain genres in those sections. Especially books like the hunger games, which both my 11-year-old cousin and I passionately read religiously. Even though there is a ten-year gap from, we still find enjoyment in the same type of books. I never knew how hard marketing companies had to work to sell their books to the right kind of audience.
Marketing for Young Adults vs. Middle Grade students is an interesting dilemma when it comes to trying to separate content and reading level. While you don’t want to shame readers who may be a level below their peers, you don’t want younger children reading books with content meant for more mature audiences. I don’t believe sub-dividing the genres though is very helpful though, because it should be divided more by content and who the intended readers are as opposed to the exactness of the reading level. Personally, reading this and realizing exactly how important it is to please the “gatekeepers” of the younger audiences has solidified my interest of writing for young adults as opposed to middle school reader or tweens. I never realized how those authors are writing for two audiences as opposed to one.
I thought I was the only one who saw this issue. I feel like the middle grade category can go either way depending on the book. A lot of the times, this category is forgotten. When I go to Barnes & Noble, I only see a kids section and young adult section but nothing in between. The middle grade category is needed because those books are to help young readers transition from children’s books to YA.
I never really thought this was an issue, but I can definitely see why the different bookshelves for younger readers and middle school readers are important to have. YA heroes tend to discover how they fit in the world beyond their friends and family, and they spend more time reflecting on what happens and analyzing the meaning of things. Separating them into two genres can make the middle school children feel like they’re maturing and feel appreciated.