An interesting discussion of the difference between YA and Adult novels.
It reminded me of the publisher who commissioned a YA novel from me back in 2002. I had never written a YA novel, so I asked what the difference was, and he said, "A young adult novel is just like an adult novel - except, no sex!"
So I wrote it mostly like an adult novel, though occasionally I thought I should simplify the vocabulary and, for instance, said "daydream" instead of "reverie." (The first time, but I used "reverie" later.)
The publisher had also specified that the protagonist be 14 years old, so that in itself pushed the novel into YA territory (which in those days meant a younger age group than you describe).
But I was interested to read your thoughts about the different voice etc. I think I did have a somewhat younger voice, because the protagonist was so young and the story was seen through his eyes (though it wasn't first person narration, just close third person).
It was a mystery, by the way, and did get published in 2005 as "Remember, Remember."
Oh, and there was no sex, though one reviewer went on about the romance in the book, and I had to warn one potential reader that if she was looking for something steamy, this wasn't it. Still, adults liked it too.
Some of the differences would be simplified--or more easily grasped--with the younger age. Just locking in to the mind of a 14 year old as opposed to 18 or 19. (Although some 14 year olds live with very grown-up challenges that would change it up! There can be no hard and fast "rules," truly.) Key: the combining of mystery (genre material) and "no sex" makes sense. The focus would be on the adventure of the read and mystery and solving. Sex in a teen book, isn't incidental. There is sex in teen books, but then it would be quite central, and there'd would be questions around it as the character/s explore the new reality. (Again, age is a huge factor--every one of those teen years can seem like a decade.)
You've brought up the point that generally (generally!) the age of the reader is a bit younger than that of the protagonist. Kids do like to read-ahead, and know what's coming down the pipe.
I need to write a post about how close-third is very close. In fact, it should be so close that the reader absorbs it almost as first. For the reader of close-third, the lens is the character's eyes... just as in first.
That's quite funny, really--the words of the reviewer! But noteworthy that your book crossed the age lines, and was read by a breadth of readers--mysteries can do that! (My mother asks me to bring over Nancy Drew books once in awhile... seriously. Especially if she's going through a rough time--they calm her.)
I don't think I actually said that the age of the reader would be younger than that of the protagonist, but you must have read my mind, because that indeed is what the publisher told me. His target audience was 10-14-year-olds, and he said 10-year-olds would read about people who were 14, but no 14-year-old would read about a 10-year-old. And 10-14 was what he meant by YA back then. He also advised having a male protagonist, saying girls would read about boys, but boys would not read about girls.
The age thing--reading "up"--is one of those generally-accepted pieces. The girls-will-read-boys'-books thought has been around for awhile, too. Certainly true in my case as a young reader: I read all of my brother's books, and he never looked at my shelves. But it is shifting. A friend of mine, who published the first-ever YA book in Canada about teen pregnancy, used to get a substantial number of notes from male readers... which was fascinating (and so good to hear!)
Alison, I so appreciate this explanation of the differences between adult and YA. I've printed this post off as a reference! I suspect I'll need it when my agent's editorial notes arrive and I embark on another round of revisions.
I also appreciate the discussion of sex in YA. The story I've written is definitely one in which sex is central--a juggernaut of hunger and risk that sends the protagonist about as far from her original goals as it is possible to get. The prominence of this aspect has probably accounted for years of my ambivalence and confusion about the story's genre. As I like to say, both the protagonist and her story have boundary issues. ; )
Yes, I'm glad Sheldon brought up those points! Sex does have a place in YA--if it's a question in young people's minds, then it needs to be addressed. "No sex" in younger YA-slash-middle-grade work, possibly... but for mid to older teens, there are questions--and literature is the place for questions.
Laura, when you do receive those editorial notes, I hope you'll share whatever questions you're left with... and bring on more discussion!
An interesting discussion of the difference between YA and Adult novels.
It reminded me of the publisher who commissioned a YA novel from me back in 2002. I had never written a YA novel, so I asked what the difference was, and he said, "A young adult novel is just like an adult novel - except, no sex!"
So I wrote it mostly like an adult novel, though occasionally I thought I should simplify the vocabulary and, for instance, said "daydream" instead of "reverie." (The first time, but I used "reverie" later.)
The publisher had also specified that the protagonist be 14 years old, so that in itself pushed the novel into YA territory (which in those days meant a younger age group than you describe).
But I was interested to read your thoughts about the different voice etc. I think I did have a somewhat younger voice, because the protagonist was so young and the story was seen through his eyes (though it wasn't first person narration, just close third person).
It was a mystery, by the way, and did get published in 2005 as "Remember, Remember."
Oh, and there was no sex, though one reviewer went on about the romance in the book, and I had to warn one potential reader that if she was looking for something steamy, this wasn't it. Still, adults liked it too.
Sheldon Goldfarb
Some of the differences would be simplified--or more easily grasped--with the younger age. Just locking in to the mind of a 14 year old as opposed to 18 or 19. (Although some 14 year olds live with very grown-up challenges that would change it up! There can be no hard and fast "rules," truly.) Key: the combining of mystery (genre material) and "no sex" makes sense. The focus would be on the adventure of the read and mystery and solving. Sex in a teen book, isn't incidental. There is sex in teen books, but then it would be quite central, and there'd would be questions around it as the character/s explore the new reality. (Again, age is a huge factor--every one of those teen years can seem like a decade.)
You've brought up the point that generally (generally!) the age of the reader is a bit younger than that of the protagonist. Kids do like to read-ahead, and know what's coming down the pipe.
I need to write a post about how close-third is very close. In fact, it should be so close that the reader absorbs it almost as first. For the reader of close-third, the lens is the character's eyes... just as in first.
That's quite funny, really--the words of the reviewer! But noteworthy that your book crossed the age lines, and was read by a breadth of readers--mysteries can do that! (My mother asks me to bring over Nancy Drew books once in awhile... seriously. Especially if she's going through a rough time--they calm her.)
Thanks for posting, Sheldon!
I don't think I actually said that the age of the reader would be younger than that of the protagonist, but you must have read my mind, because that indeed is what the publisher told me. His target audience was 10-14-year-olds, and he said 10-year-olds would read about people who were 14, but no 14-year-old would read about a 10-year-old. And 10-14 was what he meant by YA back then. He also advised having a male protagonist, saying girls would read about boys, but boys would not read about girls.
The age thing--reading "up"--is one of those generally-accepted pieces. The girls-will-read-boys'-books thought has been around for awhile, too. Certainly true in my case as a young reader: I read all of my brother's books, and he never looked at my shelves. But it is shifting. A friend of mine, who published the first-ever YA book in Canada about teen pregnancy, used to get a substantial number of notes from male readers... which was fascinating (and so good to hear!)
Alison, I so appreciate this explanation of the differences between adult and YA. I've printed this post off as a reference! I suspect I'll need it when my agent's editorial notes arrive and I embark on another round of revisions.
I also appreciate the discussion of sex in YA. The story I've written is definitely one in which sex is central--a juggernaut of hunger and risk that sends the protagonist about as far from her original goals as it is possible to get. The prominence of this aspect has probably accounted for years of my ambivalence and confusion about the story's genre. As I like to say, both the protagonist and her story have boundary issues. ; )
Yes, I'm glad Sheldon brought up those points! Sex does have a place in YA--if it's a question in young people's minds, then it needs to be addressed. "No sex" in younger YA-slash-middle-grade work, possibly... but for mid to older teens, there are questions--and literature is the place for questions.
Laura, when you do receive those editorial notes, I hope you'll share whatever questions you're left with... and bring on more discussion!