Middle Grade Books for Boys (LTUE Conference, Feb. 9, 2012)

Presenters:

Stacy Whitman, Editor, Tu Books

Tyler Whiteside, author of the Janitors MG series 

E. J. Patten, author of the Hunter Chronicles

What is middle grade?

• MG is for reluctant readers ages 8-12 or 13
• Middle readers are those not reading Magic Tree House anymore
• Middle as in middle school
• Harry Potter 

MG themes:

• Relationships such as friendship
• Not much sexual tension, but maybe some puppy love.
• Adventure/action
• Not so much about coming of age; more about transition from child to teenager

Ave. length:

• 55-60,000
• Realism shorter (35,000-80,000)
• Eg: Spiderwick 

MG Reading Level 

• Most YA is written at a 7^th grade reading level some is written at a 4^th-5^th  grade reading level
• It’s okay to use big words and 1^st person for MG readers

What boys like to read about:

• Weapons
• Action
• Humor
• Boys love nonfiction, too—Magazines, the Internet, Legos
• Fantasy and sci/fi are great for those reluctant readers
• Transition into classics or Newberry award winners
• They are at an age where they are establishing gender identity 

POV in MG books:

• MG seldom switches POV, though it happens every now and then
• The reason why middle graders come back to a series is because they fall in love with a character.
• If they are invested in certain POV, the reader probably wants to see that POV in next book.

Do’s and don’t’s for MG books:

• Remember what its like when you were at that age, but also remember that times are different, though there are some constants such as developmental/emotional
• Don’t introduce too many complications, but you need a few to move story forward
• Make the character roughly 1-2 years older than the readers, topping out at 13.
• Diary of a Wimpy kid is an example of young MG

Humor in MG Books:

• Potty humor is common in MG books for boys.
• Young boys like slap stick
• Advanced potty humor: If you can use gross stuff for cool inventions or magic, (like using garbage to create weapons to fight monsters) boys like that.
• Stacy doesn’t like potty humor and doesn’t typically acquire books that include it (good to know)

Recommendations:

• Rick Reardon’s Galaxy Games
• Artimus Fowl
• Fable Haven
• Percy Jackson
• Heroes of Olympus
• The red Pyramid
• Warriors
• Leviathin
• Lark Light