What is the Difference
Between MG & YA?
This is a question every author for young readers ask themselves. The problem is, the answer isn't that simple or definitive.
As the author, you need to examine the criteria for both and make your own decision.
- Usually 40-60k words.
- Usually suited for 8-12 year olds.
- There are bigger stakes involved; usually saving the world.
- The protagonist is concerned about internal issues and self-preservation.
- Minimal self-reflection. What's happening to the character is more important then what's happening within.
- The story usually involves people in the protagonist's small world. Ex. friends, family, etc.
- There's no extreme or profane content.
- Any romance is childish or 'puppy love.'
- The protagonist is discovering the world.
- The focus is on plot.
- In the end, wrongs are righted and there is a definitive ending.
Young Adult:
- Usually 60-80k words.
- Usually suited for 13-18 year olds.
- There is usually stronger vocabulary and sentence complexity.
- Consists of a coming of age theme
- They are concerned with what is going on externally and the impact they have on the world.
- It's not usually about saving the world, but specifically, about helping others.
- The plot can go beyond the protagonist's world. Family is usually not apart of the plot, unless there is conflict involving them.
- There to seems to be more of an allowance for profane dialogue and sexual activity. But this isn't always the case.
- Romantic relationships are intensified.
- The protagonist is discovering themselves.
- The focus is on relationships and character.
- There isn't always a definitive ending, but usually ends with hope.
Of course, you have to ask this question, who is reading your book? Your target audience may be able to define your book's category for you.
If the age of your readers are in middle school, then MG may be the correct classification for your book and vice versa.
What do you think makes a book MG or YA? Let me know.
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It was in one of my first comments.. the challenge, in doing the beginning and the middle of something, despite already knowing the end of it.
ReplyDeleteYour comment, Aimee, about YA protagonists being meant for "discovering themselves": like how your talk about writing, and who should feel worthy of it made me think about something seemingly unrelated, such again it is now..
As it is, I stick to the conventional view, that the YA centre figure's arc of discovery is the more mature to the MG's. However, post-Representative, I've become that sort of person who can think and who can argue the counter: the MG's discovery disposition is "in fact" the more mature.
Post-Representative, reality's finiteness has become so overwhelming; the lack of variety, the very same formulas, permeating it all.. So overwhelming, that I actually now repel talk of "character", and "character development" (at least, it's now my hardwired instinct to repel such talk).
But this is just a certain facet of me; there's always the other facets.
How we see things, and how we evaluate them is relative to where we are in life.. Are we nihilistic? Have we failed with something? Did today turn out bad? Did we not just meet our goal, but exceed expectations, hence feeling over-enthusiastic, and extra-inclined toward indulging a certain philosophy or attitude?
I am an identically repeating being, that's the unequivocal truth - but, still how I operate mentally day to day is another a facet which will always vary.. this is another other unequivocal truth. You agree?
I agree: YA protagonists are the more mature kind of endeavour, for a writer.. though, such is my own developed psyche, I can actually make a good case about more maturity there being aligned with the MG endeavour.
(I also read the "Quick Tips" column, by the way: sound advice!)
I think we need to discover ourselves internally before we can venture out into the world. So the MG self discovery leads up to the YA understanding the world around them.
ReplyDeleteYou can see it as coming full circle.. The MG does discover the world, but it's just superficial. The YA then does the 180 turn, becoming self-facing, before finally completing the arc to become external again: only this time being actually "able to see"!
ReplyDelete