Middle-grade querying: Chilren or Young Adult

FFFearlesss · May 18, 2009

As I'm looking around for agents to query for my middle-grade book I often find myself split and debating who is the best person to send it to. Because a lot of agents will say they represent young adult but no children's books. Other say they represent children's book authors and illustrators.

Since middle grade straddles the line from children to young adult, who best to send a query to since almost nobody comes right out and says "middle grade." Is a YA agent more likely to take a look or a person who represents "childrens books".

Anyone know?

stormie · May 18, 2009

There are many agents who do say "middle grade." Do a search on agentquery.com.

It's hard to tell when they just say YA or PB. I'd target those who specifically say "MG" first, then move on to the ones who say YA or PB (with no mention of MG). One thing: does your MG ms. tend toward YA or PB? That would help you decide, too.

FFFearlesss · May 18, 2009

I think it trends toward YA... mostly because I'd been referring to it as a YA novel until somebody finally corrected me. But the MC is eleven.

MissKris · May 18, 2009

Yes, that's far too young for YA, unless there's some major horrific events or the age changes over the course of the novel.

When I query middle grade I look for agents who specify middle grade. There are a number of them and that number seems to be growing all the time. I have found that agents who rep children's in general will all be looking for MG, but agents who rep YA won't always rep MG. Nathan Bransford is a case-in-point: he reps YA but not MG.

Twizzle · May 18, 2009

have you checked out querytracker.com too? you can search by middle grade on there as well as agentquery.

FFFearlesss · May 18, 2009

Thing is, while some agents might specify, I also find others who say they handle "childrens and YA". Which would seem to clearly indicate that they do MG. But if people who handle things on both side of MG don't specifically say MG, who's to say other's wouldn't lump MG into one of those categories too?

mercs · May 18, 2009

Before I arrived here, I just assumed it was all young adult, as to me "children" refers to learn to read, picture books and the like. I don't think you can go too far wrong with YA if you are stuck, but then I haven't had any positive dealings with agents so take my words for what they're worth...

Twizzle · May 18, 2009

Let me say upfront, I'm low on caffeine, so. That could be why I'm not quite understanding you, and I apologize. But have you looked up agents on agentquery and querytracker yet?

Because as Stormie said, there are many agents who specify they take middle grade. It just pulled up 10+ pgs for me on agentquery alone. But if you stumble across an agent you're unsure of, you can ask in Beware or here, or on querytracker.

But you're already checking who reps books like yours, right? And PW listings and the agency's website for their sales and who they rep anyway? Yes?

Last ditch, you can shoot the agent an email asking. And of course, if all else fails, you can always just query. The worst they'll do is say they're not for you, they can't reject you harder.

But, the thing is, if you're studying sales of similar books etc, you should see a lot of the same names and agencies popping up. And that's where you want to query.

MsJudy · May 18, 2009

What Twizzle said.

Basically, if they say YA, they really don't mean MG. More likely, they started repping adult stuff only, but these days the YA market is hotter so they've branched out a bit. but if they don't specify "MG" or "children's," they probably won't be interested in your 11-year-old.

If they say they rep "children's," then yes, they rep MG. Middle grade = kids. Not teens. Although the line between upper MG and lower YA is pretty blurry, there are still some pretty clear differences.

One other thing to think about: The children's market is very different from any other. If the agent isn't clear about what they accept, and you can't figure out if they handle MG or not, then are they really enough of an expert in the field for you to want to risk the book with them? No offense to anyone out there. I'm just saying...

Laura Lond · May 18, 2009

I am shopping my middle grade novel, and I have sent out 80+ queries to agents who specifically say that they rep middle grade. So they are out there. I got all the contacts from AgentQuery.

fringle · May 18, 2009

80? Wow. Is that common? I know next to nothing about queries and agents.

Laura Lond · May 19, 2009

I would say it is pretty common, unless you get lucky and land an agent sooner. I did not shoot them all at once; I had sent out about 10-15 first, then I kept searching for more agents and sending out more queries.

scope · May 19, 2009

JudScotKev gave you excellent advice and I suggest you follow it to the "T."

At the agency where I'm represented, the agent who handles YA definitely does not, and will not, handle MG or children's.

Danthia · May 20, 2009

I'm going to disagree with JudScotKev here on one detail

MG and YA are very often so close it's the acquiring editor who decides which is it, not the agent or author. (I speak from experience here). And MG does include teens. Mine is MG and my protag is 15. If you have a MG novel that has a teen or 'tween protag, you're safe calling it YA. If your protag is under 10, then you probably fall more into children's fiction. Children's books are usually the younger readers and chapter books.

Best bet is to see what the agent has sold or represents and seeing if they have books similar to yours on their list. If they do, query away. If they have only have adult-themed older YA, then you can probably skip them.

MsJudy · May 20, 2009

Danthia said:
I'm going to disagree with JudScotKev here on one detail

Go ahead, I'm used to it. I have a 14-year-old, so I haven't been right about anything for YEARS!

MG and YA are very often so close it's the acquiring editor who decides which is it, not the agent or author. (I speak from experience here).
Well, yes, but if an agent only reps one or the other... I think if your intention is to write MG, you won't have as much luck querying agents who only rep YA, unless your book is a pretty mature version of MG.

But as you say, the borderline between the two is very wide and fuzzy.

Middle-grade querying: Chilren or Young Adult

FFFearlesss

stormie

storm central

FFFearlesss

MissKris

Is the random.

Twizzle

Cluck that.

FFFearlesss

mercs

Twizzle

Cluck that.

MsJudy

Laura Lond

fringle

always abroad

Laura Lond

scope

Commonsensical Maverick

Danthia

MsJudy