Talking Cats

owlion · May 18, 2010

Okay, so I've got my first novel polished and all sorted out, but now I've come across a problem.

My story has a talking cat in it, but it's aimed at a YA audience. Does a talking animal make it MG material?
I'm asking because someone commented on it at my writing group - to quote them: 'No wonder you're having issues finding the age range. It has a talking cat.'

So, is it MG because of that? The voice is quite advanced for a MG book, and I always imagined the MC as about 16. Is voice the most important thing?

Thank you in advance for your replies

Marzipan · May 18, 2010

I don't see why a talking animal would make it MG. YA Books like The Sight and Fire Bringer are all about talking animals. You can have an advanced voice for MG, I see it all the time. Maybe you could post a paragraph in SYW and get some feedback? That sounds like your best bet.

owlion · May 18, 2010

Thanks

I wondered about it too, as 'Kafka on the Shore' by Murakami has talking cats in and it's an adult book.

Yeah, I have posted it before, but again some people thought it was YA and some MG... It's probably somewhere between the two then.

Thanks for the reply!

Danthia · May 18, 2010

It's going to depend on the story and how the cat is portrayed. A Disney-esque cat might push you more toward a younger audience, but a grittier supernatural type cat might be fine. It's more about context than generalities.

bethany · May 18, 2010

The Knife of Never Letting Go has a talking (in that you hear his thoughts) Dog. Definitely not a MG book.

Gary Clarke · May 18, 2010

My books have talking cats. They also have rape, torture and homosexuality, I've had no problems getting them published (though different territories are selling them to different audiences, some to YA, some to adult fantasy ) - I think you'll be fine if your tone is clear.

Sage · May 18, 2010

This sounds like something the reader once heard in some context and has decided is an absolute.

Gary Clarke · May 18, 2010

I'm not so sure, Sage. I can see where the OP is coming from and they're right to ponder it. It's easy to be passed over by a publishing house or agent as being 'not right' for a certain market if you have something in your synopsis or premise which bucks the trend of the market they usually aim for. I think it's important in those cases that the author make certain the tone of the work is right - and also make sure that their pitch is on the button.

Zoombie · May 18, 2010

A Boy and his Dog has a talking dog in it and its DEFINITELY not young adult!

Sage · May 18, 2010

Gary Clarke said:
I think it's important in those cases that the author make certain the tone of the work is right - and also make sure that their pitch is on the button.

This is true in all cases, regardless of talking cats or not.

Tsu Dho Nimh · May 18, 2010

laurie17 said:
Okay, so I've got my first novel polished and all sorted out, but now I've come across a problem.

My story has a talking cat in it, but it's aimed at a YA audience. Does a talking animal make it MG material?

David Weber's SF series aimed at adults has talking (OK, signing) tree-cats ... it all depends on the way you write the animal character.

Tuuli · May 18, 2010

I know someone who attended the professional crit at the LA SCBWI last year. Her book had talking animals (they were the main characters) and she was told to make it MG. I haven't read the book, so I have no idea if there were other factors involved in that decision.

shaldna · May 19, 2010

Garth Nix, Terry Pratchett, Phillip Pullman.

They all have talking animals and they are all YA / Adult / crossover novels.

owlion · May 19, 2010

Ah, thanks for all the replies

The cat's not a MG kind of character (it's actually a 'supervisor' of dreams), so I think it'll probably be YA. (It's kind of surprising how many books have talking cats in!)
Thanks again

emma_kate · May 19, 2010

No way! Definitely can still be young adult

If you check out Julie Kagawa's "The Iron King", her talking cat "Grimalkin" is THE BOMB

LOL.

shaldna · May 19, 2010

laurie17 said:
Ah, thanks for all the replies The cat's not a MG kind of character (it's actually a 'supervisor' of dreams), so I think it'll probably be YA. (It's kind of surprising how many books have talking cats in!)
Thanks again

Cats are very prominent in mythology. Egyptians worshiped them. Here in Ireland they were thought to be the gatekeepers to the afterlife.

owlion · May 19, 2010

Awesome! Thanks

I have to check out lots of these books (although I've already read the Abhorsen series and The Amazing Maurice).

KTC · May 19, 2010

Sage said:
This sounds like something the reader once heard in some context and has decided is an absolute.

THIS

benbradley · May 19, 2010

"Animal Farm" has talking animals, is that considered MG?

eyeblink · May 19, 2010

benbradley said:
"Animal Farm" has talking animals, is that considered MG?

I studied that at school when I was YA age, but it's always been published as an adult novel, or rather novella. Presumably its being political satire and allegory gives it a pass.

Talking Cats

owlion

Absorbing inspiration from the moon

Marzipan

owlion

Absorbing inspiration from the moon

Danthia

bethany

:)

Gary Clarke

Knackered

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

Gary Clarke

Knackered

Zoombie

Dragon of the Multiverse

Sage

Our Lady of Parentheticals

Tsu Dho Nimh

Tuuli

Research Addict

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

owlion

Absorbing inspiration from the moon

emma_kate

shaldna

The cake is a lie. But still cake.

owlion

Absorbing inspiration from the moon

KTC

Stand in the Place Where You Live

benbradley

It's a doggy dog world

eyeblink

Barbara says hi