Contemp MG Issues Book Recs Please

JamieB · Oct 27, 2011

Hello!

A WIP that started as a YA has been pestering me to make it a MG. I've written MG fantasy before, but not contemp. Looking on Amazon, I'm finding it hard to find more serious, even issues oriented MG. I found a few, but they were historical.

Got any titles that I should read? I looked for a thread, but might have missed it if it exists.

Thanks!

Smish · Oct 27, 2011

I'm not sure exactly what you mean by "issues", but I can certainly provide recs for contemporary novels. And you can find several here in the Talk about the kidlit you're reading thread.

Some off the top of my head:

Every book written Jerry Spinelli (Wringer and Crash, for example)
Shug, by Jenny Han
Emma Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree and Emma Jean Lazarus Fell in Love, by Lauren Tarshis.
Tangerine, by Edward Bloor
Hoot, by Carl Hiaasen
Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, by Jack Gantos
Rules, by Cynthia Lord

Smish · Oct 27, 2011

Also check out the Newbery Award and Honor books. Lots of them are historical fiction, but there are several contemporary titles, too.

MsJudy · Oct 28, 2011

The Thing About Georgie would probably qualify as an "issue" MG novel.

Paul · Oct 28, 2011

don't think it's a good idea to write 'issue' mg, unless it happens to actually be the story you are writing.

reckon agents/ publishers will smell it a mile away.

Sage · Oct 28, 2011

Here are a bunch of suggestions given to me ages ago when I asked about literary MG. Most of them are contemporary.

JamieB · Oct 28, 2011

Thank you!!! I'll check some out. I'm reading Drums, Girls and Dangerous Pie right now - it's great!!

MsJudy · Oct 28, 2011

Paul said:
don't think it's a good idea to write 'issue' mg, unless it happens to actually be the story you are writing.

reckon agents/ publishers will smell it a mile away.

In this case, I disagree. Of course you need a really good story. But a really good story that also happens to address something modern kids are facing can be really powerful and really marketable. Kids have to deal with some incredible issues in their lives. Good stories have always been the way we learn to cope. Books that deal honestly and realistically with topics like the death of a parent, alcoholism, birth defects, bullying, homelessness, Hurricane Katrina, etc. not only sell well. They also help kids who might otherwise never see themselves portrayed in literature.

Smish · Oct 29, 2011

Oh! Love, Aubrey is also fantastic.

MackenziLee · Oct 31, 2011

MsJudy said:
In this case, I disagree. Of course you need a really good story. But a really good story that also happens to address something modern kids are facing can be really powerful and really marketable. Kids have to deal with some incredible issues in their lives. Good stories have always been the way we learn to cope. Books that deal honestly and realistically with topics like the death of a parent, alcoholism, birth defects, bullying, homelessness, Hurricane Katrina, etc. not only sell well. They also help kids who might otherwise never see themselves portrayed in literature.

Totally agree with this, and I think all the Newberry books are a great example of this. I'm a big Newberry advocate. Read them all!

The MG Renegade · Oct 31, 2011

Paul said:
don't think it's a good idea to write 'issue' mg, unless it happens to actually be the story you are writing.

reckon agents/ publishers will smell it a mile away.

Amen!

sissybaby · Nov 1, 2011

would The Higher Power of Lucky and Lucky for Good be considered issue books? I thought a lot of kids could identify with her.

Smish · Nov 1, 2011

sissybaby said:
would The Higher Power of Lucky and Lucky for Good be considered issue books? I thought a lot of kids could identify with her.

I would think so, yes. Good suggestions!

JamieB · Nov 1, 2011

Paul said:
don't think it's a good idea to write 'issue' mg, unless it happens to actually be the story you are writing.

reckon agents/ publishers will smell it a mile away.

The MG Renegade said:
Amen!

You guys are right. I definitely wouldn't want to "smell" like those Newberry winners. Ridiculous! They stink. :roll:

Smish · Nov 1, 2011

JamieB said:
You guys are right. I definitely wouldn't want to "smell" like those Newberry winners. Ridiculous! They stink.

A) It's Newbery. One r.
B) They're actually giving you good advice, so tone down the sarcasm a bit, eh?

Look, kids (and agents/editors) can smell a lecture from a mile away. If your book is preachy, it's not going to go over well with kids.

That's all they're saying.

No one is saying that books can't contain all those topics MsJudy pointed out upthread. Kidlit absolutely can - and some would argue, should - deal with some pretty big issues. But books for kids should first and foremost be entertaining.

JamieB · Nov 1, 2011

I was lightening the mood, trying to let the thread know that I didn't take their views as offensive - apparently I ended up coming off that way anyway.

I appreciate the help I've received here for the past few years and hoped to continue stopping in to chat from time to time even if most of the group of authors I "grew up with" here have found another home.

kaitlin008 · Nov 1, 2011

I read Mockingbird by Kathryn Erskine not too long ago and thought it was amazing. The MC has Asperger's and is coping with having a brother who died in a middle school shooting, so I would say it's pretty issuey and isn't preachy at all.

I am positive that you will pull off your MG idea beautifully and unpreachily

houndrat · Nov 1, 2011

FWIW, I didn't take the OP's comment as offensive. Just a joke.

*shrugs*

Reading all the MG recs with interest. I'm not an avid MG reader, but I did enjoy WHEN YOU REACH ME, and some of the titles that have been posted intrigue me.

Also...I know certain people/agents/whoever have a knee-jerk negative reaction to "issues" books, but some authors make a living off them. Lauri3 Hals3 Anderson comes to mind. IMO, it's just like everything else--it's all in the execution.

Amarie · Nov 1, 2011

Possum Summer by Jen K. Blom is about the splintered relationship between a girl and her war veteran father.

lindzmill · Nov 1, 2011

Paul said:
don't think it's a good idea to write 'issue' mg, unless it happens to actually be the story you are writing.

reckon agents/ publishers will smell it a mile away.

Smish said:
A) It's Newbery. One r.
B) They're actually giving you good advice, so tone down the sarcasm a bit, eh?

Look, kids (and agents/editors) can smell a lecture from a mile away. If your book is preachy, it's not going to go over well with kids.

That's all they're saying.

No one is saying that books can't contain all those topics MsJudy pointed out upthread. Kidlit absolutely can - and some would argue, should - deal with some pretty big issues. But books for kids should first and foremost be entertaining.

Pete (& Smish), as you can probably tell by her sig, Jamie already has both an agent and an editor, so I doubt that's an "issue" (har har).

At any rate, Jamie didn't ask about the purpose of writing for a MG audience, she just asked for some recs of MG books that tackle issues.

To that end, I second the Mockingbird rec. Also Love, Aubrey & When You Reach Me. And I would add Holes to the list.

herbchick · Nov 1, 2011

Wow, I didn't realize there were so many "issue" MG and I work in a library. We have very few titles that have been rec'd and WHEN YOU REACH ME is in our YA section. This has been a great list!

:e2bouncey

(Got to have Cashmellow)

I missed the smilie's on here. :snoopy:

Epiphany · Nov 1, 2011

lindzmill said:
Jamie already has both an agent and an editor, so I doubt that's an "issue" (har har).

Marry Me.

Smish · Nov 1, 2011

Just trying to maintain RYFW here, okay? This thread is full of great recommendations, some that I haven't read myself. Keep 'em coming.

mellymel · Nov 1, 2011

houndrat · Nov 1, 2011

Those of you with recs...would you say most of those MG "issues" books (for lack of a better term--please, let's just leave it for now) are upper MG? Or no? (I know that WHEN YOU REACH ME definitely was (almost lower YA, even)

Just asking bc I feel like those types of books might work better for older readers......

Contemp MG Issues Book Recs Please

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