How do you categorize this?

bobcat22 · Feb 11, 2012

Forgive me if I sound stupid...

I'm trying to figure out the world of MG vs. YA. What would Judy Blume's books be classified as? YA or MG? Books like Just as Long as We're Together, Blubber, Deenie, Are You There God, It's Me Margaret?.

What would a book with a 7th or 8th grade heroine be? I always thought of that as MG, but as I'm looking at this board, maybe I'm wrong.

And if it were MG, how receptive is publishing to a book with more mature content (older sister - teen- gets pregnant)?

Can anyone point me in the direction to more modern MG books with mature themes?

Thanks!

MsJudy · Feb 11, 2012

Judy Blume is MG.

For suggestions, go to the sticky thread Talk about the kidlit you are reading

Most years, the Newbery winners include books with intense/mature/difficult/emotional themes, so that would be another good place to start.

bobcat22 · Feb 11, 2012

Thanks! You rock!

sissybaby · Feb 11, 2012

I don't remember who the agent is, but I recently watched a video of an agent explaining HER definitions of the difference between YA and MG.

She said that in MG, the characters (and I'm paraphrasing hugely here) may deal with a difficult life situation, but in the end they are still totally a kid. With YA, the difficult situation moves them closer toward becoming an adult.

Now, I may have misunderstood some of what she said, but that's basically what I came away with.

I always felt there was a little more to it than that, but it helps sort it out in my head a bit more.

Smish · Feb 11, 2012

sissybaby said:
I don't remember who the agent is, but I recently watched a video of an agent explaining HER definitions of the difference between YA and MG.

She said that in MG, the characters (and I'm paraphrasing hugely here) may deal with a difficult life situation, but in the end they are still totally a kid. With YA, the difficult situation moves them closer toward becoming an adult.

Now, I may have misunderstood some of what she said, but that's basically what I came away with.

I always felt there was a little more to it than that, but it helps sort it out in my head a bit more.

It was Kristin Nelson.

Morrell · Feb 11, 2012

MsJudy said:
Judy Blume is MG.

Mostly, yes, but she wrote pushing-the-envelope YA as well. (Just don't want someone to innocently hand Forever to a nine-year-old.)

Smish · Feb 11, 2012

RuthD said:
Mostly, yes, but she wrote pushing-the-envelope YA as well. (Just don't want someone to innocently hand Forever to a nine-year-old.)

QFT

MsJudy · Feb 11, 2012

RuthD said:
Mostly, yes, but she wrote pushing-the-envelope YA as well. (Just don't want someone to innocently hand Forever to a nine-year-old.)

good point.

How do you categorize this?

bobcat22

MsJudy

bobcat22

sissybaby

Smish

Reads more than she writes.

Morrell

Smish

Reads more than she writes.

MsJudy