In MG's, I always thought the first page of the book should start with action or something that immediately lures the reader in. I've been reading excerpts from many books on Amazon, and the first page in almost all of the books are nothing but detail. Some of the first sentences even state the characters name, age, and their location. Is it just me...or does this seem boring? I always thought details were meant to follow, after capturing the reader's interest.
The First Page
- Thread starter Ruby
- Start date
action
I hate, hate, hate the advice to always start with action. Start with anything that makes the reader want to keep reading. Action on the first page of everything yu pick up gets real old, real fast.
If the kids like it, it's good, so do whatever the writers do who write the books kids love.
Ruby said:
I hate, hate, hate the advice to always start with action. Start with anything that makes the reader want to keep reading. Action on the first page of everything yu pick up gets real old, real fast.
If the kids like it, it's good, so do whatever the writers do who write the books kids love.
You don't have to start with action, just a good hook within the first page to draw those kids in, something that subtley states something interesting will happen soon. (Try reading those last several words fast.) Or something that would make a middle grader commiserate with the MC. Something that makes the reader ask "Who, What, How, or Why."
The "hooking the reader" standard might not apply, since they'll insist on having the book read to them no less than 79 times until every word is memorized and don't try to leave out any words, WHY CAN'T YOU JUST FALL ASLEEP.... er...what I mean is, you could start with "There was this bunny, see..."
If there were a formula, it wouldn't be art. Start where the story starts. End where it ends. Hopefully others will like it 
Lazy
Nah, it's probably that I'm much lazier than you are. I stopped reading to my kids when they started reading for themselves. And by the time they hit middle grade, they could all read better than I do, anyway.
gclare said:
Nah, it's probably that I'm much lazier than you are. I stopped reading to my kids when they started reading for themselves. And by the time they hit middle grade, they could all read better than I do, anyway.
true...but i ;like it mixed... a bit things which captures pples interests and a bit which containts details!
I agree. Granted, my YA novel did start with action, but it also had somewhat of a cliff hanger. Thus, leaving the reader interested to learn what would next happen.
Too Close Home
By Alycia
Chapter One
Speeding down the dimly lit highway, Cindy Winslow hummed along to the old Beatles song playing on the radio. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of her father, Randy smiling broadly. “I see you,” he said chuckling.
Suddenly, Randy let out a blood curdling scream. An instant later, everything faded to black.
Too Close Home
By Alycia
Chapter One
Speeding down the dimly lit highway, Cindy Winslow hummed along to the old Beatles song playing on the radio. Out of the corner of her eye, she caught a glimpse of her father, Randy smiling broadly. “I see you,” he said chuckling.
Suddenly, Randy let out a blood curdling scream. An instant later, everything faded to black.
My MG novel starts like this:
Most kids celebrate the end of the school year with a party, or having your best buds meet you at the skating rink, or getting your mom to pay for everyone’s admission to a cool movie. Not me. Nope. What did I get?
I got stuck moving to the end of the earth. Okay, maybe not really the end, but just a few bus stops short of it.
No action, just explanation. It comes out next summer.
Most kids celebrate the end of the school year with a party, or having your best buds meet you at the skating rink, or getting your mom to pay for everyone’s admission to a cool movie. Not me. Nope. What did I get?
I got stuck moving to the end of the earth. Okay, maybe not really the end, but just a few bus stops short of it.
No action, just explanation. It comes out next summer.