Real Person, Real Incident, Real Dialogue, Fake age?

[Zixi]

After intense research and digging up little known facts about my MC I've decided to write the story as it comes to me purposefully omitting his age.

This is historical fiction for middle grade children and the character in "real life" was too old (25) to be a MC in a MG book.

Others have suggested a younger fictitious MC telling the story, (like an apprentice or neighbor) but this incident had only two people, both real, and two horses for most of the story.

Would it be acceptable to just write the story and let the reader assume the age of the MC is whatever they think it is, and then clarify the real age in an author's note at the end?

With everything else being authentic I can't see how omitting the age of the character would throw the whole thing out the window.

Thanks for your input.

Zixi

[Zelenka]

You might also try the Children's Writing forums here as the issue of MC's ages comes up there a fair bit, I think, not just for Historical fiction. As far as I understood it, although most YA or MG books have protagonists of a similar age to the targetted readership, it's not an iron-clad rule, but there are threads over in that section that might give you a more solid idea.

Other than that, sorry I can't be more help :(

[HeronW]

Disney made Pocahontas closer to 18 than 12, but then sticking to facts was never their strong point. I enjoyed reading about Zorro for ex. when I was in MG, and if the story has enough action, I don't think the age of the MC would matter.

[funidream]

Even though you are writing about a person who actually existed, you are writing fiction - and you will be making up all kinds of stuff to support and enhance the true story, including dialog.

Obviously you feel this story will appeal to a YA audience, so I think that you should feel free to either adjust the MCs age, and or not mention it at all (which would be my choice) as long as in doing so, it is believable to your audience. Is there any compelling reason that his age is an issue?

[pdr]

Disney, that American Robin in Mary Poppins and all those other obvious boo hoos in the films.
Don't you do it.

The age of the MC is not vital to the piece is it? Then stick with the men as they were. I do feel strongly that if this is fictionalized history for YA/children then we should try to stick to the truth.