Religious Themes in a Comic Fantasy: Risky...?

I don't know, but I know I like the idea of the book.

I think it would do fine with a Christian audience so long as the tone was generally upbeat, the moral confirmed religious sentiments, and you don't terrify the readers.

ETA: they make picture books aimed at 3 yr olds about a cataclysmic global extinction event and the one family with a boat which managed to survive. I have trouble imagining that your book would be grimmer than that.

It's all in the execution, really.

I think it's okay. The Percy Jackson books spring immediately to mind. And fallen Angels was a trend in YA for awhile (Hush, Hush, etc.).

At the MWG conference I met Sarah Fine, whose recent YA, Sanctum, is about a girl who sneaks into what could be hell to rescue the soul of her best friend who committed suicide. So, I'd say it isn't too out there.

ETA: Oh... comic. I didn't focus on that part. Hers is definitely dark. Still, though, humor can make difficult topics more palatable. It's all in the way you handle it, I guess.

You should check out Eoin Colfer's Wish List. The plot is very different from what you have in mind, but it deals with a girl who dies and could go to heaven or hell, so the religious themes are similar. It's funny despite the serious themes. I don't remember the age of the main character, but I've seen it classified as both middle grade and young adult.

have you read those "Heck: Where The Bad Kids Go" books? I think they are funny books about the 9 circles of heck. I haven't read them but seems like a similar tone.

I don't think it should be a problem. Readers will be fine as long as you don't hit them over the head with religion.

It sounds like a book I'd enjoy.

There's 'Repossessed' by A.M. Jenkins, YA novel about a demon who takes over a teenager's body at the moment of his death to see what being a human is like. Very funny, and thoughtful.

Apart from the way he fell -I wouldn't have another kid pushing him as that's a bit awkward (i'm guessing the comeuppance in the end is the real culprit gets their just desserts!), but sounds immense idea for a story. I would definitely read it too...

DavidBrett said:

So I've had this idea for a book - most likely YA, but I know you guys better - about a boy who falls from a roof by accident when his friend unintentionally pushes him over. He falls to his death, but continues to fall THOROUGH the Earth to Hell, where a clerical error has sent him for committing suicide.

Around this time we meet a demon who's bored of all the evil and scheduled torments; he wants out, but knows that he can only gain redemption by helping a damned soul do likewise. Cue the MC landing at his feet as if a sign from the heavens. Together, the two travel through the various circles of Hell in their joint efforts for a better afterlife.

I'm hoping to make Hell based more on Dante's Inferno rather than the Bible. But even so... Would such a heavily themed book be a risky pitch for the young audience?

Dave

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I guess this could sort of go two ways:

1. Constantine/Hellblazer and Spawn and Hellboy and any number of other works that feature Judeo-Christian "mythos" as their setting are out there and clearly doing well, so the mere mention of hell obviously doesn't send folks running, it is a plot device

2. You are trying to use this as a soap box to preach. Honestly, I feel like Dean Koontz does this, and won't read him for that very reason, but the guy is arguably selling just fine without me. However, I was really happy when my son wanted to leave the scouts, and never made a secret of the fact I felt a lot of their teaching was attempts at indoctrination, rather than anything, you know, outdoorsy or woodcraft.


So, really, which are you working on? Either can work, but one stands to turn away the "faithful" (remember some religious leaders boycotted Harry Potter even) and the other stands to alienate secular folks or even religious folks who prefer not to be spoon-fed. Whichever you're working on, just be aware of your own aims and their possible risks.

Write it, post it, and we'll tell you how it's working.

I think it sounds like a great story idea.

DavidBrett -- I love the story idea and can't wait to read it. Even if it's more YA, be sure to let us in MG know how it progresses and whether parts will be in SYW.