I really need some guidance. I keep hearing that my 13 year old protagonist seems younger, and maybe she should be. I was informed when I started writing for middle readers that even though the readership is 9-12, they like to read stories about someone older than them, in other words, that you should write up to them, not down. I agree with that. What I am thinking of doing is changing Maddy's age to 12, and I guess that means my readership would be, what, 8-11 year olds? Is that still considered a middle reader? And if not, what is it considered in the genre world? And this is very important, would a sixth grade class have an end of school dance? Is that realistic? This is sounding more and more like the solution to my problem, because my character is the same throughout the novel and I want her to stay that way, even if she needs to lose a year! Some of you seasoned experts, please offer your opinions and feedback.
Thanks, Denise
Thanks, Denise