Handling an all-adult subplot in YA fiction

Adult sub-plots are tricky. Is it necessary to show the confrontation or can we learn exactly what happens when the YA character does?

Why can't we the readers find out about what went on the same time as the MC does? That is to say you don't want the lead to find out until the end of the book, right? So why shouldn't the reader? I bet it would make the ending more shocking, and have a bigger punch than if the reader knew all along. You could hint at things, do some foreshadowing throughout the book, so the revelation doesn't completely come out of left field. But changing POV for several chapters, along with the fact that the characters are all adults in a YA, simply to give us a plot point and explain some sort of motivation seems like a bad idea.

Soccer Mom said:

Adult sub-plots are tricky. Is it necessary to show the confrontation or can we learn exactly what happens when the YA character does?

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I agree with Soccer Mom. You want readers to connect with your hero, and the adult sub-plot may take away from that.

It also depends on the POV you are using for the story as to whether you can show it or not. It might be good to keep the audience not sure of what happened too, just like the YA hero - raising the suspense.

You've two issues to consider. One, how do you get adult type scenes into your admittedly YA novel (and also how might adult character only exchanges affect the interest of YA readers). The second issue will be a point of view issue. Whether you choose to write this story in first person or limited third person, the point of view character needs to be present at all events. You cannot describe events or thoughts occurring outside the point of view character's presence. Now, you could write in an omniscient third person viewpoint allowing your narrator complete access to all characters' thoughts and actions, but that is rarely if ever done in YA literature and only daringly done in adult writing.

So I think your major problem is point of view. How can you convey behind the scenes information without including the point of view main character in the scene? The reality is, you can't without violating point of view rules. Your point of view character will need to be present, or the information will need to be told to, witnessed by, or overheard by the point of view main character of your story.

Point of view can be a tricky issue and violations of POV rules are generally viewed by editors as a clear indication of amateurish writing. Make sure you know what you're doing here.

Very good point, Sage, and one I neglected to mention. It is somewhat unusual, though, to do a lot of POV switching in children's literature. Young adult isn't as restrictive but I think you'll find most YA's are limited to one POV character throughout.

Adult novels, on the other hand, alternate POV characters constantly.

It's just not as common is children's writing.