Please help me :)

I'm no expert by I see more YA books seem to be going out to those ages now. I can tell they are YA from shelving/length/reading age, so I guess is does happen, perhaps even in a bit of a new trend?

Coming from my opinion as a YA reader, age doesn't matter so much. It's about the story and the maturity of the story and whether or not the MCs are going through problems that I can relate to and understand. I don't see a problem with them being that age, as long as you play it right. Again, this is just my opinion and I'm not exactly certified to offer it or anything, just trying to be helpful.

I think it's no problem at all. People are getting younger and younger. Kids in their 20s (who are technically adults) are still more like teenagers now. Many still living at home, not knowing what to do with their lives (I say this as someone in their twenties). And think about the popularity of shows like The Hills which is about kids post high school, yet is loved by a much younger crowd.

I think you're just fine.

tone of the writing

YA doesn't always depend on the age of the characters (although that plays a huge part). If your novel is about 18-20 year olds, but is styled in a manner geared towards teens, then the book could be young adult.

To illustrate - there is a difference between the following:

Mike frolicked across the courtyard, wearing only periwinkle denims.
Mike ran through the field in his jeans.

Obviously, those sentences are a bit ridiculous, but they illustrate the point - they say the same thing, but in completely different styles. That has as much to do with categorizing a work as YA as the age of the characters.

Good luck with it!

LitFa said:

Hi, I looked through these YA threads and didn't see the answer to my question. If there is such a thread I would be eternally grateful to be directed towards it. So, here goes my question. Can the MC's in YA be 18 and 20? Or is that too old? It is a Chicklit/Romance story and the girl is 18 and the guy is 20, would that be okay or do I need to a) lower their ages? or b) call it an adult romance? Any help would be appreciated.


_Fafi

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My female MC is 16, the male MC is 18 and a minor one is 21, if that helps.

kim

I've read YAs here in the UK with protagonists aged 17 through to 22 and it doesn't seem to be a problem. Ultimately, until you finish the manuscript and can assess how it hangs together there's no point in agonising as to how to classify it. In the meantime, work on it on the assumption that it's a YA and see how it turns out.

It's no problem.

My MCs are 18.

Just to add to my earlier comment, Lian Hearn's latest edition to The Tales of the Otori had her protagonists in their late 20s with kids and it's still on the YA table.

MM

18 to 20 is probably right at the outer edge of where you want to be, but still within the acceptable range.