Gore in a book for teens?

[Leeris]

My story has lots of physical mishaps that lead to injury, and there is some gore. The protagonists don't cause it, but they witness it.
There's violence too. Only, it's not people on people. It's monster on people.

How bad is that in a YA book for teens? Any thoughts?

 

[lizmonster]

Can you be more specific than "teens"? Is this MG or YA?

 

[Leeris]

Can you be more specific than "teens"? Is this MG or YA?

YA

 

[Unimportant]

What level of gore or violence have you seen in the last few dozen books you've read in YA with MCs the same age as yours?

 

[lizmonster]

YA

You’re fine.

To give one of many examples: Neal Shusterman’s Unwind has

Spoiler

an account of human vivisection, from the POV if the person being vivisected.

Also, what Unimportant said.

 

[Leeris]

You’re fine.

To give one of many examples: Neal Shusterman’s Unwind has

Spoiler

an account of human vivisection, from the POV if the person being vivisected.

Also, what Unimportant said.

That's reassuring.
My gore is going to become a theme that propels the story. Which is good, because gore is bad, and that will be the theme: Gore is bad.

 

[frimble3]

You’re fine.

To give one of many examples: Neal Shusterman’s Unwind has


Also, what Unimportant said.

Would just like to say that I read it as an adult, and I was, not horrified, but impressed in a way, at its straightforwardness. It actually said what happened, behind the closed doors and fade to black.
This is also the book that introduced me to the concept of 'storking'. Another idea that based on logic, turns ugly.
It's a cautionary tale that more people should read.

 

[lizmonster]

Would just like to say that I read it as an adult, and I was, not horrified, but impressed in a way, at its straightforwardness. It actually said what happened, behind the closed doors and fade to black.
This is also the book that introduced me to the concept of 'storking'. Another idea that based on logic, turns ugly.
It's a cautionary tale that more people should read.

My kid read it in high school for a dystopian lit class. Made an impression.

I suspect as long as there’s a viable story reason for the violence, you can write pretty much anything.