Admittedly, it's difficult to categorize books into specific age categories. Children are individuals, after all. Some advanced readers might not be very worldly-wise, and won't yet be ready for 'grittier' stories. Meanwhile, some of their peers may be ready for 'older' content but can't handle more sophisticated language.
But to give your story the best chance of publication, the content needs to match the writing style for that particular age category.
The publishing and bookselling industry tries to help buyers by dividing books into four main groups: picture books, young or early readers, middle grade readers (an American term) and young adult novels. As part of a new course I'm teaching in Writing for Children, I’ve started trying to identify qualities common to books in each age category. Boundaries will be blurred - but I'd love to know what you think of this chart. Am I right? What haven't I considered?
Picture books
Age 0-5
|
Early readers
5-7
|
Middle grade
7-11
|
YA fiction
12+
|
0 - 200 words
24,32 or 40 pages.
|
500-1,500
|
10-20,000
|
50,000+
|
Full colour illustrations
|
Black and white line drawings every
other page
|
Black and white line drawings every few pages.
|
No illustrations
|
Domestic or fantasy settings
|
Usually domestic settings.
|
Domestic magic and high fantasy.
Realistic settings with parental supervision unless there’s a good reason
(fantasy)
|
The wider world. High fantasy.
|
Larger font size, restricted
vocabulary. Dialogue.
|
Large proportion of dialogue, more
complex.
| ||
Shorter sentences
|
More sophisticated sentences.
|
Lots of interior monologue,
reflection, longer speeches.
| |
Text works with illustrations.
|
Very short paragraphs.
|
Paragraphs a bit longer.
| |
Nearly no description
|
Minimal description, but a few sparkling details true
to a young reader’s perception of the world.
|
Detailed setting and character
description.
|
Detailed setting and character
description.
|
Usually in third person
| Usually in
third person. Some character development possible. |
Usually in third person.
Rounded characters. Character
development more obvious.
|
Often in first person, and present
tense. It’s all about me.
|
Anthropomorphism, inanimate objects
made animate. Familiar roles, settings, objects.
|
A talking
animal almost always points to an early reader. Children in comic or
adventure situations, usually having a good time, nothing too awful happens.
|
Children in danger, frightening situations,
facing fears and fighting good and evil. But the real world isn’t too real.
|
Can be very dark and realistic.
Dystopian futures, tragedy, abuse, drugs, etc. Also comedy sex/romance.
|
No sex or
romance.
|
Romance is light and about
friendships. Or subliminal.
|
Anything goes.
| |
For the youngest bracket, not
necessarily stories with problems solved, but simply an exploration of the
world.
|
Often
deal with smaller problems resolved in a shorter time frame. Stakes are
lower.
|
Children with flaws, interactions with
peers. Children save the day or resolve things themselves. Growing
understanding of the world and their place in it.
|
Young adults dealing with finding
their own way in the world, changing the world or making a name for
themselves; asserting themselves; finding own values.
|
Can be present tense.
|
Past tense, no leaping around in time
or flashbacks.
|
Still rarely using flashbacks unless
short recollections by a character.
|
Can play with chronology; transitions,
flashbacks etc.
|
Happy endings or comforting closure.
|
Happy endings.
|
Happy or at least hopeful endings.
|
Usually at least hopeful, but recently
have been a few with bleak endings.
|
Heather Dyer - children's author and Royal Literary Fund Consultant Fellow
- Want feedback on your writing? For information about Heather Dyer's editorial services and creative writing workshops, go to www.heatherdyer.co.uk
- For enquiries about academic writing workshops, go to: http://rlfconsultants.com/consultants/heather-dyer/
