1.0ALSC Bloghttps://www.alsc.ala.org/blogKiera Parrotthttps://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/author/kierabird/Middle grade or YA?rich600338<blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="C7OUrWYNCq"><a href="https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2013/08/middle-grade-or-ya/">Middle grade or YA?</a></blockquote><iframe sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" src="https://www.alsc.ala.org/blog/2013/08/middle-grade-or-ya/embed/#?secret=C7OUrWYNCq" width="600" height="338" title="“Middle grade or YA?” — ALSC Blog" data-secret="C7OUrWYNCq" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no" class="wp-embedded-content"></iframe><script>
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Putting aside instances of violence, sex, and spicy language, I’ve often found myself debating the placement of particular books and where they fall on the middle grade-young adult spectrum. Back in my children’s lit course in library school, we learned that the real dividing line was hope (or the lack thereof.) Children’s literature, no matter how dark or dangerous the journey, must eventually end with a healthy dose of hope, whereas YA works could feature ambiguity, uncertainty, and, well, disappointment. To qualify as a bone-fide children’s book, wrongs must be set right, evil must be punished, good must be rewarded. Children need to be reassured, goes the conventional wisdom, that at the end of the day the world is a fair, safe place and that their dinner will still be hot. If you think about middle grade literature, there are very few examples of books that end without even a...