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Tag: middle grade
Bestselling Middle Grade Fiction Part 2: Tense & Point of View
This is part two in my middle grade fiction series. Here is part one: Genres & Topics. Future installments will include information and statistics on word count and debut vs. established authors.
To receive notifications when the rest of the series is posted (as well as my other blog posts), submit your email address in the side bar to the left.
Methodology
I compiled the statistics below based on the New York Times Bestsellers List for middle grade novels. I included all novels that made the top ten list between April and September 2013 (a six month period).
I did not include media tie-ins (Lego, Disney, Star Wars, etc.) as these books have their own momentum that may have nothing to do with the subject matter, the quality of the book, etc.
I did not include nonfiction.
I did not include books that were sequels because they are not standing alone on their own merit.
I did include books that are the first in a series even if a subsequent book had already been published before the first book made it on the bestsellers list.
Purpose of Research
While there are a lot of factors that go into a book’s success, I wanted to break down the elements of the most popular middle grade books in the current market.
My primary motivation in doing this is to answer some of the most frequently asked questions by aspiring middle grade authors, such as appropriate topics, genres, word counts, point of view, tense, etc.
Bestselling Middle Grade Tense & Point of View
Present Vs. Past Tense
Whether or not agents, editors, and readers like or hate present tense has been a point of speculation for a lot of writers for quite some time.
Of the 22 books on the list, 16 were in past tense and 6 were in present. While past tense remains more popular, present tense is clearly acceptable in middle grade fiction.
Present vs Past Tense in Realistic Fiction
Present tense was slightly more common in realistic fiction than in fantastical fiction. Out of 10 books, 3 were in present tense.
Present vs. Past Tense in Fantastical Fiction
Present tense was slightly less common in fantastical fiction than in realistic fiction. Out of 12 books, 3 were in present tense.
Third vs. First Person Point of View
First person point of view has been becoming increasingly popular. It turns out that first person point of view has actually surpassed third person point of view among bestselling middle grade novels.
Out of 22 books, 12 were in first person and 10 were in third.
First Person vs. Third Person in Realistic Fiction
This is where the statistics get really interesting. First Person is far more popular in realistic fiction.
Out of 10 books, 7 were in first person and only 3 were in third.
First Person vs. Third Person in Fantastical Fiction
In fantastical fiction (fantasy, paranormal, etc.), third person was slightly more common.
Out of 12 books, 7 were in third person and 5 were in first person.
Conclusion
Realistic fiction is both more likely to be in present tense and more likely to be in first person, while fantastical fiction is more likely to stick to the traditional third person past tense.
However, no clear conclusions can be drawn from this data since we don’t know whether there is more first person and present tense in realistic fiction simply because more writers choose to write it this way (rather than that it is preferred by agents, editors, or readers).
My primary conclusion from this data is that anything goes. If you want to write a present tense, first person middle grade novel, it certainly doesn’t seem to be an inherently tough sell.
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Bestselling Middle Grade Fiction Part 1: Genres & Topics
This is part one in my middle grade fiction series. Future installments will include information and statistics on word count, point of view, tense, and debut vs. established authors.
To receive notifications when the rest of the series is posted (as well as my other blog posts), submit your email address in the side bar to the left.
Methodology
I compiled the statistics below based on the New York Times Bestsellers List for middle grade novels. I included all novels that made the top ten list between April and September 2013 (a six month period).
I did not include media tie-ins (Lego, Disney, Star Wars, etc.) as these books have their own momentum that may have nothing to do with the subject matter, the quality of the book, etc.
I did not include nonfiction.
I did not include books that were sequels because they are not standing alone on their own merit.
I did include books that are the first in a series even if a subsequent book had already been published before the first book made it on the bestsellers list.
Purpose of Research
While there are a lot of factors that go into a book’s success, I wanted to break down the elements of the most popular middle grade books in the current market.
My primary motivation in doing this is to answer some of the most frequently asked questions by aspiring middle grade authors, such as appropriate topics, genres, word counts, point of view, tense, etc.
Bestselling Middle Grade Genres & Topics
Realistic vs. Fantastical
Rather than split hairs about individual genres, I decided to breakdown the bestselling books based on whether or not they are realistic or fantastical.
I am defining realistic as anything that could possibly happen in real life and fantastical as anything that cannot happen in real life. Talking animals are included under fantastical.
Of the 22 books on the list, 10 were realistic and 12 were fantastical.
Realistic Fiction Topics
In realistic fiction, the most popular topic/genre was Historical. Keep in mind that teachers are one of the biggest purchases of middle grade books and are more likely to buy the educational historical novels over a humor or mystery novel.
Humor and Mystery were the primary topics/themes of two books each. There were also two books with a disabled main character. I included “disabled main character” as a topic when it was the driving force behind the novel rather than incidental.
Only one sports book made the list. It may be important to note that this book was written by a professional soccer player, which may or may not have driven sales.
Fantastical Fiction Topics
In fantastical fiction, the most popular genre/topic was books set in a fantasy world. I defined “Fantasy World” as a book that takes place entirely in a fantasy world and in which the real world does not exist at all. There were five of these on the bestsellers list, making it by far the most popular form of fantastical fiction.
“Portal Fantasy” is a novel that starts in the real world and features a child who is transported into a fantasy world. There were two of these.
I defined “personified animals” as animals that are the main character or who narrate the story. Aside from the personified animals, there were no fantastical elements in these story. The setting and plot would have been realistic had the main character been a human. There were two of these.
There was only one Dystopian novel and it featured dogs as the main characters (this was not included under “personified animals” due to other fantasy elements). Since the only bestselling Dystopian featured dogs, it is not clear whether Dystopian with humans would be successful in middle grade.
One book featured fantasy elements in the real world, meaning that the characters were not transported to another world but simply found magic here on earth.
One book was Paranormal, but the author was extremely well established before its publication, making it difficult to say whether paranormal would be a successful genre for a debut author.
Animals
Animals made quite a few appearances in middle grade books. Three books featured animals as a significant element of the plot, and two featured animals as the main characters, for a total of five books featuring animals in a significant role.
Absent Genres
In addition to exploring the popular genres, it’s important to note the genres that made no appearance at all. There was not a single Science Fiction novel on the list. There also wasn’t any Horror, though some of the fantasy books had some minor horror elements.
In realistic fiction, there weren’t any stories about normal kids facing major life issues (bullying, divorce, etc.). There were two humor books that dealt with popularity, but the only realistic fiction with a serious tone were the two books about disabled main characters.
There are two ways to look at these absent genres/topics. They could either be areas of opportunity or areas with poor sales. It’s difficult to determine without further research, but I tend to believe that there is always a place for a well-written novel of any genre.
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How to Write a Great Middle Grade Novel
Middle grade readers are in the “golden age of reading.” But that doesn’t mean they’re easy to write for. In this video, I outline the elements necessary in creating a great middle grade novel.
Above everything else, remember not to write down to kids. They are much smarter than you probably give them credit for. And if you’re interested in writing a children’s novel because you think it’ll be easier to write and publish than an adult novel, you are sorely mistaken. Middle grade novels are one of the toughest sells in the current market.
Need a freelance novel editor? Check out my editing services.
What is the Difference Between Middle Grade and Young Adult?
There is a lot of confusion among aspiring authors about the differences between middle grade and young adult novels. In this video, I attempt to clear up the confusion with concrete examples of the differences between the two age groups.
I have worked with many clients on shifting their novel firmly into middle grade or young adult, and it can be a difficult process. The key to successfully writing to one age group or the other is to understand what separates the two before you start writing.
Need a freelance novel editor? Check out my editing services.
Ellen Brock 