tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post5777285372460425531..comments2024-03-15T09:26:02.796-05:00Comments on PROJECT MAYHEM: Love Is in the Air—Or Is It? Should There Be Romance in Middle Grade?Project Mayhemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05154342399869089664noreply@blogger.comBlogger12125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-39813986235473119722011-11-30T23:06:36.068-06:002011-11-30T23:06:36.068-06:00I know I'm WAY late to this post, but I've...I know I'm WAY late to this post, but I've just discovered this blog. (Cool!) Three things: Are kids just different in Texas? My son is 8, and he seems to be the only boy in his class not interested in girls (as marriage material). Second, I'm a traditionally published author who just finished a YA book...but my writer-friend thinks it's really a MG book in disguise. It's about family issues, but there is a romance (nothing beyond a kiss). Where can I go to get some professional advice about this kind of genre quandary, and if I should tweak the age of my main character to fit the MG genre. Third, I agree with the author about Fern. But in 6th grade, I also fell in love with Summer of My German Soldier, a middle grade romance! Glad I found you!Lori Ann Stephenshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14610163436074912892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-88067099691333009982011-02-14T08:24:00.375-06:002011-02-14T08:24:00.375-06:00Eight is the boys-are-icky stage for a lot of kids...Eight is the boys-are-icky stage for a lot of kids, but shortly after, I think romance is on many kids' minds, even if all it amounts to is someone "liking" someone else. The MG trope of platonic cross-gender friendships can be unrealistic -- kids do tend to gender-segregate, and when they mix, someone is going to be crushing on someone else, unrequited or not. It's a hormonal, confusing time when peer relationships are changing, and romantic feelings are part of it.Kell Andrewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18089691866850131698noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-18317125772350568072011-02-12T22:07:01.175-06:002011-02-12T22:07:01.175-06:00I think that there might be room for the innocent ...I think that there might be room for the innocent awkwardness or the first crush type thing in upper middle grade. But I wonder how much we retrofit ideas of romance back on our childhood experiences? I think my elementary school was pretty romance-free. I remember in sixth grade, my friend started "going out" with a boy, and it consisted of passing notes in class. Beyond that, I think the beginnings of crushes or whatever are kind of a blip on the radar, with everything else that interests them taking center stage. Now, middle school? That's a whole 'nother story. Ha!<br /><br />As a mom, I would much rather have my boys read about healthy and challenging platonic relationships between the genders. I think that's sometimes harder for kids to negotiate.Marissa Burthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13079821721448782710noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-41330312180354273832011-02-12T16:31:45.969-06:002011-02-12T16:31:45.969-06:00Lol, bfav, I used to read Sweet Valley High, too.Lol, bfav, I used to read Sweet Valley High, too.Dawn Lairamorehttp://www.ivyseverafter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-22742749668134070602011-02-12T08:53:35.443-06:002011-02-12T08:53:35.443-06:00I agree that the light and sweet or light and funn...I agree that the light and sweet or light and funny approaches are best. <br /><br />I actually have seen kindergarteners playing that they are going out with boyfriends, I suppose because they see it on TV and in movies (look at all those Disney princess romances), but it gives me a little twinge of sadness that they are growing up so fast. Less innocent than I want them to be!Andrea Mackhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15250681746122381149noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-32485151924237784882011-02-12T01:03:50.455-06:002011-02-12T01:03:50.455-06:00I agree with gtrine. A little light, age appropria...I agree with gtrine. A little light, age appropriate romance can further tension and the story, but I don't think it should be the plot. Especially if your story is suited to the 10 and younger.<br /><br />I had a boyfriend in Kindergarten, nothing too serious, he walked me to school and called me his princess. But even I didn't seek out and read more romantic stories till I was at least 12. Think Sweet Valley High. Man those were terrible.bfavhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14164661338051897220noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-46627923092940196252011-02-11T22:21:40.461-06:002011-02-11T22:21:40.461-06:00As a mother of a 7 year old girl, (who has express...As a mother of a 7 year old girl, (who has expressed an interest in boys since she was in preschool!) I must say that middle grade books that talk about romance in a realist way are absolutely necessary. Too many sitcoms geared toward kids are so unrealistic in portraying relationships and problems solving, it's rather unnerving. But then, I would say that a book that portrays Any of life's great experiences in a "true" way is valuable, not just romance.Bethaniehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09295652563209174007noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-11621843822677917342011-02-11T12:48:45.861-06:002011-02-11T12:48:45.861-06:00This is a really interesting topic. I think as lon...This is a really interesting topic. I think as long as romance in middle-grade stays "middle-grade" it's great. Not every MG book calls for romance, but most of the MG novels I've read that have it, have kept it sweet and innocent. I think kids are pushed so hard to grow up fast these days. As a mom and writer, I don't want to push them in my books. <br /><br />Awesome post, Dawn!!Hilary Wagnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18199287020561210673noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-23391240561542606032011-02-11T12:01:22.698-06:002011-02-11T12:01:22.698-06:00Hi Michael! I definitely think E.B. White was mak...Hi Michael! I definitely think E.B. White was making the ending more emotional. (It worked, too!) Not only does Wilbur lose Charlotte, but he, in essence, loses Fern, as well, now that she's become too "grown up" for him.Dawn Lairamorehttp://www.ivyseverafter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-7954940658094682892011-02-11T11:19:55.348-06:002011-02-11T11:19:55.348-06:00It may be a little over-the-top for someone that i...It may be a little over-the-top for someone that is eight to be so taken with a boy. I don't know though because I'm not a parent. My friend Meg has a 10-year-old girl that still hasn't expressed interest in boys yet but that may be changing soon...dunno. As far as the character in Charlotte's Web goes, it may have been done that way to increase the drama between the pig and the spider. I know when Charlotte died at the end, I was extremely moved by that. It's one of the moments in fiction that I've never forgotten.Michael Offutt, Phantom Readerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10557969104886174930noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-61291181410207538792011-02-11T10:28:58.399-06:002011-02-11T10:28:58.399-06:00I agree, gtrine--romance provides a great opportun...I agree, gtrine--romance provides a great opportunity for humor in middle grade! The awkwardness, the uncertainty of how to act, etc. Good stuff!Dawn Lairamorehttp://www.ivyseverafter.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2173408054965817352.post-55659930902522401292011-02-11T09:54:41.075-06:002011-02-11T09:54:41.075-06:00I'm with you in that romance offers something ...I'm with you in that romance offers something to any story. I'd keep in more innocent rather than sexual...think The Wonder Years. Eight years old is a little young, though....ten, eleven, or twelve, however, is prime romance age...just keep it light and funny.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com