Writing for Kids: Young Adult Novels

The last category in writing for children is young adult novels.

Young adult, or YA, novels are targeted at readers ages 12-18. Since readers in this age group like to read about protagonists a few years older than they are, that means your protagonists should be aged 14-20. Some industry experts include the age group 12-24. Generally, if your protagonist is in high school or college your novel will be categorized as a YA.

Generally, YA novels have 50,000-70,000 words.

YA novels include intricate plots and may include controversial subjects. The main difference between a YA novel and a novel targeted to adults is the age of the protagonist. Most subjects included in novels for adults can also be explored in YA novels. However, be sure to research your particular subject to make sure it’s suitable for the YA market.

YA novels may include profanity, or coarser language, as long as it supports the character and the story. If you use profanity simply for the sake of using profanity and it has no direct impact on the characters or storyline, it won’t seem realistic and you may lose readers. Remember, that your characters must be realistic so their language should reflect that realism. Use language, especially profanity, carefully, always making sure it’s integral to the story.

The best way to understand YA novels is to read and study them. Read from a variety of genres so you can learn what constitutes a YA novel. Every year outstanding YA novels are awarded the Newbery medal. You can learn a great deal from reading books that have been awarded a Newbery, especially if you read them as a writer instead of a reader.

As you read YA novels look for:

Characterization
Plot
Pacing
Language
Subject Matter
Voice

The more books you read, the better your understanding of this category.