Mind the Middle Project: What IS Middle Grade Fiction Anyway?

This year as we kick off our Mind the Middle Project, I thought we would start at the beginning and talk about what, exactly, middle grade is and how it compares to YA (young adult/teen fiction). As someone who has dedicated their life and this blog to working with teens, you may be wondering why we have decided to dedicate portions of 2024 talking about middle grade literature. The truth is, just as each generation evolves and changes, so does the literature that is written for them. A lot of middle grade fiction today is written for the younger teen audience. In fact, many long writing YA authors are also now writing middle grade fiction. This is that evolution that I mentioned. I feel that a lot of middle grade fiction that is published today would have been published as young adult 20 years ago. But markets, like demographics, change. And I find myself reading and recommending more and more middle grade literature to young teens.

So to start this discussion and kick-off this project, you may want to also look at some of our posts here at TLT about the history of Young Adult literature and its evolution. Start here at my Young Adult Literature 101 post, which also discusses a lot about middle grade throughout:

Young Adult Fiction 101: A starting point for learning more about YA Literature, also known as teen fiction (teenlibrariantoolbox.com)

I’m going to assume that you have read the background material and are ready now to kick off 2024 with a deep dive into what Middle Grade fiction is, who it is written for, and why, in the end, I actually recommend it for everyone.

Some basic facts about MIDDLE GRADE FICTION:

• Developmentally designed for youth ages 8 through 12 or grades 3^rd through 6th
• Typically 20,000 – 50,000 words in length (some sources indicated a higher word count was acceptable)
• Middle Grade Fiction is an age range and in that age range you can find any and all genres, including fantasy, mystery, science fiction, historical fiction, realistic fiction, etc.
• MG is written with independent and confident readers as their target audience.
• May still involve some illustrations in the text.
• Though MG fiction can involve tough topics like death, addiction, mental health and abuse, it typically does not have bad language or in depth, gritty details.
• Though MG fiction may touch on mild crushes, it is not romance centered or explicit in content.
• Sources: https://www.ingramspark.com/blog/middle-grade-novel-structure-101-stuck-in-the-middle-grade-with-you ; https://www.writersonlineworkshops.com/courses/middle-grade-101-everything-you-need-to-know-to-write-sell-and-succeed ; https://www.masterclass.com/articles/whats-the-difference-between-middle-grade-fiction-vs-young-adult-fiction

I tried to put it all into an infographic form. Remember, this is a compilation of things I’ve read, heard authors and publishers discuss over the years, and my own experiences as a librarian for 30 years now.

Here’s what the Infographic says:

Age: Target audience is traditionally age 8-12, though sometimes now the target age is 10-14; the main character is also in this age range, with a tendency of late to be towards the higher end of the age spectrum. (My note: Middle Grade is, to me, the perfect read aloud for families. And anyone of any age can and should read an enjoy middle grade. To start, try A Snicker of Magic by Natalie Lloyd, hands down my favorite family read aloud. Upper middle grade is also a great place for young teens who want to start reading about experiences they have in life but they may not be ready yet for YA.)

Voice: The elements of the story and the voice of the characters should relate to things that the target audience is dealing with and should realistically reflect the emotional and intellectual intelligence of the target group, keeping in mind that there is a wide variety of experiences for this age group.

Style: One of the biggest elements of Middle Grade fiction is that it tends to end on a hopeful note. Like YA, it can be any style, any genre, and any format. But at the end of the day, hope vs. darkness is one of the dividing lines between MG and YA novels.

Theme: Middle grade tends to focus on topics such as family, friendship, and school experiences. The best middle grade fiction addresses the issues that the target audience is experiencing and trying to navigate.

Content: Though middle grade does not and should not shy away from difficult content, including hard topics like abuse and violence, the inclusion of these topics tends to be less graphic. The language is usually more accessible, and the chapters are often shorter.

Other things to consider:

Illustrations: MG can include illustrations, especially that written on the lower end of the MG spectrum.

Length: MG is often between 30,000 and 50,00 words. In comparison, YA novels are often 50,000 to 75,000 words. This is not a hard and fast rule, there are always exceptions. Fantasy novels in any age category, for example, often blow these standards right out of the water.

Voice: MG is often written in 3rd person while YA is often written in 1st person

So I put together an infographic that I thought my help us all as we navigate between middle grade and young adult:

It’s important to keep in mind that every reader has their own unique life experiences and no book or book category is one size fits all. Some teen readers are not yet ready for YA. Some almost teen readers have, sadly, lived lives far more darker than many people want middle grade to be. As always, it’s important that every reader be able to find the book(s) that they need, when they need them, and that they see themselves on the pages as well as see people different from them living lives different from them and learn how to navigate the world around them with intelligence, grace, and compassion.

Middle grade fiction is, to me, the sweet spot of books. Don’t get me wrong, I love YA and it is my first and one true love, but it’s often not as accessible to almost everyone in the same way that middle grade is.

Some Additional References:

The Key Differences Between Middle Grade vs Young Adult – Writer’s Digest (writersdigest.com)

Middle Grade Is too Young, YA too Old. Where Are the Just-Right Books for Tweens? | School Library Journal (slj.com)

(14) 12 Key Differences Between Middle Grade And YA Books | Writer’s Relief | LinkedIn

Filed under: Middle Grade, Middle Grade Fiction, Mind the Middle, Mind the Middle Project