Self-Published Authors Fill the Gap with Books Featuring Characters Ages 13-15, a guest post by Katie L. Carroll

In traditional publishing, middle grade characters are typically 12 and younger, while young adult characters have been trending into 16 and over territory. Though there are traditionally published books with characters ages 13-15, there is still a need for more books in this upper MG/lower YA category. Self-published authors are stepping in to fill this gap.

In my novel Pirate Island, 13-year-old Billy is on the hunt for Captain Kidd’s lost pirate treasure, largely due to the influence of his best friend. He obsessively dives into the research to the point where he believes he’s possessed by Kidd’s restless soul. When his friend abandons the search, Billy persists in the hunt and learns what it really means to be brave.

Liza, the main character in my novel Witch Test, is also 13. Eighth grade is turning out to be a bubbling cauldron of rumors as Liza’s ex-best friend has accused her of being a witch. While struggling with depression and trying to make new friends, Liza discovers she comes from a long line of witches. It may take embracing her inner witch for Liza to stand up to her bullies and find peace within herself.

Having 13-year-old characters allowed me to tackle issues like bullying, friendship break-ups, depression, and self-discovery in a slightly more mature way than a typical middle grade novel. Yet, being 13 is early enough in the teen years that the characters can still have a foot in childhood. Pirates and witches are of high interest to kids, but in these slightly older books, I was able to use them as metaphors for real-world problems.

Here are eight other self-published authors filling this upper MG/lower YA gap. These authors share their books and why they chose the 13-15 age range for their characters.

The Girl Who Looked Beyond the Stars by L. B. Anne (ISBN-13: 9781700075727 Publication Date: 10/28/2019)

The Girl Who Looked Beyond the Stars is a captivating tale of mystery and destiny, following Sheena Meyer, a seemingly ordinary 13-year-old girl in Michigan who witnesses an angel save her father’s life. Unaware of her own extraordinary gift, Sheena finds herself drawn into a world of enigmatic figures that challenge everything she thought she knew about herself and her place in the world, ultimately setting her on a path to discover of what one little girl’s destiny can mean to the world.

I chose to write the book about a character who is 13 years old because I believe it’s an age often overlooked in literature and media, yet it’s a pivotal time in a young person’s life. It’s a time when young girls are on the brink of discovering their identities and facing new challenges, making it ripe with potential for storytelling. By focusing on this age, I wanted to celebrate the unique experiences, thoughts, and emotions that accompany this transitional phase, allowing readers to relate and resonate with the character’s journey of self-discovery and growth.

An Eye for Magic by Jaz Laverick (ISBN-13: 9781989898963 Publication Date: 10/7/2022)

When 13-year-old Abigail goes to the city Mage Guild for testing, little does she expect to land herself with a snarky mage mentor investigating a series of magical murders. 

Between lessons, a concerned city spirit, the catking, and her newfound friends… maybe Abigail is exactly the right person to catch a magical killer. 

Or, at the very least, keep her mentor out of trouble long enough to solve the case.  

I actually wrote Abigail much younger, between 10-12 years old.  But with the dark murdery content matter, her internal struggle and eventual coming of age, my beta readers thought worked best with a slightly older age.  

Candy Sky Tells a Lie by Shanna P. Lowe (ISBN-13: 979-8985956405 Publication Date: 9/17/2022)

Candy Sky Tells A Lie is the heartwarming and hilarious tale of a 13-year-old notorious liar who is cursed by a witch to live in a world where all her lies come true. At first, Candy has everything she has ever wanted—designer clothes, popularity, straight A’s, and pop singer Elijah Nole as her boyfriend! However, Candy’s lies put her and those she cares about into many dangerous situations, requiring her to team up with an unlikely source to break her curse.

I write what I love to read. Middle grade is such a fun age, as it’s the cusp of adolescence. There are a lot of nostalgic topics, themes, and situations to explore. This is also the age where magic is still mostly valued over relationships and typical teen drama. Middle grade books, like Cirque du Freak and Guardians of Ga’Hoole, were what inspired me to write in my youth.

Sous-Faerie Soufflé by Allie Leigh (ISBN-13: 978-1778043109 Publication Date: 4/24/2022)

Sous-Faerie Soufflé is a whimsical, middle grade fantasy featuring a cast of colourful characters whose stories intersect to tell a tale of compassion, perseverance, and how people can grow. When twins Desille and Gerald are pulled into the magical world of Sous-Faerie, they have to quickly adapt to the realm’s antics as they work together with an unlikely crew—including the mischievous mage who dragged them in in the first place—to try and find their way back home. But as they make their way through this subterranean world, memories from their past are uncovered, and they quickly find more than they were looking for. 

Desille is just stepping into her teenage years, and throughout the story has to grapple with what parts of her childhood she is able to hold on to, and what she has to do in order to become the kind of person she wants to be. Similarly, one of the other main characters, Donnell, has to reflect back on who she has been in order to find her path forwards. When you’re 13-15, you start to have more agency and independence than when you are younger, and there are lots of decisions you start making that have an impact on the shape your life takes. I wanted my characters to be able to explore this throughout their adventures, and show how people can grow and change. 

Mortal Tether by Candice Jarrett (ISBN-13: 9798989103300 Publication Date: 9/28/2022)

An award-winning, totally unputdownable sci-fi thriller where a teen girl and boy rescue an orphaned baby in a world where all adults over age 20 have been twisted into immortal monsters. The trio soon discover the people they run to for help… are the monsters they should truly fear. Heart-pounding and unforgettable, Mortal Tether is perfect for fans of Stranger Things, Lord of the Flies, and The Hunger Games.

Everyone in the world of Mortal Tether will turn into monsters called geists at age 20. The only way to stop it is to find a cure. By making my main characters, Amaia and Liam, age 13/14, I’ve set the stage for them to grow up in a post-apocalyptic landscape where they have roughly 6 more years to find a cure before they themselves become the monsters they hate and fear. On the surface level, this premise sounds like it would be a scary and intense story. While Mortal Tether certainly has thrills and please-remember-to-breathe-while-reading scenes, these young teens defy the brutal world they live in with friendship, courage, laughter, and hope.

Dragon’s Fire: Rise of the Elementals by Neftali Hernandez (ISBN-13: 979-8869000613 Publication Date: 8/16/2023)

Ezekiel’s tranquil life shatters as he discovers he is an Elemental, having the ability to transform into a dragon. He is thrust into a war between dragons and Dragon Slayers that has been happening for centuries. Follow Ezekiel’s epic quest to control his newfound abilities, unlock ancient mysteries, and confront the destiny that awaits him, in a gripping tale of courage, sacrifice, and the battle for survival.

Selecting a 15-year-old protagonist for my book enhances relatability and resonates with readers undergoing similar life transitions. Ezekiel’s age offers a perfect blend of vulnerability and potential, allowing for significant growth and self-discovery throughout the narrative. Additionally, it draws in a younger audience while symbolizing the journey from adolescence to adulthood, enriching the story with themes of transformation and empowerment.

Spells and Sorcery by S. Usher Evans (ISBN-13: 978-1945438035 Publication Date: 10/4/2016)

On the eve of her fifteenth birthday, Lexie Carrigan finds out she’s magical – and that might be the least weird thing about her. Between blowing up her nightstand and erasing entire chalkboards, she’s struggling to get a handle on her almost-overflowing power. But when she befriends an older man who agrees to teach her, she wonders what other secrets her family may be hiding from her. 

Originally, Lexie was 13, as I first wrote Lexie when I was 13 myself. When I picked her up to publish in 2016, her journey seemed more YA than middle grade. But 16/17 felt too old, somehow, so the compromise was 15.

The Girl with No Sol by Karen Vega (ISBN-13: 978-1737521105 Publication Date: 9/6/2021)

Fifteen-year-old Kalamiti Sol lives in the streets of Chicago with her friends, The Crew. After spending time in juvie, she is forced to relocate to Northern California. With the help of music, gardening, family, and friendship, she turns lemons into lemonade.

Being Mexican American, I chose the age 15 because of the significance to my culture. When girls turn 15, they celebrate by having a “quinceañera,” where friends and family come together to celebrate a girl becoming a woman. I began writing my novel when I was `3, and I couldn’t wait to turn 15! I still remember the night of my own quinceañera. The theme was a masquerade, I wore a purple dress, and my damas and chambelanes danced with me. I liked having a 15-year-old protagonist because she isn’t quite in her senior year, having to figure out what to do after graduation. Since my novel is a coming-of-age novel, this age seemed just right.

Meet the author

Katie L. Carroll is the award-winning author of the upper middle grade novels Pirate Islandand Witch Test, where she uses history to reflect on what it’s like to be a modern-day middle schooler.

Katie began writing after her 16-year-old sister, Kylene, unexpectedly passed away. Since then writing has taken her to many wonderful places—both real and imagined. She wrote her YA fantasies Elixir Bound and Elixir Saved so Kylene could live on in the pages of a book. Her other published works include the nonfiction book Selfies From Mars: The True Story of Mars Rover Opportunity; the picture books in the Family Holiday Tales series, illustrated by Phoebe Cho; and the YA modern-day Hamlet retelling Only Dark Edges.

www.katielcarroll.com

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