- This topic has 24 replies, 10 voices, and was last updated 2 weeks, 4 days ago by
.
-
Posts
-
I don’t read middle-grade either, sorry… heh.
I do agree with everything the other have said though. Especially the less bad family relationships. It feels like the world is full of that, it’d be cool to see more loving siblings and such.
Random thought. It’d also be cool to read a book that has no love-y setups, period. I haven’t read a lot to know if MG has a bunch of that in it anyway, but if there was a completely clean “boy and girl are just friends with no crushy thoughts” book, I think that would be amazing…
If you pluck them, they explode. Goro.
Yeah for real. My group of middle school girls ironically happens to be mostly homeschooled, but one of the other leaders has a group that is mostly public schoolers, and you can clearly see the difference. Quite often, I’ll come away from our small group time encouraged by the fact that my girls were sharing testimonies of things God is doing in their lives, and the other leader is like, “Getting them to answer questions about the teaching is like pulling teeth.” Pretty much all the public schoolers have phones and are preoccupied with boys and drama at school; some of my girls have phones, but those that do have more limitations on what they use them for, and they’re not distracted by their phones during small group time. I know they think about boys and have had a few friendship struggles, which is normal for that stage of their life, but I’m continually amazed at the way that they seek God in the midst of that.
I definitely believe God wants to move in the public schools (and I’m seeing Him do that here where I live), and I also feel that He’s going to call some homeschoolers who have had a firm foundation at home to go into the public schools as a mission field (that’s also my story). But at the same time, unless God specifically tells me to put my kids in a public school, I will definitely be homeschooling them!
"Real love is for your good, not for your comfort." -Justin Whitmel Earley
I would say keep any gender issues out of MG. I was reading MG at 7ish, and my parents never told me about any of that stuff until I was a teen. Finding out about it, even from a Biblical perspective, would have traumatized tiny me.
That’s a valid point! What I meant is illustrated anyway in a decent book. Have your characters behave like they should. I would love to see a book that had a tomboy girl MC that could still be a lady even if she climbed trees. The thing with children’s literature – and really most good literature – is that the strongest points are often made subtly.
On the flip side, I was disgusted as a young reader whenever a girl disguised herself as a guy or vice versa. Sometimes it was done for “humor’s” sake, sometimes so a character could escape in a dangerous historical setting, but now I wonder at the hidden implications some of the more worldly books might have held. If the world is putting its agendas in kid’s books, we should be counteracting that. (daughter of a librarian talking here)
This is just one of many points that could be woven into a book, and most points are addressed without stating them outrightly.
You have listened to fears, child. Come, let me breathe on you... Are you brave again? -Aslan
– What did/do you enjoy about your favorite MG novels?
Characters and plot. One of my favorite MG’s is Sew Zoey and I enjoyed the characters a lot, as well as sewing being a big factor for each book. The Flashback Four and The Genius Files were also quite good with the plot, though they’re more action focused.
– What do you think the MG category needs more of?
Involved parents. With Flashback Four and Genius Files, while they were good, I did not appreciate the parents at all. They did not believe their kids whatsoever and it was really frustrating. It would be nice to have a whole family where everyone loved each other despite their differences or annoying aspects of family members.
– What do you think it needs less of?
As others mentioned, the romantic aspect. These kids are still growing up, and while some do have crushes and that sort of thing, a lot of others don’t. It could also use less broken families.
– If you have any plot or character ideas that you won’t use, I’d love to hear them!!
Hmm, I’ll have to get back to you on that. None come to mind rn.
“Our house is full of ducks!!!!”
@whalekeeper @koshka @hybridlore @elishavet-pidyon @trailblazer @theducktator @grcr @theshadow
Y’all are so so so helpful!!! I wish I could reply to each individual response, but that would take a while. 🤪
The theme I’m getting from most of the responses though is that MG needs more wholesomeness, or at least that was what you enjoyed the most. Also that parents need to be involved. I totally get that and agree 100%.
And that it needs less romance, but if there is going to be any inkling of that, it needs to be handled well and age-appropriately (according to higher standards).
I agree though, some topics just need to be taken out of that level of fiction, or at least handled well. With all the agendas being thrown at kids that age, I feel like they need something that’s there simply to entertain them. Maybe include a gentle theme, but not another opinion being shoved down their throat, ya know?
Wow y’all have given me a lot of ideas and a ton of help! Thank you so much!!! <33
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
Pretty much all the public schoolers have phones and are preoccupied with boys and drama at school
😣 I wish schools didn’t have to be that way. It’s crazy that when I hear of a 12 or 13 year old dating or whatever, I’m not surprised. I don’t agree with it! but it doesn’t shock me. 🙁 I mean, y’all should be enjoying your childhood and early teenage-hood with friends. There’s nothing wrong with having a crush, but just because you like a guy doesn’t mean you have to suddenly make your life all about him!! You’re probably not going to get married for another ten years, so don’t waste your emotions on a guy you’ll forget about eventually. (I understand some middle-school relationships work out, but most of the time…they don’t.)
Anywayy…. Don’t mind my little rant there 🤭
Write what should not be forgotten. — Isabel Allende
Lol I started the rant though… one of my biggest pet peeves is watching middle schoolers attempt to date. It just bothers me so much, and like you said, the chances of it actually working out are slim. Even the chances of a high school relationship working out aren’t that high, either.
"Real love is for your good, not for your comfort." -Justin Whitmel Earley
*shudders* Yeah, nothing short of a call from God could ever induce me to send my kids to public school. And my kids aren’t going to be allowed to date until they’re 16 either.
MARCIE! YOU MADE EGG SOUP!
You have a good point. I always like it when books flip gender stereotypes without being weird about it. I read a book once where one of the MCs, a knight, enjoyed knitting. He was still a man, he just knit stuff.
MARCIE! YOU MADE EGG SOUP!
I’m gonna be the parent whose kids can’t date until they graduate high school. At that point they’re 18 and free to roam the world anyway, but I think there’s something special about being able to focus the teenage years on building relationships with God, friends, and family, and being able to grow as a person and begin understanding who you are. I’d better just stop here before I go on another rant that doesn’t need to be here in this forum lol.
"Real love is for your good, not for your comfort." -Justin Whitmel Earley
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.