It can be a challenge to differentiate between young adult (YA) and middle-grade children’s books. It might seem that the age of the protagonists is the clearest indicator of intended audience, but this is not always the case. Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials series, for example, features 11-year-old characters, but other elements of the story clearly place it in the young adult (or even adult) category. Other books that feature coming-of-age (bildungsroman) plotlines are equally challenging: is Neil Gaiman’s The Graveyard Book a work of children’s fiction because most of the story takes place during the protagonist’s childhood, or one that transcends age boundaries, because it follows Bod Owens into adulthood?
To decide whether a novel fits in the “children’s” or “teen” category, we need to look at other elements. The following is a short list of key differences I’ve noticed between these two genres, which is intended to be of use to readers, writers, and instructors.
Writing Style: Kids' Versus Teen Books
Children’s books often employ a straightforward writing style. Teen books may have a more elaborate style and make use of more literary devices, such as metaphor and figurative language. This doesn’t mean that children’s books aren’t literary, just that they often use cleaner, simpler sentence structures.
Examples: Coraline by Neil Gaiman (kids); His Dark Materials trilogyby Philip Pullman (YA)
Friendship vs. Romance in YA Novels
Both teen and children’s books emphasize relationships and, often, the difficulties of “fitting in.” But while children’s books generally focus on friendships, YA novels frequently explore romantic attachments and the act of balancing such relationships with friendships and family commitments.
Examples: The Daring Game by Kit Pearson (kids); A Great and Terrible Beauty by Libba Bray (YA)
Length: Concise and More Concise
One easy way to decide on the intended audience of a novel is length: children’s books will be relatively short, while teen books are often longer (though both genres tend to favour more concise, fast-paced narratives than adult-oriented literature). That doesn’t mean that kids’ stories can’t span multiple novels, but each instalment will be more concise than a typical teen novel.
Examples: A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket (kids); the Twilight series by Stephanie Meyer (YA)
Thematic Differences Between Children's and Teen Novels
Children’s novels generally focus on understanding the world. Child protagonists may have difficulty fitting in or understanding the complex dynamics of their friendships. Teen novels can deal with these themes too, but more often teen characters have, in some form, rejected the world in which they live. They may be in search of a better life. They may also be acutely aware of their society’s flaws, while child characters may be only starting to figure them out.
Examples: Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney (kids); Revolution by Jennifer Donnelly (YA)
These are broad generalizations, and will not apply to every book in the YA and children’s genres. Sometimes the best stories are the ones that subvert their genre expectations while remaining true to the interests and reading styles of their target audiences.
Heather Fawcett - Heather Fawcett is a Vancouver-based writer and editor. She holds an M.A. in English Literature and specializes in teen fiction, having ...
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