Is there such a thing as upmarket children's books?

Australian River · Oct 31, 2014

I've recently completed a middle-grade fantasy. I wrote it because the story I had in my head would only fit this genre and age group. Prior to this, the only children's books I had ever read were the Harry Potter books.

I am the first to admit that I know very little about what is out there in terms of middle-grade fiction.

When I go through the manuscript now, it almost feels upmarket to me, though I am not sure how to describe what that means.

Perhaps, if I should take a YA example, it would be the difference between 'Twilight' and 'The Fault in Our Stars'.

My question is, is there such a thing as upmarket children's books, and if yes, what are some examples?

Thanks!

Serena Casey · Oct 31, 2014

I'm interested in hearing answers to this as well.

ColoradoKate · Oct 31, 2014

How about Neil Gaiman's The Graveyard Book, or Kate DiCamillo's The Miraculous Journey of Edward Tulane?

Or just look at a list of Newbery winners; they're often deeper and more literary than, say, the Captain Underpants books. They have more emphasis on theme and language, but they're (usually) still accessible and popular with readers, which I think might make them "upmarket."

Jamesaritchie · Nov 1, 2014

I have no idea at all what "upmarket" means in this context, but there are certainly books for children of every age that have deep meaning, that deal with today's issues, and that are often written in a highly literary manner.

nealraisman · Nov 3, 2014

By upmarket do you mean more literary in style and words choice?

Debbie V · Nov 3, 2014

The children's markets contain every form of book adult markets do, except where adult material defines the market. So mystery and SF, sure. Erotica, no.

mccardey · Nov 3, 2014

Absolutely - OP, best place to start would probably be by asking a librarian or a book-seller.

Australian River · Nov 3, 2014

Thanks guys - yes by upmarket I meant literary, but contemporary literary as opposed to classic literary (such as The Secret Garden).

I suppose I was just curious to know for when I start querying. Should I simply say my manuscript is a middle grade fantasy, or a literary middle grade fantasy? Somehow the phrase sounds odd.

mccardey · Nov 3, 2014

Australian River said:
Thanks guys - yes by upmarket I meant literary, but contemporary literary as opposed to classic literary (such as The Secret Garden).

I suppose I was just curious to know for when I start querying. Should I simply say my manuscript is a middle grade fantasy, or a literary middle grade fantasy? Somehow the phrase sounds odd.

FWIW I think "middle grade fantasy" would have a broader market than "literary middle grade fantasy" (is it middle-grade? or middle grade? Help!) and you want to be able to market as broadly as possible. Literary only refers to the style - so let the marketing people or the publishers sort that one out. Sub it to anyone who does middle-grade fantasy and see what happens.

Good luck with it

Australian River · Nov 3, 2014

mccardey said:
FWIW I think "middle grade fantasy" would have a broader market than "literary middle grade fantasy" (is it middle-grade? or middle grade? Help!) and you want to be able to market as broadly as possible. Literary only refers to the style - so let the marketing people or the publishers sort that one out. Sub it to anyone who does middle-grade fantasy and see what happens.

Good luck with it

Thanks! I spell 'middle grade' whichever way the agent I am submitted to spells it, but it's usually without the dash. In fact, I can't recall an agent that spells it with a dash.
http://absolutewrite.com//www.pinterest.com/pin/create/extension/

Old Hack · Nov 3, 2014

It's a hyphen, not a dash, and I'd use it.

I can't help myself.

Australian River · Nov 3, 2014

Old Hack said:
It's a hyphen, not a dash, and I'd use it.

I can't help myself.

why would you use it if the agent you're querying doesn't use it?

Old Hack · Nov 3, 2014

Because it's correct to use it, in my view: and having spent so many years (decades!) working as an editor for major publishers, I cannot bring myself to omit hyphens which really should be included.

Australian River · Nov 3, 2014

Old Hack said:
Because it's correct to use it, in my view: and having spent so many years (decades!) working as an editor for major publishers, I cannot bring myself to omit hyphens which really should be included.

strange, as I can't find one instance out there where it's spelt with a hyphen. I did a search and all I could find was 'mid-grade'.

Could it be that I'm looking at British English instances?

Polenth · Nov 4, 2014

Australian River said:
strange, as I can't find one instance out there where it's spelt with a hyphen. I did a search and all I could find was 'mid-grade'.

Could it be that I'm looking at British English instances?

No, because it's a US term. People in the UK will use it, but only because it came from the US. Our school years aren't called grades, so middle grade is meaningless without that US context.

I assume the hyphen is because it's a two word modifier. So a child might be in a middle grade. But the books are middle-grade books. It's not common to add the hyphen though, so it's one of those times where you could argue either way. Just be consistent and don't use both in the same letter.

Debbie V · Nov 10, 2014

The book category doesn't refer to students in the middle school grades though.

I just learned it predates the middle school construction and referred to the grades between primary (k-2) and secondary (7-12). Those were the middle grades.

Is there such a thing as upmarket children's books?

Australian River

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