We don't need another hero?

jkababy · Nov 6, 2010

I have a question.

Do I need to keep the same hero throughout my series?

I wrote a book (middle grade fantasy fiction) that is pending contract right now. I am about to start Book 2 continuing with my same characters, a brother and sister, the brother being the "hero" in book 1.

Would it create a break in the readers loyalty to switch the hero role to the sister in book 2? Does it matter?

I'll savor your advice, please.

ceenindee · Nov 6, 2010

No, I think it'd be interesting to see it from the sister's POV in the second book. If it's written in third person it probably wouldn't even be all that jarring, especially if the brother's still present.

Congrats on the contract, BTW.

jvc · Nov 6, 2010

Ah, but alas, it may well be interesting, but would it cost you some readers is the real question. And the answer probably is yes. There was a survey done a while back that found out that whilst girls will read books where the MC is a boy, boys don't tend to always like reading books where the MC is a girl. So, yep, it could be a problem. However, you may well get new readers because of it, too.

But I would suggest you talk to your agent/publisher about that, seeing as they will have to sell it/gonna maybe buy it. They may have more valuable opinions on what you should do/how you should do it.

jkababy · Nov 6, 2010

Thank you Charlotte. I'm definately leaning toward that because I think it would make a better story....but doubt crept in when I thought about Harry Potter. Like, would readers have gobbled up her second book if Ron or Hermione saved the day instead? I was trying to think of a series where the hero changed between books and couldn't come up with one.

Sage · Nov 6, 2010

I think while it might cost you some readers, that's always going to be true, and it might also gain you some readers, depending on whether they're drawn to the 2nd person more or not. While boys are less likely to read a book about a female MC, this is not going to be as true if you've already gotten their reader loyalty with book #1. I was at a conference where a speaker talked about wanting to put a girl on the original cover of the first book in a series and realizing it wouldn't attract the target audience, which was boys. But by book 2 or 3 they could put the girl on the cover and not worry about whether a boy would pick it up.

amyashley · Nov 6, 2010

MIddle grade readers grow quickly. Perhaps you would be best served by doing a dual role book for the second, both sibs as heros, then have a third book with the sister holding that prominent spot.

I also feel this is a good marketing point. For families that read to their kids and have children of both genders, it would be nice to have a brother and sister pair that work as a team. It's an opportunity for you to introduce mild conflict in the form of sibling rivalry, humor, and concepts of family.

jkababy · Nov 6, 2010

Thanks guys.
...and that's a good way to describe what I've already done...Brother and Sister have dual role in Book 1. They share the plot, drama, conflict..its just that brother saves the day. I plan to do the same again in book 2 but just have HIM getting in trouble instead of her.

I will definately ask my agent about it but value ya'lls opinions too. thanks.

jkababy · Nov 6, 2010

I'll let ya'll know what the agent says. I am supposed to call him on Thursday and he is *supposed* to have some news about Book 1. He better or Im gonna bust out in hives.

Miriel · Nov 6, 2010

Congrats on the contract!

One of my favorite MG series switches protags every book, The Enchanted Forest Chronicles by Patricia C. Wrede (Though that was a while ago; don't know if publishers adhere to different "rules" now). 1st Book: 3rd-person female; 2nd, 3rd-person male; 3rd, 3rd-person middle-aged female; 4th, 1st-person male. As far as I can tell, they're enjoyed equally by both genders.

Good luck!

Cholisose · Nov 7, 2010

I personally love the idea of switching to the sister's PoV for the second book. You'll probably need to do what will get you a paycheck though.

I feel that young readers are becoming more accepting of different types of protagonists. (For example, the Maximum Ride series stars a girl, but this is definitely an action series, with boys as the primary audience.) I think genre and how well the story is written will be the two most important things for your story.

Jessianodel · Nov 7, 2010

I think it would be fine. In the Children of the Lamp series, they do that a lot too. Switch between the sister and the brother's thoughts and adventures, although both help contribute to either saving the day or causing some problem that has to be solved in the next book. doing it in fist person POV may be tricky, but if it's third person I don't think it would change your readership.

Glenakin · Nov 8, 2010

Nope, nothing wrong with this. And MG readers aren't as picky as YA/adult readers. They're not going to suddenly turn away from a series they love just because the POV in the sequel is a girl's rather than a boy's as was the case in the first book.

NiaR · Nov 8, 2010

A good example of swapping the hero is Laurie Halse Anderson's newest historical thriller trilogy. In book one, CHAINS the heroine is Isabel and in the second, FORGE, Curzon is the hero. They're not related, only friends, but because they show up enough in each other's stories and have a common goal (for the most part) the series went on smoothly.

jkababy · Nov 8, 2010

Cool.
Thanks.
It makes more sense to the story to have the brother in trouble this time...I have to believe that if I write effectively, it shan't matter!
*three days til news*

Shady Lane · Nov 8, 2010

Sage said:
I think while it might cost you some readers, that's always going to be true, and it might also gain you some readers, depending on whether they're drawn to the 2nd person more or not. While boys are less likely to read a book about a female MC, this is not going to be as true if you've already gotten their reader loyalty with book #1. I was at a conference where a speaker talked about wanting to put a girl on the original cover of the first book in a series and realizing it wouldn't attract the target audience, which was boys. But by book 2 or 3 they could put the girl on the cover and not worry about whether a boy would pick it up.

yep.

it's a VERY different question between MG and YA, though. For MG, the readership is pretty evenly spit between boys and girls, so attracting the boys is important. Not so for YA. Attracting boys is important, but when the readership is 80-90% female, what's make or break is getting the girls to pick it up.

i'm doing a trilogy right now from the point of view of triplets--two boys and a girl. you better believe the girl is going first.

We don't need another hero?

jkababy

Children, ready yourselves.

ceenindee

jvc

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jkababy

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Sage

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jkababy

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jkababy

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Miriel

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Cholisose

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jkababy

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Shady Lane

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