5 Great Middle Grade and YA Novel Tips from #LA15SCBWI

Editor Emma Dryden, on why Ellen Hopkins' books are so popular: "These books are dealing with how kids would really feel in these situations. But if it's not on the page, kids are going to think you're lying to them."

Emma Dryden edited this latest YA novel from best-selling author Ellen Hopkins 

On the 'perfect, magical' minority trope: "Your characters deserve to be three-dimensional." -Varian Johnson

Varian wrote this breakout Middle Grade Novel

"I make my novels as short as they can possibly be." -Newbery-Winning Author Paul Fleischman

Paul's middle grade novel has been chosen as a state- and city-wide read across the U.S.A. And it's only 80 pages long!

"Authenticity equals specificity" -Editor Jordan Brown

Among the authors Jordan edits is Anne Ursu

"What we remember from books isn't plot but character." -Meg Wolitzer

Bestselling Adult author Meg Wolitzer's debut YA novel