What's the Line Between "Upper Middle Grade" and "Lower Young Adult"? - Deborah Halverson Explains

With Deborah's kind permission, we're sharing this from her Oct 6, 2023 DearEditorDotCom Instagram Post:

“Look at your character journey. Even if the external journey is as big as saving the world, a middle grade protagonist's internal journey is about identity and relationships within one's immediate social group. It tends to be more inward-focused, working out identity within that small circle.

“YA tends to look more outward, as characters try to establish themselves as independent individuals in a bigger world. Friends and family still matter, but the young adult's world view is expanding.”

I certainly know writers who have been asked to age their characters up or down when close to this boundary. Hopefully, better understanding this distinction can be helpful to us all.

Thanks, Deborah!

Illustrate, Translate, and Write On,
Lee