How Children's Books Pack a Punch

WHY WE SHOULDN'T UNDERESTIMATE MIDDLE-GRADE FICTION Written by Kora Quinn, Arts Editor Graphic by Rosie Quinlan, Contributing Graphic Artist

I’ve been an avid reader all my life, but at the age of eight, the only criteria I had for the books I read were entertainment and relatability— which seems obvious, considering my favorite series was “Junie B. Jones.”

But after reflecting on the books I read as a kid and reading more children’s books as an adult, I now realize that there’s much more to middle-grade fiction than most people realize.

“Middle grade” is a broad category, but it is usually defined as books targeted at children from ages eight to 12. Some famous middle-grade series you may have read include “Harry Potter,” “Percy Jackson and the Olympians” and “A Series of Unfortunate Events.” These books usually deal with social topics that their target audience is likely to encounter, such as friendship, first crushes, parental relationships, emerging sexuality and bullying. Since they’re told from the point of view of children, these topics are handled in comedic and subtle ways, opting to entertain rather than make a statement.

Still, there is some ambiguity today on what the intended age range of middle-grade fiction is. In the past, children’s “chapter books” had stricter categories, with books for young readers, new teens and young adults distinctly defined. Over time, readers of any age started to move fluidly between these categories, blurring the lines. This has led to confusion among both consumers and the publishing industry about what defines middle-grade versus young adult books.1

Amidst this confusion, many publishing professionals and librarians agree that misidentifying middle grade as young adult is in some ways disrespectful and condescending, as it comes from the belief that children’s books don’t have the ability to cover difficult and hard-hitting topics.2 That perception is simply not true.

“See You in the Cosmos” by Jack Cheng is one of the many complex middle-grade books that deal with mature and difficult topics, but are intended for young readers. On its surface, “See You in the Cosmos” is about Alexander Petroski, an 11-year-old boy who wants to build a rocket and launch his iPod into space for aliens to find. Together with his dog, Carl Sagan, Alex travels across the U.S. trying to achieve this dream.

Some people might see this as a fun story about a smart kid who has big dreams. I read it at 18, and I saw a heart-wrenching story about a neglected child who must navigate life not only with a single mother but with a parent who has undiagnosed schizophrenia and a distant brother who doesn’t make time for his struggling family. But the way you interpret this book will depend on your life experiences, not necessarily your age. Corrina Allen, a 5th-grade teacher, speaks to the importance of “mature” topics in middle-grade books in her podcast, “Between Books.” She says, “I am sure you know of many, many

children who are dealing with some tricky situations. And that’s the stuff we know about—imagine all the things that are just too painful or complicated for them to even bring up. These books help kids realize they’re not on their own. These novels let kids see a path through adversity through the actions of a character. And maybe the ending is not perfect, but there is a way to get through it.”3

And that’s why middle-grade fiction is powerful, because it helps children see their experiences reflected back at them in ways they’ll understand. It also serves as an entry point for young readers who can handle tougher topics—especially as these topics relate to their current social lives—but who aren’t ready for these topics to be portrayed in more explicit detail. Middle-grade books introduce children to more nuanced views of the world in subtle and easily digestible, yet potent, ways by meeting them where they are at and helping them understand where they might be. ■

³ Corrina Allen, “The Importance of Books That Tackle Tough Topics: Books Between, Episode 5,” All the Wonders, Aug. 29, 2016. FALL PRINT 2021