CMIS Evaluation Fiction Focus

Remember this? It’s where we pondered on the nature of YA in the context of Into White Silence.

The author has added to the discussion in a long and well-considered post on his Goodreads blog. For which we thank him. Let’s keep talking, folks. This is an important one.

I can say this: When I wrote Into White Silence, I never for a moment doubted that it would be published as ‘young adult fiction.’ This belief was, in part, because of the realities of the publishing world and the joys of having a profile as a ‘young adult’ author, but also, to a large degree, because it was the sort of story I’d have connected with at 15 or 16 years of age. I didn’t write it for teenagers, though. Nor did I write it for adults. I wrote it for myself, purely and simply.

Thanks Anthony.

Not so long ago, we were musing about what defines a YA novel in the context of Anthony Eaton’s fine novel Into White Silence. We also linked to a few discussions on the topic.

Here’s another one: Children’s book editor Cheryl Klein has posted a thoughtful blog seeking a practical definition and her ideas are provoking a lively discussion. Join in if you feel this is a conversation worth having.

Thanks to the marvellous Monica Edinger for the lead.

Have just finished Anthony Eaton’s Into White Silence. Terrific read. Clever writing. On the short list for Older Readers in the 2009 CBCA Awards, and it’s not hard to see why.

But the novel (it combines fact and fiction but is in no way ‘faction’)  raises a question. What is it that defines this book as YA? Sure, Eaton has written YA novels before, and very good ones too. Sure, the publishers have entered this title in the CBCA Awards in this category so there’s no problem that it’s made the short list. It was entered, it’s good, it’s shortlisted.

But again there’s that question. What makes this a YA title rather than an adult one? Young adults will certainly enjoy it – it’a page turner. But so will a reader of any age who enjoys a historical mystery, a thriller, a journal, anything about Antarctica.

Unlike another award-winning Antarctic title, Geraldine McCaughrean’s The White Darkness, Eaton’s novel has no youthful protagonist. The narration is cleverly shared by Eaton speaking as himself and the 1921/22 journal of William Downes, aged 25.

So is a protagonist in the YA age group really necessary in a YA novel? We know that there are plenty of novels with young protagonists that are not intended for the YA audience. Especially lately. And we know that some titles are published in the YA market in one country, adult in another. The Book Thief springs to mind.

A quick search shows that this question is being asked more and more. There’s plenty if you look, but try here, here, here, here (and going back a bit), here for starters. The boundaries are becoming blurred and it looks as if we can expect more ‘crossover’ titles hitting the shelves. Surely no bad thing? Isn’t it all about the writing?