What is too much sexual content in a young adult novel?

[gdelao]

I have written a young adult novel with content that goes farther than a kiss or a hug. So I have been struggling with an issue of how much sexual content is okay! Is there an unwritten or written rule that tells you what sexual content is too much? My target audience is mid-high school and older. Now I don't use vulgar words or pornographic language, but I do put the MC's in situations that teenagers at 17 might have experienced. BTW- they don't have intercourse. I would appreciate any advise on this topic.
Thanks for your help in advance~ my fellow Nathan Bransford Peeps!

[AnimaDictio]

I don't think there is a rule, but I would use the currently popular middle grade / young adult books as guides. How much sex is in "Twilight" or anything by Sarah Dessen? I wouldn't know the answer to these questions as I don't read or write for this market.

[Heather B]

I'm pretty sure what you're describing is okay. Both of my YA MS's go quite a bit further than kissing. As long as you keep the detail well written and not too vulgar, you're right.
One of the best examples I've seen of this is Richelle Mead's YA novels. In the first one, her protagonist ends up naked and in third, they have sex.
As long as you can justify what you've written and it doesn't read like a bad porno, it's fine.

[CharleeVale]

Agreed with what was said here.

I personally think a good example would be Hush, Hush, by Becca Fitzpatrick. There's no intercourse, and not really anything beyond making out, but the scenes are HOT. And on the more descriptive side of what I've seen in YA.

YA is edgier than adult fiction, you can get away with quite a bit. From what you're describing I think you would be safe.

CV

[gdelao]

Thank you so much! My beta readers tell me the scenes between my two characters are really HOT. But I was concerned with sell-ability of the book if the scenes were to descriptive for young adult. I took the chapters and tweaked them outside of my MS to see if they could still be as HOT if I took out some of the more descriptive parts. They claim they were, but still I was doubting whether I took out enough or too much. I love the support you fellow writers are giving me. Thanks!

[maybegenius]

I've read a wide variety of YA sexual content, ranging from "fade to black," to teens pointedly asking about condoms and showering naked together. Bleeding Violet by Dia Reeves is fairly sexually explicit - the sex is never described in detail, but the MC is very blunt and talks about erections, condoms and nudity.

I generally say go with what you feel is appropriate for the age group. It shouldn't be soft-core pr0n or anything, but you're probably a better judge than you think.

[cheekychook]

There is a topic in this thread of the forum called "How to categorize my work" that deals with the same basic question. Several people (including me) posted their opinion about sex in YA novels on that thread. I hope it's okay to post a link to a different topic within the thread. viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1423&p=17175#p17175

I'll add that the sexual content should vary based on the message you are trying to convey with your book. I think that's true regardless of the age group you're writing for, but it's particularly true when dealing with YA fiction.

[gdelao]

You guys don't know how teary-eyed I am right now! For weeks now I have been worried about the sexual content of my book and for some time now I have been intimidated about posting in NB's forums. You guys are awesome! Thanks for your kind words, help, and all around honesty!

[Sommer Leigh]

I think the scope and depth of sexual content in YA depends entirely on the book itself. I'll read something that's actually pretty steamy that fits appropriately into the story and the character progression, but a scene just as steamy in a story about something else where two characters just happen to hook up can feel forced and sexy for sexy sake.

It's like swearing. If it works into the plot with the right characters and it feels like a natural progression of the story, then no problem. But when it doesn't, oh boy, you know it sounds all wrong.

[gdelao]

[quote="Sommer Leigh"]I think the scope and depth of sexual content in YA depends entirely on the book itself. I'll read something that's actually pretty steamy that fits appropriately into the story and the character progression, but a scene just as steamy in a story about something else where two characters just happen to hook up can feel forced and sexy for sexy sake.

Sommer, I totally agree.

Here's my crazy attempt at a one paragraph pitch about my YA novel.

Seventeen year old Wilson Mooney has the total ‘hots’ for twenty-three year old Max Goldstein, her government teacher at Wesley Academy Boarding School for Girls. It only takes a spontaneous weekend trip to Aspen to find out he feels the same way. She gets to live a fantasy most girls her age only dream about. Problems arise when her narcissistic roommate keeps getting in the way and her age keeps a firm grasp on his moral values, all while Monday is just around the corner.

[Heather B]

Put it this way, if the agent/editor feels it's too steamy, you can always edit/take it out. They won't have any problems letting you know.