Rapid Aging in YA?!

[E McD]

Obviously fantasy, but in your opinion(s) could rapid aging in a YA book work if the voice was still very much 17 years old? I know the theory is keep a YA first person narrative in a YA voice, and it would be, but are there hesitations about its marketability? (And yes, I'm worried about marketability.) The narrator would be aging on the outside but not on the inside. Whatcha think?

Haven't been on here in a while. I hope everyone is doing well. xo

[Robin]

Sounds interesting. I suppose it could work if its clear that the MC is still under 18, and has all of the conflicts/ voice of a young adult trapped in an aging body. Might want to ask this Q on twitter's #askagent thread.

[dios4vida]

I think it would work as well. Exploring the fears and myths of growing older (freedom, perception, aching joints) to a younger audience could be very, very interesting. I'd say yes, run with it and see what comes out. :)

[E McD]

Thanks for the reassurance, guys! :)

[Mira]

I agree. I think it definitely could work, and would be a fun story. In fact, I think you'd want to have a very distinctive voice, that is clearly 17, so the reader will always be aware that the PC is younger emotionally than physically.

[EvelynEhrlich]

The vampires in Twilight were all 100+ years old and just happened to occupy bodies that looked 17. If that worked, then I think you could definitely make it work the other way around, where the MC is ACTUALLY a teenager (and not a centenarian!) :)

[Ishta]

Yeah, I think it could definitely work.

[Nomad0404]

Isn't that the concept of films like 13 going on 30, Big and any of the countless Freaky Friday clones?