MG Boy Books vs MG Girl Books

[writersink]

I am currently editing the fourth draft of my WIP. It is a MG science fiction and the main character is a girl. This got me thinking: would any boys avoid my book because of the gender of my character? Would girls avoid it because it is a science fiction and has a few action scenes? What is the difference between a "boy" book and a "girl" book?

Looking at exampes in the published world, J.K Rowling's Harry Potter is certainly aimed at boys, yet she had to change her name because her publisher thought boys would not want to pick up a book written by a woman. The only example I can think of where a book has a female protaganist and yet appeals to both boys and girls is The Hunger Games, but this is YA. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any MG books which follow this trend.

Apart from the gender of the main character, what else distinguishes a MG boy's book and a MG girl's book? In order for a MG book to be liked by both genders, is it essential for the main character to be a boy?

[Falls Apart]

It's a misconception that boys/men can't relate to girls/women, which is a major reason why so movies/books fail to pass the Bechdel Test. Will it be harder in the publishing world? Yes, probably. But don't let that stop you. Change needs to start somewhere

[polymath]

Hard science fiction's escapism leaningings do appeal more to masculine sensibilities. A leading female character does appeal more to feminine sensibilities. However, that juxtaposition seems to me an ideal and fertile field for middle grade literature, because moral authorities mediating middle grader reading tend to favor a progressive social agenda, at least the egalitarian empowerment agenda. Young women can do anythinmg young men can do and vice versa in an enlightened, equal society.

Though there are more similarities between young women's and young men's sensibilities than in older persons', there are nonetheless distinctive and pragmatic differernces. Young women are socially indoctrinated toward gender distinctions, as are young men. Some of the reasons for distinguishing the differences are invalid, some valid. Invalid; for example, women deserve equal treatment. Society benefits when all have equal opportunities and inclusiuon in social processes and decision-making. Valid; for example, sadly, that egalitarian ideology doesn't play out in every real-world scenario. Womankind is subject to more abuses than mankind because of vulnerabilities caused by accident of birth, thus why women's sensibilities favor community-building rituals for group-based protection from dangers.

Enough social philosophy. In order to appeal to a broader audience, frequently, an ensemble cast does the job. Note the Potter saga has protagonist Potter, deuteragonist Ronald Weasely, and triagonist Hermione Granger; Nathan Bransford's Jacob Wonderbar and the Cosmic Space Kapow has protagonist Wonderbar, deuteragonist Dexter, and triagonist Sarah Daisy.

Trios work beautifully in middle grade literature, any literature for that matter. Trios provide foil characters to play off of for clashes, for dialogue and character voice so that narrator voice doesn't do too much of the exposition heavy lifting; in other words, in scene show rather than recital tell; for interaction in general so that a main character doesn't spend too much time in interior discourse stuck in navel contemplation, which doesn't work well in middle grade literature because youngsters favor exterior discourse and action.

A leading female role in a science fiction tale to me poses difficulties that present grand artful possibilities. Basically, feminine sensibilities favor community-building rituals, where masculine sensibilities favor status-competition rituals, and the difference allows for character differentiation and causal strife that artfully furthers a plot. A trio, say a lead female tomboy, a second position female wallflower, and a third position male "overscheduled" bookworm, like Granger and Daisy are for their respective sagas, would do nicely for middle grade literature for their power to enhance character and plot. Also, noteably, for the potential measures of differing individual feminine and masculine sensibility balance appeals. A tomboy has some measure of both, as does a wallflower and a bookworm. And not too coincidentally, target the very demographic of middle grade readers who read recreationally: word-of-mouth buzz, Buzz, BUZZ potential galore.

[Nicole R]

Well, I am a girl, so I can only answer from my perspective but I wouldn't be turned off at all by action scenes! I love 'em. Who wouldn't want an "Ender's Game" for girls?!

I'd also never NOT read a book because the MC was a guy. I would think that feeling goes both ways (guys wouldn't mind reading about a girl MC), but I think you're wise to do a little checking, especially at the MG level. I can think of a few MG books with girl MCs that still appeal to boy readers - Madeleine L'engle's Wrinkle in Time, Narnia and John Stephens' Emerald Atlas. I also love Polymath's point about ensemble casts or creating a strong trio of characters (actually my last two book suggestions probably fit better in that category).

My guess is that as long as you scatter some great action scenes throughout, you won't turn off too many readers of either gender. The best test, though, is to give your draft to a couple MG boys and see what they say.

Good luck!

[writersink]

A trio, say a lead female tomboy, a second position female wallflower, and a third position male "overscheduled" bookworm, like Granger and Daisy are for their respective sagas, would do nicely for middle grade literature for their power to enhance character and plot.

I like this idea. Thank you so much Polymath, for your very helpful and informative response.

The best test, though, is to give your draft to a couple MG boys and see what they say.

If only I knew any MG boys!

So, apart for gender, what else distinguishes a MG boy's book and a MG girl's book? I know action scenes are a big one, but what else? I know boys who read "girly" things, and I know girls who love action. If only the publishing world didn't distinguish between them in the way that it does! Then, boys wouldn't care so much about reading a book with a girl lead, and more girls would realise that they are missing out on some brilliant adventure and science fiction books.

[Falls Apart]

There really isn't much that distinguishes them, and that's including action. As a girl, I like action and always have and I know plenty of girls who are the same way. I think that what distinguishes them is really the genders represented in it. If none of the main characters are male, it's pretty clear girls are a periphery demographic, and vice-versa. And even that rule isn't at all concrete. I really don't think there are "boy" and "girl" books.

[polymath]

About the only appreciable distinction I know of between female and male oriented narratives is how males and females bond among their gender cohorts. Females', feminine really not particularly female, emotional bonding builds group identity in the form of community bonds. Male or masculine bonding is still emotional but establishes group pecking order and individual identity by status competition outcomes. Who's strongest, bravest, richest, handsomest, most desired, most powerful, or most influential. Boys like gadgets and toys. Big boys like big toys. He with the most bestest toys wins the mating dominance strategy game. And lest I open a gender war, girls like dolls to dress up and make them into their ideal Prince Charmings and Sleeping Beauties. Big girls like big dolls; big boys to shape into their ideal Prince Charmings to complement their awakened Sleeping Beauty images.

For middle grade literature, girl books tend to emphasize ladylike community bond building as a central dramatic complication. For boy books, sportsmanlike status competition bonding as a central complication. And both to some extent indoctrinate middle graders to their up and coming respective pubesence complications as delicately as possible.

"What are little boys made of, made of?
What are little boys made of?
Snips and snails and puppy-dog tails;
That's what little boys are made of.

What are little girls made of, made of?
What are little girls made of?
Sugar and spice and everything nice;
That's what little girls are made of."

Excerpt from "What Are Folks Made Of," traditional rhyme: Mother Goose Society, http://www.delamar.org/mgs-long_folksmadeof.html

[Falls Apart]

^^I would really disagree with that. That's not to say those things couldn't exist as a trend, though, just that the boys=toys, girls=dolls thing isn't set in stone. Personally, as a kid and now, I fit more with the male description than the female one... but maybe I'm just unfeminine

[polymath]

The measure of feminine traits and masculine traits varies considerably from individual to individual regardless of biological identity. What traits are feminine and what are masculine varies considerably across consensuses as well. I offered one area where social indoctrination traditionally and formally favored some notional normative value of behavioral expectations and their negative expressions and fallouts, and more as irony than as global fact.

Like the irony of the opening to Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice:

"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife. However little known the feelings or views of such a man may be on his first entering a neighbourhood, this truth is so well fixed in the minds of the surrounding families, that he is considered the rightful property of some one or other of their daughters."

Middle grade literature for its black and white beginning to shade into gray moral values and poetic justice principles retains some measure of those traditional values. Poetic justice: good is rewarded, evil is punished.