Friday, July 29, 2011

July 28th Transcript

KDuBayGillis Ok, ladies and gentlemen. . . I'm hosting #MGLitchat tonight with @rachelnseigel! Welcome!! Topic: What is the age of your MG audience? -6:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011

  
michaelascotto Looking forward to my very first #MGlitchat -6:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz And the clock says....it's time! #mglitchat -6:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer RT @KDuBayGillis: Ok, ladies and gentlemen. . . I'm hosting #MGLitchat tonight with @rachelnseigel! Welcome!! Topic: What is the age of your MG audience? -7:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk Hi Brian! Welcome! #mglitchat -7:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis What age is your intended MG audience and why? #MGLitchat -7:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly Yeah! *rubs hands together* Here we go! #mglitchat -7:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari Yay! Glad to be back for my second #mglitchat 5th grade teacher from Ohio here! #mglitchat -7:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull this is my first mg chat. Excited! #mglitchat -7:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop Lined up and waiting to share another great mg chat! So grateful to have this new chat available :) #mglitchat -7:01 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @ErinStull Welcome! It's fast and furious, but a lot of fun! #mglitchat -7:01 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PHCMarchesi #MGlitchat Mine is 12 and up. The main characters (twins) in my novel are 13. -7:01 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone I just entered #MGlitchatenterhashtagtofollow and couldn't figure out why no one was there. It took a few seconds. *snort* #MGlitchat -7:01 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk I've been told by agents that my mg is considered Upper Middle Grade. My mc is 15. #mglitchat -7:01 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly My intended audience is 4th to 5th graders. Mainly because that's the grade levels I've taught & I feel I know what they want. #mglitchat -7:01 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa Hi folks! we're off and running #mglitchat -7:02 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress Tonights #mglitchat topic: RT @KDuBayGillis: What age is your intended MG audience and why? #mglitchat -7:02 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
themediabunny Hi #MGlitchat . My attention will be split between you all and the premiere of Project Runaway! *multitasking* -7:02 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz I've noticed that there is a huge difference between an 8yo reader and a 12yo reader. #mglitchat -7:02 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly My main chatacters are usually 12-14 yeas old. #mglitchat -7:02 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull I'll try to be ready.:) I have my recovering puppy on my lap...so, that could prove difficult. #mglitchat -7:02 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress Hi Everyone - It's our first #mglitchat too and we're very excited! #mglitchat -7:02 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore #MGLitchat I'm going for the 5th & 6th graders cuz they're just starting to appreciate sarcastic humor (which I love) -7:02 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @AnshaKotyk Interesting. I had a 15 yr old character and was told too old for middle grade #mglitchat -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel #MGlitchat Hey everybody. I come at this from a buyer/bookseller perspective dealing with schools- Upper MG is our hardest area to place -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari My target grade level is 4th -6th - My MC has just started 5th grade - I personally love that age range #mglitchat -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PHCMarchesi WHY: There's so much potential in young teens - the sense you can do anything. #MGlitchat -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone I'm definitely an upper MG. #MGlitchat -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress We publish for kids age 9-13 (give or take), but our sweet spot are the 10-11 year olds, 5th/6th grade #mglitchat -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @WaldenPondPress Welcome to the chat! #mglitchat -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @JoWhittemore Very true. #mglitchat -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WriterRoss Current WIP: Upper MG mss for me. 11, 12, older. But have younger MGs in the ol' computer files as well. #MGlitchat -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis So it sounds like we have a lot of upper MG folks here tonight. I'm in that boat, too, with an MC that turns 13 in my WIP. #MGLitchat -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto My new book and my WIP are 3rd/4th grade; not planned so much as that's what my characters demanded #mglitchat -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari 4th - 6th graders are very loyal to the books they love and such enthusiastic readers #mglitchat -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull I've been told kids enjoy reading about slightly older characters... #mglitchat -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
chorkie So glad to have #mglitchat! -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @WaldenPondPress I think that 10-11 yr old age range is magical. #mglitchat -7:03 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa I write for 9-12 yo. For some reason I can't think in terms of school levels #mglitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone Why? To satisfy the kid in me. I'm writing for my 12 yr-old self. #MGlitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @jmaschari YES! #mglitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk @smozer Interesting. I thought 15 was considered YA until 1 editor and 2 agents informed me. Upper Middle is what it was. #mglitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
brianwyzlic I teach 12-14 yo, and the hardest thing is finding books for them. Usually books are either too young or too old. #mglitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @rachelnseigel - That's interesting - are a lot of your young teens already reading YA? #mglitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @ErinStull I know I sure did! #mglitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @KarenninaPosa I struggle because I think of middle grade like middle school - gr 6-8. Junior is 4-6 #mglitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari 4th and 5th graders (9, 10, 11 years old) are at that great point where they are no longer learning to read but reading to learn! #mglitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WriterRoss @rachelnseigel @WaldenPondPress And love that you term that the "sweet spot." I'm adopting that phase. ;> #MGlitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari and to enjoy of course :) #mglitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis Do folks feel like kids really do read 2 years ahead of their age? So, a 10-11 year old wants to read 12-13 year old MCs? #MGLItchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress RT @rachelnseigel: I come at this from a buyer/bookseller perspective dealing with schools- Upper MG is our hardest area to place #mglitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk @rachelnseigel Why is it hard to place Upper MG? #mglitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins @elissacruz spent 2day w/ readers from 8-12 amazing the different things they responded to in my work at the ends of the spectrum #MGlitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz I write for all MG ages, actually. My last ms. was geared for 8-10yos, my current WIP is for 11-12yos. #mglitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop WIP was orig. 4 adults (hist fiction/WWII) Crit grp advice to make a secondary character into MC- a teen. 9-12 yo #mglitchat -7:04 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @AnshaKotyk @smozer At that age, it would probabaly depend on the kid...or are you talking about the MC? #mglitchat -7:05 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @KDuBayGillis I've heard 3, which makes sense at a certain age. #MGLItchat -7:05 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @AnshaKotyk I have a 14 yr old MC and the story line seems definitely set for upper. #MGlitchat -7:05 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @WriterRoss @rachelnseigel @WaldenPondPress Ironically that is the name of my middle grade WIP. #mglitchat -7:05 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @elissacruz - Thanks! #mglitchat -7:05 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @rachelnseigel @KarenninaPosa And I think 7th and possibly 8th graders are still reading some upper MG, too. #mglitchat -7:05 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PHCMarchesi #MGlitchat I@KDuBayGillis It depends on the kids...some enjoy kids the same age, and others want to feel more adult... -7:05 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @librarykelly @AnshaKotyk MC #mglitchat -7:05 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @AnshaKotyk It's hard because that 12-14 yr old age range (pre high school) r into everything from Wimpy Kid to Twilight. #mglitchat -7:05 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WriterRoss @smozer @WriterRoss @rachelnseigel @WaldenPondPress Oh my g-d! You are a bookseller's MG Dream! (Move over, Katy Perry.) ;> #MGlitchat -7:06 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa so what is the youngest age that's considered mg? #mglitchat -7:06 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage I try to focus on the 10-13 crowd. You can be less silly and do some YA crossover #mglitchat -7:06 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
brianwyzlic @KDuBayGillis Kids don't like to read younger than their age. 2-3 years ahead makes them feel as if they're spying on the future. #mglitchat -7:06 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @smozer @librarykelly @AnshaKotyk Ok #mglitchat -7:06 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis So is it age of MC that makes it upper/lower MG or themes/topics of story? #MGLitchat -7:06 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore Plus, there's the romance factor. The young MGer cares not, but the older MGer is just discovering love. Awww. #MGlitchat -7:06 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @rachelnseigel - I agree, LOVE seeing 5th/6th graders react to our books - magical indeed :) #mglitchat -7:06 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @elissacruz Yes- that's my question- don't kids ever read about kids their own age? not all 13-yr-olds r mature. #mglitchat -7:06 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari 7th and 8th graders are in a really interesting spot because they have such a range in maturity and interest #mglitchat -7:06 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @naveltwins Exactly. You really can't say you write MG and expect it to reach all MG readers. It probably won't. #mglitchat -7:06 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop Absolutely lightyears! RT @elissacruz: Ive noticed that there is a huge difference between an 8yo reader and a 12yo reader. #mglitchat -7:06 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage I think it's less the age of the protagonist and more the voice of the story. #mglitchat -7:07 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @KDuBayGillis I would think both #mglitchat -7:07 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone RT @elissacruz: @naveltwins Exactly. You really cant say you write MG and expect it to reach all MG readers. It probably wont. #MGlitchat -7:07 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ReadingVacation Watching the #mglitchat tweets. Hi y'all. -7:07 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @KarenninaPosa - I think some 3rd graders at higher reading levels (for whom chapter books are too easy) are reading MG #mglitchat -7:07 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @jmaschari Exactly- that's our challenge selling to schools. YA 12 + is too broad an age. 12 is still grade 6. #mglitchat -7:07 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum My WIP is a mystery geared for the 8 year olds - my protags are 12 years old. Does that sound about right? #MGlitchat -7:07 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PHCMarchesi @ReadingVacation Hi there! #MGlitchat -7:07 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto @jscottsavage well said #mglitchat -7:07 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @KDuBayGillis I would say themes and topics - that's how I tend to match a book with a student vs. age of protag #mglitchat -7:07 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer I teach third and within one age group there is a large range of readers. #mglitchat -7:07 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @JoWhittemore And what they do with it. Younger: pull hair, chase on play ground. Upper: hold hands, maybe *gasp* kiss. #mglitchat -7:08 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop @KDuBayGillis Not IMHO. It's the issues/situations, length, topics (and the reader- not really safe to generalize). #mglitchat -7:08 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @JoWhittemore A little crush is always nice to play around with. #MGlitchat -7:08 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel #MGlitchat my showroom (like a store) is set up 7-9, 9-12, 12-14, 14+. -7:08 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @rachelnseigel I absolutely agree - and children vary in maturity so much - what is okay for one 12 y.o. is not okay for next #mglitchat -7:08 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @jmaschari - I agree - there's a huge range there. I know 13 year olds who only read MG and others who read edgy YA #mglitchat -7:08 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore Upper MG deals with identity discovery. How am I unique? #MGlitchat -7:08 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum RT @JoWhittemore: Upper MG deals with identity discovery. How am I unique? #MGlitchat -7:09 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @WriterRoss @rachelnseigel- Go for it :) #mglitchat -7:09 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer RT @JoWhittemore: Upper MG deals with identity discovery. How am I unique? #MGlitchat -7:09 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins @elissacruz I do try to write so that all MG readers can hook onto something in the books, like doing theater in the round #mglitchat -7:09 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @jmaschari I was all over the place at that age- VC Andrews and Stephen King but also stories about kids my age. #mglitchat -7:09 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
chorkie #mglitchat Loved The Notorious Benedict Arnold. Learned a lot. -7:09 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WriterRoss @JoWhittemore (No wonder I am still reading MG novels. WHO THE HELL AM I?!) <g> #MGlitchat -7:09 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari What I find so interesting though is that kids read into books what they are ready for - like with Hunger Games #mglitchat -7:09 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @smozer - Great title for a mg book :) #mglitchat -7:09 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @LaurelSnyder wrote a wonderful blog post recently on the NEED for upper MG. Moving. And hit on exactly my reasons. #MGLitchat -7:09 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage Especially if you are targeting boys, younger than 10 yo has a very "silly "feel. #mglitchat -7:09 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @naveltwins Which is good. I simply meant that an 8yo may not identify with the same thing as a 12yo. #mglitchat -7:10 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel #MGlitchat I've relied a lot on reviews from blogger and parent/teacher sites to tell me content. Helps place age. 8-12 doesn't cut it. -7:10 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @WaldenPondPress @jmaschari I bet it is a break down between girl and boy readers too as girls at that age tend to be more mature #MGlitchat -7:10 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @WriterRoss @JoWhittemore Me too! #mglitchat -7:10 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
chorkie #mglitchat A lot of what they want to read depends on their maturity level. -7:10 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari Even though it covered some difficult topics they approached it as 5th graders would - not as an adult with more life experience #mglitchat -7:10 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull IMHO I don't think you can appeal to huge spans of readers no matter what you write--low mg, high mg, YA... #mglitchat -7:10 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @LauriCorkum I used to get 11 yr olds asking for Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants. #MGlitchat -7:10 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
brianwyzlic @jmaschari And kids will put down a book they're not ready for -- but may come back to it in a year or two. #mglitchat -7:10 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @WriterRoss Hahaha! And that's why I write for them. I relate to trying to find myself. #MGlitchat -7:10 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull you have to try your best and let it ride. #mglitchat -7:11 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
Brucewriting @KDuBayGillis For me it's more theme and topics. Take Percy Jackson. You don't find his books in the YA section of a bookstore #mglitchat -7:11 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @LauriCorkum @jmaschari - Definitely - there is also a lot of drop off in reading around that age - esp. among boys #mglitchat -7:11 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @WaldenPondPress Thanks. It's about a 13 yr old girl baseball player (at boys training camp) so it fits on many levels. #mglitchat -7:11 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ReadingVacation My little brother is 9. He loves Origami Yoda and also The Hunger Games. He's all over the place. #mglitchat -7:11 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @brianwyzlic Absolutely 100 percent. Kids are great filters for what they read. They read to their comfort level #mglitchat -7:11 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @JoWhittemore One of the things I loved about When You Reach Me was that it captured that age beautifully. #MGlitchat -7:11 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto @lauricorkum that's def what I've found #mglitchat -7:11 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone RT @rachelnseigel: @JoWhittemore One of the things I loved about When You Reach Me was that it captured that age beautifully. #MGlitchat -7:11 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @librarykelly They're so freaking adorable, and the innocence is charming. #MGlitchat -7:11 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @rachelnseigel @JoWhittemore Yes. #mglitchat -7:12 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JanGangsei Character age and theme are just part of the equation -- there's also a wide range of reading ability from 8-12 years. #MGLitchat -7:12 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins @elissacruz xtactly. unlike in adult lit, our audience is in very different stages of development the entire time we know them #mglitchat -7:12 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
thereadingzone I am reading Breadcrumbs right now (an ARC) and it captures tweens perfectly. #mglitchat -7:12 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @WaldenPondPress @LauriCorkum @jmaschari Which is so sad - I try my hardest to keep my boy students engaged in reading #mglitchat -7:12 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @rachelnseigel I remember wanting to explore those topics when I was 11-12. But, I still loved Nancy Drew as well. #MGlitchat -7:12 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage Best part of writing for MG is having a gym full of kids beg you to sign their shoes. #mglitchat -7:12 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @elliefalcone There's nothing quite like writing budding romance! #MGlitchat -7:12 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @JanGangsei Excellent point! #mglitchat -7:12 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins @ReadingVacation that is amazing variation of tastes! #mglitchat -7:12 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @rachelnseigel I agree - we age all our books 8-12 (generally), but they run the gamut from more like 8-9 to 11 and up #mglitchat -7:13 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull I'm kind of new to all this...can someone please defind ARC for me? #mglitchat -7:13 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @JoWhittemore @wenmass captures this well in her Mg as well. The 11 birthdays series is about those milestone yrs. #MGlitchat -7:13 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins RT @jscottsavage Best part of writing for MG is having a gym full of kids beg you to sign their shoes. #mglitchat -7:13 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @ErinStull Advanced Reading copy #mglitchat -7:13 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage advance reader copy #mglitchat -7:13 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ReadingVacation Oh, and he loves Vordak the Incomprehensible, but also The Maze Runner. #mglitchat -7:13 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @JanGangsei I agree. Reluctant older readers need good books, too. #mglitchat -7:13 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @elliefalcone @rachelnseigel You know, I bought that book and have yet to read it. Must get on that! #MGlitchat -7:13 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @WaldenPondPress I find Frank Cottrell Boyce for example is more 10-11. #mglitchat -7:13 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull @rachelnseigel THANKS! #mglitchat -7:13 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @ErinStull advanced read..nevermind! #mglitchat -7:13 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @ErinStull It's an advanced reader copy given out by publishers to help build buzz about a book #mglitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk @JoWhittemore Now see, I avoid romance in my upper mg, and focus on friendships instead... #mglitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @JanGangsei And younger avid readers also need good books. #mglitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @jmaschari @WaldenPondPress @LauriCorkum I agree, thankfully there is more and more content for boys now (books,mags,comics,etc) #mglitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @WaldenPondPress True - I was in Germany recently and they actually shelve the bks like you do your showroom, @rachelnseigel #mglitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull Thanks all! #mglitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari RT @elissacruz: @JanGangsei I agree. Reluctant older readers need good books, too. #mglitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis Found it! http://t.co/nkOtYkj If you haven't read this, worth a look. #MGLitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @JoWhittemore @elliefalcone @rachelnseigel WHich book? #mglitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @JoWhittemore Do! It's faboo! I honestly didn't think I'd like it but it was awesome. #MGlitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PHCMarchesi @AnshaKotyk @JoWhittemore Me too. Not all MG readers want romance. #MGlitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @Jmaschari - to what types of reading material/books do you find your boys most drawn? #mglitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage It's funny. I try to avoid romance , but even the younger kids end up asking for at least a hint #mglitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore And let us not forget that upper MG is when enemies start to turn NASTY. Muahaha! #MGlitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins @ReadingVacation so your little brother has a good sense of humor and loves violent action...sounds like me when I was his age! #mglitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
thereadingzone When I taught 6th grade, I had kids who were ready for YA topics and some who were barely more mature than elem. school. #mglitchat -7:14 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susanjsteward @AnshaKotyk Same. I'm not really into romance for MGers. #mglitchat -7:15 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto I'm hoping my WIP will speak to reluctant boy readers #mglitchat -7:15 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop Any other teachers here? I think best match is to maturity/experience levels not fluency/rate- some try to just "read older" #mglitchat -7:15 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @WaldenPondPress @jmaschari @LauriCorkum YES! I love the Guys Read! series for this - sometimes MG boys want the short stories #mglitchat -7:15 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
thereadingzone Even today, some of my 9th graders read way up and some are more comfortable with upper-MG #mglitchat -7:15 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @KKittscher I think it's important. I put a lot of my upper Mg and less mature teen in there. #mglitchat -7:15 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ReadingVacation I like realistic MG books when I can relate the middle school characters. #mglitchat -7:15 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @WaldenPondPress Fantasy books and funny books (like Dan Gutman), also adventure like Gregor the Overlander and Alex Rider #mglitchat -7:15 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins @thereadingzone such a good thing to remember, not to build age ghettos around our books #mglitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
brianwyzlic Does anyone target 12-14? I've been told YA is "too mature," but most MG is too young. It's a thirsty niche. #mglitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @rachelnseigel Are you aware of any actual stores here that do the same? I've yet to see it, but it makes so much sense #mglitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PHCMarchesi @ReadingVacation I like realistic characters in fantasy settings! #MGlitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @thereadingzone Jealous! Can't wait to read BREADCRUMBS. Lots of new BREAD-titled books in MG coming up! #MGLitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @PBWorkshop I use Fountas and Pinnel levels and assessments to place the reader and then read the book to make sure it fits #mglitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @AnshaKotyk I've done both types, because you're right. Sometimes it's about best friends. #MGlitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @PBWorkshop If they can't comprehend it, they wont finish it. #mglitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @jmaschari - That's awesome - Jon always thought short stories were the way to go and it seems to be working #mglitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @AnshaKotyk As do I, although my MC is 12. I'm not delving into romantic entanglements yet. I think they need their innocence. #MGlitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @jscottsavage I wanted to avoid romance as well but found my MC developed a crush on someone. It was only a hint though. #MGlitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @brianwyzlic I judge a lot by character age. 14-15 yr old characters appeals to 12-14. #mglitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ReadingVacation @PHCMarchesi Those too! #mglitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk @brianwyzlic 12-14 is my audience when I write. #mglitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop Emerging variants on graphix hold greatest appeal to boys- the format hooks them before they realize they'rte reading. #mglitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WriterRoss @JoWhittemore @librarykelly Like I've always said: saves on seeing a therapist. <g> #MGlitchat -7:16 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @KKittscher Here where? :-) In toronto, Mabels Fables shelves by age. #mglitchat -7:17 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @PBWorkshop Teacher here! I agree I just try to match kid to book - should be a comfortable read for them but also engaging #mglitchat -7:17 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susanjsteward @brianwyzlic I write for that age group. I love it, but people seem unsure what my mss. are--MG or YA--sometimes. #mglitchat -7:17 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @elliefalcone Yep. Not too much. Just a hint or two. #MGlitchat -7:17 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @brianwyzlic I'm there in the 13 MC age range. Def consider my WIP upper MG b/c of theme and subplots. #MGLitchat -7:17 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto @brianwyzlic not yet, but it's an area i'd love to branch into #mglitchat -7:17 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @jmaschari - All great choices - have heard a lot Dan Gutman and Gregor the Overland mentioned a lot recently for boys #mglitchat -7:17 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer I think you need a little romance. Even Diary of the Whimpy Kids talks about crushes and girls and the boys love it. #mglitchat -7:17 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer Make that kid #mglitchat -7:17 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress RT @thereadingzone: I am reading Breadcrumbs right now (an ARC) and it captures tweens perfectly. #mglitchat -7:18 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @smozer Gentle romance though. No sexy stuff before high school. (At least 4 school libraries) #mglitchat -7:18 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ReadingVacation @smozer You are right. Middle Grade = Crushes Nothing serious. #mglitchat -7:18 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @thereadingzone - So happy to hear that! #mglitchat -7:18 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @brianwyzlic I agree -- but seems a tough sell with pubs. I was told to age mine up or lower to be more marketable. #mglitchat -7:18 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @WaldenPondPress @jmaschari Reaching two very different types of readers at the same age. #mglitchat -7:18 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @smozer I think a little romance can be appropriate - I love how Kate Messner does it in her MG novels - just a hint :) #mglitchat -7:18 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage You either need a hint of romance or go the opposite, girls have cooties direction. #mglitchat -7:18 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop @librarykelly And the "faking" of comprehension creates even more aversion to "really" reading- especially true for boys, I find. #mglitchat -7:18 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @jmaschari @smozer Yes! #mglitchat -7:18 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @jscottsavage At 9 I had crushes, but wasn't really interested in reading about boy-girl stuff till 11 or so. #mglitchat -7:18 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
brianwyzlic @rachelnseigel My concern is not with the appeal to the readers, but the content OK'd by parents and school admins. Maybe Aug 25 #mglitchat -7:19 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull @PBWorkshop @librarykelly as do I #mglitchat -7:19 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone My thoughts exactly. RT @ReadingVacation: @smozer You are right. Middle Grade = Crushes Nothing serious. #MGlitchat -7:19 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage What do you guys think about the girls will read boy protags, but boys won't read girl protags in MG? True or myth? #mglitchat -7:19 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @rachelnseigel @smozer YES. That is one thing I love about MG. Nothing explicit. My nephew is that age, for crying out loud! #MGlitchat -7:19 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari Boys are okay with a little bit of romance but MCs have to be friends first then romance (or liking) can develop later #mglitchat -7:19 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis I was one of those girls at 12/13/14 that wasn't ready for romance, so appreciated books that didn't push it. #MGLitchat -7:19 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @brianwyzlic @rachelnseigel You need to appeal to readers though...? #mglitchat -7:19 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @rachelnseigel Agreed. Though the first kiss can be involved. #mglitchat -7:19 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @brianwyzlic Keeping your characters in that 12-15 yr old range, (just starting high school) usually ok. #mglitchat -7:20 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull @brianwyzlic @rachelnseigel I think that is really important too. Parents are buying the books and admins allow in schools #mglitchat -7:20 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk @brianwyzlic That's a good point. Content and who is purchasing the book. #mglitchat -7:20 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @KKittscher - I think that type of shelving really helps #mglitchat -7:20 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @smozer First kiss is fine. #mglitchat -7:20 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @jscottsavage Just try them on Sisters Grimm. #mglitchat -7:20 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk @KDuBayGillis me too. #mglitchat -7:20 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis What about GLBT issues in upper MG? Anyone introducing? #MGLitchat -7:20 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @rachelnseigel @jscottsavage Nine yo girls have crushes, but 9yo boys are only interested in tomboys, & only as friends. Usually. #MGlitchat -7:20 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull @AnshaKotyk @brianwyzlic while still appealing to the readers #mglitchat -7:20 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @jmaschari Me too. And @KateMessner is a master of the middle grade. #mglitchat -7:20 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @jscottsavage Hold that thought...I think that's next week's topic! #mglitchat -7:20 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone One of the reasons I love to write for this age group is the innocence. They're kind of sitting on the fence but... #MGlitchat -7:20 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage Agree completely. Great example. RT @librarykelly: @jscottsavage Just try them on Sisters Grimm. #mglitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
thereadingzone @jscottsavage I had and have boys who will read female protags, provided the story is good. #mglitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @WaldenPondPress Our customers appreciate it. They know content is safe for elementary school in my 12-14 #mglitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage Oops. My bad. RT @jscottsavage: Agree completely. Great example. RT @librarykelly: @jscottsavage Just try them on Sisters Grimm. #mglitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JanGangsei @brianwyzlic I think there's an emerging "tween" market out there (Aladdin Mix books come to mind) targeting that age group. #mglitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis RT @elliefalcone: One of the reasons I love to write for this age group is the innocence. They're kind of sitting on the fence but... #MGlitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @KDuBayGillis I like a surprise kiss on the cheek and then the boy running away because it's all awkward. #mglitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @rachelnseigel @smozer But no tongue! My editor made me change that. #MGlitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @KDuBayGillis I think MG is a totally appropriate place to introduce characters that are just realizing their sexuality #MGlitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
thereadingzone RT @naveltwins: @thereadingzone such a good thing to remember, not to build age ghettos around our books #mglitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull the 9 yo boys I work with are starting to think about romance--when they grow up, but not in their immediate lives...funny! #mglitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ceegates My WIP is for middle school student who "hated" to read. Made him consultant. Said best book he's read. HA! #mglitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop Romance/kiss biz depends on the nature of the characters and their development- think Harry Potter's growth over time #mglitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @KDuBayGillis My current WIP has a gay character. He's just coming to terms with it. Not sure how to deal with it though. #MGlitchat -7:21 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @KDuBayGillis Have seen GLBT issues in some but it tends to be a minor character or person in the MC's life - not the main focus #mglitchat -7:22 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @JanGangsei Define "tween." I've yet to hear a solid definition of this age. #mglitchat -7:22 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @jscottsavage Depends on the book. The boys in my class will read anything by Andrew Clements, boy or girl MC #mglitchat -7:22 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress I'm always told kidsread up (i.e. 11 year old won't read abt 10 year old protag), but don't always find that to be true #mglitchat -7:22 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull @ceegates BRILLIANT idea! #mglitchat -7:22 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa my thoughts exactly RT @JoWhittemore That is one thing I love about MG. Nothing explicit. #mglitchat -7:22 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
thereadingzone Something that drives me crazy is that lots of bookstores shelve MG w/ children's.Many MG rdrs don't want to be seen as "babies" #mglitchat -7:22 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @PBWorkshop Many elementary schools shy away from that topic, but our junior high schools will look at it. #mglitchat #MGlitchat -7:22 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @smozer Will your girls read Ranger's Apprentice? #mglitchat -7:22 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop @ceegates CONGRATS! you won over the toughest critic of all. #mglitchat -7:22 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins @ErinStull @brianwyzlic @rachelnseigel as autonomy starts to form, appealing to the readers is vital to creating lifelong readers #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @JanGangsei @brianwyzlic "Aladdin MIX rules!" she said unbiasedly. #MGlitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @WaldenPondPress I absolutely agree with that - kids read engaging books regardless of age of protag #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @ErinStull @brianwyzlic @rachelnseigel THis may be, but if it doesn't appeal to a kid, they're not going to bother with it. #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @thereadingzone I think a MG section in bookstores would help. Move some of the younger teen stuff there too. #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
thereadingzone So kids end up embarrassed to look at MG bc they don't want to be near the early readers. How come teens get their own section? #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk I had an agent tell me some houses call tween, others call upper MG RT @elissacruz: @JanGangsei Define "tween." #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone Good question. RT @elissacruz: @JanGangsei Define "tween." Ive yet to hear a solid definition of this age. #MGlitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susanjsteward @WaldenPondPress I guess I write for the kid I was--perfectly content reading about MG characters, all the way through HS, etc. #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull @jscottsavage @smozer I do...but I don't know if my girls at work do... #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @WaldenPondPress There are always exceptions to every rule, think Harry Potter. But my kids like to see their "future". #Mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins RT @thereadingzone a lot of bookstores shelve MG w/ children's. Many MG rdrs don't want to be seen as "babies" #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
thereadingzone @jscottsavage Plenty of my 9th grade girls have read Ranger's Apprentice while in middle school #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @thereadingzone - Grr, that makes me mad too! Also the constant "lumping" MG as a chapter book or YA in the media #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @JoWhittemore Sorry but yuck. Definitely agree, no tongue. #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @WaldenPondPress I think it depends on whether or readers can identify with a (younger) MC. #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk My guess is different houses classify tween and upper mg differently. @elissacruz: @JanGangsei #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @librarykelly That's absolutely true. But will kids admit they are interested? #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage Another thing that affects age is number of pictures. Zombie Chasers--lots of pics for younger readers. #mglitchat -7:23 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @susanjsteward - I understand that - it's who I was too! #mglitchat -7:24 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ReadingVacation @brianwyzlic I call that OMG! Older Middle Grade . #mglitchat -7:24 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari I like the term Upper Middle Grade a bit better - never heard a student call themself a "tween" :) #mglitchat -7:24 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
thereadingzone @WaldenPondPress I don't find that to be true all the time, either. In fact, I have a lot of 9th grdrs who will love Breadcrumbs! #mglitchat -7:24 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JanGangsei @elissacruz Hmmm.... in my brain, it's upper MG, 11-13ish. Not into "kid" stuff anymore, but not quite an angsty teenager. #mglitchat -7:24 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @JoWhittemore @rachelnseigel @smozer Ha! #mglitchat -7:24 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @thereadingzone That's good to hear. My first series had equal boy and girl protag. Can't always do that though. #mglitchat -7:24 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari For me, upper middle grade is some 12, 13 and 14 #mglitchat -7:24 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone I hate the term tween. There. I said it. #MGlitchat -7:24 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @jscottsavage Some do. Actually I was introduced to that series by a girl. I would have read them at that age #mglitchat -7:24 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa @thereadingzone In my local bookstore, I've seen MG shelved under "intermediate readers" #mglitchat -7:24 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @ReadingVacation @brianwyzlic LOVE OMG. Perfect! #MGLitchat -7:25 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto @jscottsavage this was a debate I was just having with my illustrator #mglitchat -7:25 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @jmaschari - That's good to hear, it was always touted as a rigid standard, but I never saw it in practice #mglitchat -7:25 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins Here here! RT @librarykelly THis may be, but if it doesn't appeal to a kid, they're not going to bother with it. #mglitchat -7:25 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
brianwyzlic Hahahaha. Perfect! RT @ReadingVacation: I call that OMG! Older Middle Grade . #mglitchat -7:25 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @smozer @JoWhittemore Ew... yuck for me too. A shy peck, maybe, but leave the tongue for YA. #mglitchat -7:25 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
Deborahkops I hear demographic trend will shift toward the younger end of the spectrum, helping the pbook market & the lower end of mg lit #mglitchat -7:25 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @WaldenPondPress @thereadingzone That is why I am on a mission to bring MG to the forefront. It's been on the sidelines too long. #mglitchat -7:25 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari But I love that books can transcend age boundaries - find the right book for right kid #mglitchat -7:25 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @WaldenPondPress, do you publish much that you'd consider upper MG? #mglitchat -7:25 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull As a Sped Tchr I can say the number of pics as well as the size of type/# of words on a page is what appeals to my MG kiddos #mglitchat -7:25 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @michaelascotto Yep. I asked not to have as many pics to focus more on story #mglitchat -7:25 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa @jmaschari that's what I think too. upper mg= 12, 13 and 14 #mglitchat -7:26 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @thereadingzone - Very good to hear (on both fronts :)) #mglitchat -7:26 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @elissacruz They say you want a revolution. Well, ya know. We all want to change the world. Go, girl! #MGlitchat -7:26 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari As a teacher, being able to understand the child and have a knowledge of individual books to place with them is essential #mglitchat -7:26 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @elissacruz - Very good point, it's definitely subjective #mglitchat -7:26 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @jscottsavage I think all kids still like pictures. It just has to be comic-booky like Wimpy Kid and Dork Diaries. #mglitchat -7:26 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @LauriCorkum @smozer @JoWhittemore Eew. Sounds like the perfect slogan for mglitchat: "Leaves the tongue for YA" #mglitchat -7:26 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop Andrew Clementswrites with MCs focused at 8-9, 11-12, matches the length/readability w/o losing power of voice. #mglitchat -7:27 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @elliefalcone lol. Yes, I was the one who started the rumors about a MG revolution. #Imsneakythatway #mglitchat -7:27 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @rachelnseigel Yep. But if you fill the book with comic type pictures you get placed in lower MG #mglitchat -7:27 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @KKittscher @LauriCorkum @smozer @JoWhittemore I like that! It's perfectly apt! #mglitchat -7:27 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone HAHAHAHA! RT @KKittscher: Eew. Sounds like the perfect slogan for mglitchat: "Leaves the tongue for YA" #MGlitchat -7:27 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari I think a really great example of Upper Middle Grade is Sean Griswold's Head by Lindsey Leavitt #mglitchat -7:27 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @KKittscher @smozer @JoWhittemore I like that too... wow... a catch phrase! #mglitchat -7:27 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis What about the complexity of plot/subplots. . . does that play into lower/upper MG as well? #MGLitchat -7:27 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @jscottsavage Yes, but just pointing out that older kids enjoy those books too, and they're cool #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @jmaschari Note to self. No tongue. More fart jokes. #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari RT @PBWorkshop: Andrew Clementswrites with MCs focused at 8-9, 11-12, matches the length/readability w/o losing power of voice. #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @KKittscher @lauricorkum @smozer Hey, it was my first MG! Cut a chick some slack. ;-) #MGlitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins @elissacruz MG fiction is the middle child of publishing. It has to act out to get noticed. And often then, it's just called YA #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @KKittscher We haven't pubbed upper, upper MG, but a lot of young teens (13-14) connect w/books like Fourth Stall, Guys Read #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk RT @KDuBayGillis: What about the complexity of plot/subplots. . . does that play into lower/upper MG as well? #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
MaryAnnScheuer RT @WaldenPondPress: RT @KarenninaPosa: what time is it? what TIME is it? Is it time for #mglitchat yet? #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop @rachelnseigel @jscottsavage I don't agree it "has to be", but it definitiely helps/trends that way. #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @naveltwins - So true! That's a great way to put it. #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @AnshaKotyk @KDuBayGillis We sold Guys Read grade 5-7 mostly. Some stories appeal to older kids. #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @rachelnseigel Agreed. I love Diary of a Wimpy Kid #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer RT @jmaschari: As a teacher, understanding the child and having knowledge of books to place them w is essential #mglitchat <- Me too. -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @jscottsavage Ha! That's MG for you - kids do love the bodily function jokes #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop Anyone read Doodlelbug: A Novel in Doodles by Karen Romano Young? #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
   
elissacruz @KDuBayGillis I think it does. Lower MG are simpler story lines, few subplots. Upper MG are more complex, more subplots. #mglitchat -7:28 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone *snort* RT @jscottsavage: @jmaschari Note to self. No tongue. More fart jokes. #MGlitchat -7:29 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susanjsteward @naveltwins Too true! If it speaks up, and speaks well, everyone wants to claim it. #mglitchat -7:29 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress RT @naveltwins MG fiction is the middle child of publishing. It has to act out to get noticed. And often then, its just called YA #mglitchat -7:29 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore Do you guys feel the lower MG/upper MG/YA lines have skewed since you were a kid? #MGlitchat -7:29 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa tweens = upper mg = somewhat/lower YA = 13, 14, 15 yo? #mglitchat -7:29 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @lauricorkum @smozer Aw, you're exempt @JoWhittemore. #mglitchat -7:29 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage Of course I've always wondered how they manage to make audio book of Diary of a Wimpy Kid. #mglitchat -7:29 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto @rachelnseigel @jscottsavage maybe the # of pics thing is more a marketer's issue than kids' #mglitchat -7:29 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @JoWhittemore Yes. A lot. #mglitchat -7:29 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mudmamba RT @WaldenPondPress: RT @naveltwins MG fiction is the middle child of publishing. It has to act out to get noticed. And often then, its just called YA #mglitchat -7:29 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @jscottsavage LOL #mglitchat -7:29 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage Or bookstore RT @michaelascotto: @rachelnseigel @jscottsavage maybe the # of pics thing is more a marketer's issue than kids' #mglitchat -7:29 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @rachelnseigel @AnshaKotyk @KDuBayGillis - That's good to hear - seems to be the Guys Read sweet spot #mglitchat -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mudmamba Forgot about #mglitchat! -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @michaelascotto @jscottsavage i think a lot of things about MG are a marketer's issue. #Mglitchat -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman I think good MG is layered. There's a compelling story, but there's more there if you want to read deeper into it. #mglitchat -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @elissacruz I think that's why I like to read/write upper MG. I liked puzzles as a kid, trying to look for the twists. #MGLitchat -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @KKittscher @smozer @JoWhittemore Yes... I was just kidding... we've all been there, believe me. #mglitchat -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JanGangsei Awesome chat! But afraid I must sign off early. Reading Harry Potter with 9yo. That's a pretty good excuse though, right? :) #mglitchat -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @JoWhittemore I don't know. I started reading adult horror and mysteries at that age. Hey wait, that explains a few things. #MGlitchat -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @JoWhittemore Yes! I do - I think there is more flex there with the boundaries #mglitchat -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop @KDuBayGillis Maturity=Complexity. Readalouds/discussion leads kids to be ready for complexity. #mglitchat -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore Could you elaborate, please? RT @librarykelly: @JoWhittemore Yes. A lot. #mglitchat -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @jjhoutman Agreed. #mglitchat -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JenniferCEstes Crap! Just got home and have missed many minutes of #mglitchat ! Summarize, please? -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari RT @jjhoutman: I think good MG is layered. Theres a compelling story, but theres more there if you want to read deeper into it. #mglitchat -7:30 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone RT @jjhoutman: I think good MG is layered. Theres a compelling story, but theres more there if you want to read deeper into it. #MGlitchat -7:31 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @KDuBayGillis Yep. I agree. I want the depth that is tough to pull off with lower MG #MGLitchat -7:31 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @WaldenPondPress Thanks -- that makes sense. #mglitchat -7:31 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @mudmamba Glad you realized where you needed to be...here! #MGLitchat -7:31 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @WaldenPondPress I'd consider Juniper Berry upper, no? #mglitchat -7:31 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @JenniferCEstes Mostly discussing what is upper MG vs lower. Will b posting transcript l8r 2nite or tomorrow. :-) #mglitchat -7:31 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @elissacruz - We're on your bandwagon :), it's part of the reason we focus 100% on MG books #mglitchat -7:31 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @KDuBayGillis Me too! It took me awhile to realize that it was okay to keep the plot simple when writing lower MG. #mglitchat -7:31 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @WaldenPondPress Not upper, upper #mglitchat -7:31 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @JanGangsei Awesome excuse! Go and enjoy! #mglitchat -7:31 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto @JoWhittemore Makes me think of that kids-accept-what-they're-ready-for thing. I read SK's "It" at 9, missed a LOT. #mglitchat -7:31 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @PBWorkshop You are speaking my language! Discussion of novels can lead kids to discover different layers of text + complexity #mglitchat -7:31 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk @JanGangsei Excellent! #mglitchat -7:32 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @JenniferCEstes We're talking about age range in MG. Upper- or lower- and why... (or something like that) #mglitchat -7:32 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer RT @elissacruz: @KDuBayGillis I think it does. Lower MG are simpler story lines, few subplots. Upper MG are more complex, more subplots. #mglitchat -7:32 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @JoWhittemore Well, I don't feel like there were a lot of choices. At least I didn't have a lot of choices. I went from Ramona to #mglitchat -7:32 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @KKittscher @lauricorkum @smozer Thank ye! xoxo #MGlitchat -7:32 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
thereadingzone Kids self-censor very well. If a book is too young or too old for them, they will put it aside. #mglitchat -7:32 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @jscottsavage That's why I loved WHEN YOU REACH ME and MOON OVER MANIFEST. #MGLitchat -7:32 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @michaelascotto @JoWhittemore I agree. I think we gloss over lots of stuff we don't get when we read 2 mature 4 our age. #mglitchat -7:32 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop @elissacruz @KDuBayGillis Plot can be simple, but characters need dimensions, important goals. #mglitchat -7:32 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @WaldenPondPress Glad I'm not alone leading the #MGrevolution! #mglitchat -7:32 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JanGangsei @LauriCorkum Thank you! On the last book and getting sad to see it end. *sniffle* #mglitchat -7:32 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PatEsden RT @WaldenPondPress: RT @naveltwins MG fiction is the middle child of publishing. It has to act out to get noticed. And often then, its just called YA #mglitchat -7:32 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @WaldenPondPress @elissacruz Glad you're on the case! #mglitchat -7:32 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage One issue is also what grade level your books get placed in by standardized testing. Kids may skip if they don't get "credit" #mglitchat -7:33 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage Yes! RT @KDuBayGillis: @jscottsavage That's why I loved WHEN YOU REACH ME and MOON OVER MANIFEST. #MGLitchat -7:33 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore Agreed. We're breaching new subjects for all ranges that never would have come up when we were kids. @brianwyzlic #MGlitchat -7:33 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @smozer - It's themes and complexity could place it in that category - a lot of young teens connecting with it #mglitchat -7:33 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mudmamba So what do people think is not "age appropriate" in any MG book? #mglitchat -7:33 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari I think what is most important for kids in terms of upper and lower is that they need to part of themself in the book #mglitchat -7:33 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @JoWhittemore Baby Sitters Club to R. L. Stine and I'm not talking Goosebumps, the murder, and blood at school stuff #mglitchat -7:33 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
MaryAnnScheuer @thereadingzone and yet I've found the opposite to be really hard, tween books only in YA section #mglitchat -7:33 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @thereadingzone Unless it's their parents pushing it #mglitchat -7:33 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
reeseamandas RT @thereadingzone: Kids self-censor very well. If a book is too young or too old for them, they will put it aside. #mglitchat -7:33 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @jscottsavage I h8 all of these Acellerated Reader, Guidede reading, etc... Let kids read what interests them. #mglitchat -7:33 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @mudmamba I think the consensus here is. . .kissing with tongue. : ) #MGLitchat -7:34 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer RT @PBWorkshop: @elissacruz @KDuBayGillis Plot can be simple, but characters need dimensions, important goals. #mglitchat -7:34 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @JoWhittemore I think kids are more savvy (not that we weren't savvy) these days and exposed to more due to technology #mglitchat -7:34 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa @mudmamba romance, violence come to mind #mglitchat -7:34 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman Even if it's "lower" MG (hate that term), kids know when they're being talked down to. #mglitchat -7:34 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @rachelnseigel I agree. Most librarians I know feel the same way. #mglitchat -7:34 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
kellypolark @JoWhittemore Jo, what would you consider Odd Girl In to be? Upper or lower? (Loved it by the way! Great characters!) #mglitchat -7:34 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
thereadingzone @MaryAnnScheuer I find the shelving very interesting. Some MG is in children's, some in YA, some in both. Makes it hard to find! #mglitchat -7:34 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @elissacruz - Right back at you, that's why we were so excited for this chat :) #mglitchat -7:34 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @jscottsavage @KDuBayGillis Tough but not impossible. And needed in lower MG, imo. #mglitchat -7:34 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @elliefalcone Haha! Kids do mature at different rates. I was reading Agatha Christie at 14. #MGlitchat -7:34 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @mudmamba sex, drugs, tongue (lol), violence, that stuff. #MGlitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @jjhoutman Agree with this - kids are incredibly smart - they can smell this a mile away #mglitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susanjsteward @KDuBayGillis I'm not a fan of reading kissing with tongue in any age group. Guess that's why I'm still hanging with Ramona. #mglitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress Seeing so many names I recognize here, it's awesome! #mglitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
thereadingzone @jmaschari YES! Some of my 6th graders were way more advanced than I would ever imagine. Some were still innocent. #mglitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman My daughter loves "older" themes, as long as there's no "human growth and development." #mglitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa @mudmamba crushes are ok, but no hot stuff ;) then it'd be YA #mglitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @JoWhittemore We need a MG Agatha Christie series #MGlitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
thereadingzone @JoWhittemore I was reading VC Andrews. Oops. :) #mglitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
kellypolark @JanGangsei I just read some Harry Potter to my almost 9yo! Love sharing it with her! #mglitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
timothypower67 Whaaa? MG lit chat? Too cool! #mglitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk @JoWhittemore I think I write MG now because I only read adult books once I hit 5th grade. :) #mglitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore Flexibility is def important. @jmaschari #MGlitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @jjhoutman Thank you! Kids are very aware when they are being talked down to, & my critique group (adult writers) don't get that. #mglitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @JoWhittemore I read Jane Eyre at 12. But then, YA was virtually non-existent then. #MGlitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mudmamba People say violence -- isn't there a lot in Percy Jackson, Alex Rider, other action series? #mglitchat -7:35 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
Brucewriting Agreed RT @ @jscottsavage I h8 all of these Acellerated Reader, Guidede reading, etc... Let kids read what interests them. #mglitchat -7:36 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa yes to this! @jscottsavage @JoWhittemore We need a MG Agatha Christie series #mglitchat -7:36 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @mudmamba Not graphic violence. It's a fine line. HP has some violent and scary moments too. #mglitchat -7:36 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @timothypower67 Get in here. . . only 30 minutes to go! #MGLitchat Welcome! -7:36 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto @mudmamba perhaps it's more an issue of realism/detail with the violence #mglitchat -7:36 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @susanjsteward Me too, actually. I read a couple YA with some sex in it and felt kinna creeped out by it. Just didn't feel right. #MGlitchat -7:36 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @mudmamba I think it depends on the lvl of violence. My agent calls it safe scary. #mglitchat -7:36 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @KarenninaPosa There are lots of Sherlock Holmes takes now. Mystery is making a comeback. #mglitchat -7:36 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari I have reread some of the books that I read as a child + was like "whoa! I never caught that when I read it as a 5th/6th grader" #mglitchat -7:36 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore Love this point. RT @michaelascotto: Makes me think of that kids-accept-what-they're-ready-for thing. #mglitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman @AnshaKotyk @JoWhittemore Never knew what I was missing until I rediscovered MG. #mglitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
Brucewriting RT @KarenninaPosa: yes to this! @jscottsavage @JoWhittemore We need a MG Agatha Christie series #mglitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @thereadingzone @MaryAnnScheuer Agree, I have that prob in almost every book store, but some now shelve "intermediate readers" #mglitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn Yay! I made it for #mglitchat!! #mglitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa @rachelnseigel @mudmamba the early HP were MG, later ones became YA #mglitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop But Jane Eyre, Agatha Christie are incredibly naive/innocent as compared to much of today's "street-wise" content. #mglitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susanjsteward @elliefalcone So glad I'm not alone. I feel like the poster child for arrested literary development, sometimes. #mglitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum Is kid empowerment, in the sense of defeating bad guys in a mystery, considered violence? No blood, but pushing & evading. #mglitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @mudmamba - I would say violence is a little more tolerated in MG than sex, drugs, etc. #mglitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @michaelascotto @mudmamba I agree. There is still an innocence to many MG books, even those with violence. #mglitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @jmaschari I think the best books are like that. Appeal on different levels at different ages. #mglitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @librarykelly You're right! Probably why I jumped to Agatha Christie and Terry Brooks #MGlitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @KarenninaPosa That's one of the fun things about writing MG. Your readers can grow up with you. #mglitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @susankayequinn Welcome! Glad you made it! #MGLitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone Oh, how I wish. RT @jscottsavage: @JoWhittemore We need a MG Agatha Christie series #MGlitchat -7:37 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman @susankayequinn Welcome! #mglitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk @jjhoutman I completely agree with you. MG is pure awesome. :) #mglitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins @mudmamba I think violence, done well, is fine. Look at fairy tales or Pinocchio... #mglitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @KarenninaPosa That becomes really problematic. Skulduggery pleasant is like that too. She started out 12. Now she's 15. #mglitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn Yes! @rachelnseigel: @jmaschari I think the best books are like that. Appeal on different levels at different ages. #mglitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull @KarenninaPosa @rachelnseigel @mudmamba @recent workshop instructor said LIWilder did the same thing. #mglitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @WaldenPondPress Yes - violence is definitely more tolerated - esp. the funny kind (if that makes sense) #mglitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @Brucewriting @jscottsavage Not 2b unpopular, but w/ acc. reader, kids R supposed 2 read what interests them, if it's done right. #mglitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa I write MG because that's what I mostly like to read. I read YA and grown-up books, but always return to MG #mglitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @rachelnseigel @michaelascotto Perfect non-literary example: Greased Lightnin' from Grease. Ever heard those lyrics? #MGlitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn @jjhoutman It was your tweets that alerted me to tonight! #thanks #mglitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @rachelnseigel I hope mysteries are making a comeback! #saysshewhowritesmysteries #mglitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @elliefalcone @jscottsavage @JoWhittemore Is the Gilda Joyce series not Agatha Christiesque? #MGLitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @ErinStull She did, and so did Lucy Maud Montgomery. Personally, I lost interest when the characters got 2 far beyong my age. #mglitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PatEsden I'm cheering you on from the sidelines. Twitter doesn't want to let me chat right now #mglitchat -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
chorkie #mglitchat I saw some MG books in YA in my library. Asked why. Was told so that could be available to more kids. Made some sense. -7:38 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @rachelnseigel @KarenninaPosa Hooray for MG mysteries! Some 2012 debut authors & I are starting a YA/MG-mystery group blog in Sep #mglitchat -7:39 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto @JoWhittemore I never truly "heard" them until high school, haha #mglitchat -7:39 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn @jmaschari @WaldenPondPress Comic violence gets the best laughs. #literarypratfalls #mglitchat -7:39 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly The kids in my area are really into ghosts! #mglitchat -7:39 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @JoWhittemore I totally didn't get them at 9. Or Let's Get physical. Didn't learn that one till I was an adult but liked the song #MGlitchat -7:39 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa @rachelnseigel the readers age too, so it's good for the books to "age" with them IMO #mglitchat -7:39 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @chorkie Glad to read this!!! #mglitchat -7:39 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @librarykelly It's a tough line. testing does encourage kids to read. But it can turn it from fun into work. Not good #mglitchat -7:39 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop Could "Stress level" be the determining variable for levels? How much can the reader tolerate/carry/comprehend? #mglitchat -7:39 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @jmaschari Yes, and in some cases, I think savvy a little too early. Where has childhood gone? Sniffle. #MGlitchat -7:39 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @KDuBayGillis Gilda Joyce are supernatural mysteries. I'm reading the fifth one right now. Love her. #MGlitchat -7:39 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn Love this! Kids don't always want the YA mush.@chorkie: #mglitchat I saw some MG books in YA in my library. #mglitchat -7:39 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KateMessner @elissacruz Count me among the MG mystery fans - my 2012 Scholastic mystery was SO much fun to write! #mglitchat -7:39 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @KKittscher I'm putting together a list of Mystery novels at work for my customers ranging from 8 to teen. #mglitchat -7:40 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ErinStull RT @KarenninaPosa: @rachelnseigel the readers age too, so its good for the books to "age" with them IMO--love this! #mglitchat -7:40 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @KKittscher Oooh! I will be on the lookout for your blog. #mglitchat -7:40 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
laurapauling @elliefalcone I love Gilda Joyce. #MGlitchat -7:40 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @KDuBayGillis I want more though. I loves me some mysteries. #MGlitchat -7:40 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
reeseamandas My kids love the Mysterious Benedict books. Good, clean mysterious fun! #mglitchat -7:40 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @KDuBayGillis The thing about AC is that her books were puzzles not character driven #MGLitchat -7:40 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @KKittscher @rachelnseigel @KarenninaPosa Do ghost mysteries count in your new group blog? #MGLitchat -7:40 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn So with you on this. @JoWhittemore: @jmaschari Yes, and in some cases,I think savvy a little too early. Where has childhood gone? #mglitchat -7:40 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
john_zeleznik Hey everybody, what's up. #mglitchat -7:40 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @ErinStull I like it to an extent- as long as the content doesn't become 2 mature for the younger kids. #mglitchat -7:40 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @jscottsavage You're right. it's not my favorite thing, don't get me wrong. But, done correctly, it's not the worst thing ;) #mglitchat -7:40 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KateMessner I love Elise Broach's MG mysteries, too, esp. MASTERPIECE. #mglitchat -7:41 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
timothypower67 @KDuBayGillis Haha! It'll take me longer than that to catch up. Loving it! #mglitchat -7:41 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @JoWhittemore I agree - but I do find that a lot of kids are still drawn to the more innocent literature (though still deep) #mglitchat -7:41 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly Hi JOhn! #mglitchat -7:41 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @ErinStull I have the Alice books in two different sections. Once she graduates grade 8 it's YA. #mglitchat -7:41 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn Can anyone tell me when we're going to start having Science Fiction in MG? #yanno #withrealscience #mglitchat -7:41 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
john_zeleznik What are we talking about tonight? #mglitchat -7:41 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @jmaschari @susankayequinn Agree - we just signed a book with a fair amount of funny/comic violence #mglitchat -7:41 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop @rachelnseigel @JoWhittemore Isn't the song lyric question key today? Kids get hooked at a surface level, don't process content. #mglitchat -7:41 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @KateMessner Mysteries ARE fun to write! And I love that in MG books it doesn't have to be murder to be a satifying mystery. #mglitchat -7:41 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @KDuBayGillis @KKittscher @rachelnseigel @KarenninaPosa You bet. Still under construct, but http://tinyurl.com/3cy75jm #mglitchat -7:41 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susanjsteward @KateMessner Ever read adult mysteries at that age? I read mother's Mary Higgins Clark. Good thing it was R.D. abridged. #mglitchat -7:41 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PHCMarchesi @susankayequinn I write sci-fi/fantasy for MG. Hoping to see more out there! #MGlitchat -7:41 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @kellypolark Awww, thanks so much! I'd say OGI is upper MG because the brothers are older & some jokes beyond a third grader. #MGlitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk RT @susankayequinn: Can anyone tell me when were going to start having Science Fiction in MG? #yanno #withrealscience #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @WaldenPondPress Exciting! I #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KateMessner @susankayequinn Does dystopian MG count? My EYE OF THE STORM (coming in March) is upper-MG - set in 2050. #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop @jmaschari @JoWhittemore Wrinkle In Time series is a perfect example of that. #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @KateMessner I'm so glad mysteries are making a comeback, partly b/c it's what I love to write, & b/c I loved them as a kid. #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn @PHCMarchesi @susankayequinn I write it too - getting it published...that's a different story. #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @susanjsteward @KateMessner I started on Agatha Christie by the time I was 12 or so. #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JillCorcoran hey there new chat! #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore Yes!! Write it! RT @jscottsavage: @JoWhittemore We need a MG Agatha Christie series #MGlitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
john_zeleznik @PHCMarchesi I write YA fantasy and have what I think a good MG idea kicking around #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman @PBWorkshop @rachelnseigel @JoWhittemore Don't get me started. Some songs I love until I listen to the lyrics. Ugh! #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari Dark Life by Kat Falls seems to be more sci-fi #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @PBWorkshop @rachelnseigel @JoWhittemore I thought I was really something singing Madonna's Express yourself. My mom love that. #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn Yay! Go Kate (dystopia's rock) @KateMessner: @susankayequinn Does dystopian MG count? My EYE OF THE STORM (coming in March) #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KateMessner @elissacruz Me too - no murder in mine (just a ginormous, stolen flag!) #mglitchat -7:42 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
MaryAnnScheuer @WaldenPondPress yay!it's a summer party! Will you put together a list of #mglitchat tweeps later? Thx:-) -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rj_anderson My MG audience is just on the brink of teenhood and doesn't mind (or even wants) a bit of romance in their action/adventure. #mglitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @thereadingzone Gasp!! You little rebel! #MGlitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
kellypolark Anita Laydon Miller is releasing a cool mg mystery soon. A sample is on her blog. It's excellent. #mglitchat http://t.co/qsKnBs5 -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis RT @KateMessner: @susankayequinn Does dystopian MG count? My EYE OF THE STORM (coming in March) is upper-MG - set in 2050. #mglitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JillCorcoran do you all have a topic? #mglitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @jmaschari Is that considered MG? It's in the YA section of my library #mglitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @KateMessner @susankayequinn Can't wait for this one, Kate. Does it have an enviro message to it at all? #MGLitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn Dark Life is awesome. #oneofthefewMGSF @jmaschari: Dark Life by Kat Falls seems to be more sci-fi #mglitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @susankayequinn - have seen a number of dystopian MG manuscripts over the past 18 months or so #mglitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
   
rachelnseigel @KDuBayGillis I thought she was psychic or had help from ghosts? Am I confusing it? #MGLitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
BethBowland I love the MG age group! They're just so much fun! #mglitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PHCMarchesi @susankayequinn But I sense there will be a move away from magic towards more of a hybrid fantasy genre. #MGlitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @AnshaKotyk Do you kinda feel you missed that part of YOUR reading experience? #MGlitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
john_zeleznik Too bad my friend @mswinchell is on radio silence, he'd have a lot more to say than I will about #mglitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @john_zeleznik Topic: Defining age categories in MG. #mglitchat -7:43 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @jillcorcoran - what is your intended MG audience and why? #mglitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage With my new Grimville Case Files by HC, I tried to combine a cool mysteries with monsters. #mglitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rj_anderson I thought I was writing for 12-13 yo girls mostly, but am amazed how many 8-9 yo (and older) boys love my faery books. #mglitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @smozer I had some 5th graders read - it seems to blur line #mglitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @JillCorcoran Defining age categories in MG #mglitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
kellypolark @JoWhittemore With older brothers, I think the book has a bigger reader age range.I loved the humor in the book! #mglitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @JillCorcoran Welcome! We're talking defining audience in MG. Lower v. Upper, etc. #MGLitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
john_zeleznik @elissacruz Oooh, good time to hop in. #mglitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn But are they sciency? Or just future based... @WaldenPondPress: @susankayequinn - have seen a number of dystopian MG manuscripts #mglitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @mudmamba @elliefalcone @jscottsavage Oh, Poirot all the way! #MGlitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa @PHCMarchesi @susankayequinn what is "hybrid" fantasy? #mglitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @rj_anderson Very true. No matter what you write, you will get some bleed over into other ages #mglitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher Wow. Very impressed with the turnout here! MG was hungry for its own chat. #mglitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @JillCorcoran Topic supposed to be defining age catetories for MG book, but we're also discussing what works in upper vs. lower. #mglitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KateMessner @KDuBayGillis It's a science-gone-wrong story with huge future tornadoes. Had a great time researching in Oklahoma! #mglitchat -7:44 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
john_zeleznik I'm always confused about this. I mean I read LOTR and Dragonlance in 6th and 7th grade. #mglitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @rj_anderson That's awesome! #MGlitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @JoWhittemore @mudmamba @elliefalcone @jscottsavage Mais, oui! #mglitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman @susankayequinn @WaldenPondPress Sciency!!! #mglitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @elissacruz @john_zeleznik If the MG characters stumbled upon a dead body, would that be deemed an "upper" MG? #mglitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa RT @KKittscher: Wow. Very impressed with the turnout here! MG was hungry for its own chat. #mglitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone WORD! RT @JoWhittemore: @mudmamba @elliefalcone @jscottsavage Oh, Poirot all the way! #MGlitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @jjhoutman @anshakotyk One of the best little knowns from my childhood: The Good Master by Kate Seredy #MGlitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins @KateMessner I've been digging the Blue Balliett mysteries of late #mglitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susanjsteward @susankayequinn I have a MG ms heavy in real (space) science. Turned down frequently for not being science fiction. #sigh #mglitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn I'm writing an MG faery story - my 3 boys love it! @rj_anderson: am amazed how many 8-9 yo (and older) boys love my faery books. #mglitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @KateMessner I loved Masterpiece! I also love the Blue Balliett mysteries. Chasing Vermeer, etc... #mglitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @MaryAnnScheuer Great idea! A number of people in the room right now are on our MGTwitter List, but I should update it w/everyone #mglitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PHCMarchesi @susankayequinn My novel is a hybrid of fantasy/sci-fi, and I think there will be many more of those in the future. #MGlitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @rachelnseigel Wow. I'm impressed you could grasp it! #MGlitchat -7:45 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @jscottsavage Cool mysteries & monsters. What can be better than that? #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
timothypower67 Kids like to read up, we know, but is there a point where they won't read down? #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JillCorcoran doesn't Pendragon have dead bodies on the first pages--that is 5th grade book #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @susankayequinn Slowly starting to see some. #yanno #withrealscience #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mudmamba I've been moving toward "scary safe" MG, but a lot of my ideas have to be revised down to be less creepy. #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @LauriCorkum @elissacruz @john_zeleznik I think dead bodies can be in MG mysteries, just not abs. necessary like adult mysteries. #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari I like the Charlie Bone mysteries! #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @LauriCorkum @elissacruz @john_zeleznik Like Stand By Me? Probably would be upper, me thinks. #MGLitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PHCMarchesi @KKittscher Aliens? LOL! #MGlitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto @lauricorkum I'm trying to come up with a scenario that'd work in lower MG, but I think I'd have to settle for "yes" #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KateMessner My 1st two MG novels w/ Walker/Bloomsbury were marketed 8-12. The next two will be 10-14, so more upper MG. #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @susankayequinn Seeing a lot more dystopia trickle down. #yanno #withrealscience #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn RT @KarenninaPosa: RT @KKittscher: Wow. Very impressed with the turnout here! MG was hungry for its own chat. #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage I know. Right? :) RT @KKittscher: @jscottsavage Cool mysteries & monsters. What can be better than that? #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mudmamba If you only knew the stuff that was cut out of draft synopses.... #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
Brucewriting RT @KKittscher: @jscottsavage Cool mysteries & monsters. What can be better than that? #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
timothypower67 RT @KKittscher: Wow. Very impressed with the turnout here! MG was hungry for its own chat. #mglitchat -7:46 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
john_zeleznik @LauriCorkum I could see it being MG, suppose it depends on tone. #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @LauriCorkum @elissacruz @john_zeleznik Depends on circumstances: gruesome? who is it (friend v. stranger)? #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KateMessner @rachelnseigel Me too! (I'm especially partial to THE WRIGHT THREE) #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
love8rockets RT @WaldenPondPress: I'm always told kidsread up (i.e. 11 year old won't read abt 10 year old protag), but don't always find that to be true #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @WaldenPondPress @MaryAnnScheuer I have a MG twitter list as well. Many (most) are on it, but I'm always adding. #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @elissacruz I read that and my brain stopped at abs. I was like, what? I'll get me coat. #MGlitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto @lauricorkum Goosebumps has plenty of dead bodies, so I guess like violence it comes down to realism #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
timothypower67 RT @WaldenPondPress: @MaryAnnScheuer Great idea! A number of people in the room right now are on our MGTwitter List, but I should update it w/everyone #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
editorgurl RT @thereadingzone: Kids self-censor very well. If a book is too young or too old for them, they will put it aside. #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @rachelnseigel I think Gilda Joyce is a psychic, but I haven't read the series yet. #MGLitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ChocolateAir RT @susankayequinn: RT @KarenninaPosa: RT @KKittscher: Wow. Very impressed with the turnout here! MG was hungry for its own chat. #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JillCorcoran well, if you have any questions for an agent that reps MG, ask away #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @michaelascotto I'm thinking yes, too... b/c death brings up issues of finality,etc. Loss of innocence. #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn @kellypolark I have Earthling Hero on my nook! #yay #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @KateMessner @rachelnseigel I love THE WRIGHT THREE! #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer Graveyard Book starts with a knife and murder #mglitchat -7:47 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @PBWorkshop Song Lyrics are a key question. Justin Bieber sings about love and 9-12 yr olds adore him. #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman You really can't pin an age on a book. Every kid is different (even when adult like me) in reading, interest, maturity, etc. #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mimicross Hi All! Sorry I'm late :) #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
naveltwins We need to be careful not to get too caught up in age categories here. A well told story will find its audience #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @librarykelly @KateMessner Yes- me too! #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari Mary Downing Hahn has some dead bodies and Adam Gidwitz had a beheading and finger cut off and both of them are squarley MG #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
laurapauling Some upper MG can be better appreciated by adults. #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
Sec_Solutions I like that "age ghettos" LOL RT @naveltwins such a good thing to remember, not to build age ghettos around our books #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @smozer Is Graveyard really MG though? It feels a lot like YA to me in voice and story #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk @susankayequinn Earthling Hero is on mine too! @kellypolark #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @mudmamba I'm having the "scary safe" conundrum as well. I always push it too far... #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KateMessner Yes. This. RT @thereadingzone Kids self-censor very well. If a book is too young or too old for them, they will put it aside. #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
laurapauling I love a story, any story, with a lot of heart. #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
timothypower67 RT @naveltwins: We need to be careful not to get too caught up in age categories here. A well told story will find its audience #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari RT @naveltwins: We need to be careful not to get too caught up in age categories here. A well told story will find its audience #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
brianwyzlic @timothypower67 Unfortunately, it's probably around when they get into YA. They're "too mature" for MG, and it's an image thing. #mglitchat -7:48 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
love8rockets RT @elissacruz: @WaldenPondPress @thereadingzone That is why I am on a mission to bring MG to the forefront. It's been on the sidelines too long. #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @susankayequinn - A few definitely bridge the gap into sci-fi #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
john_zeleznik Ultimately, isn't a lot of this determined by either an agent or an editor or a marketing person? #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @JillCorcoran What are agents/editors wanting to see more of in MG? #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman @naveltwins Agreed! #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @kellypolark Thanks so much! Can I walk around book stores with you shouting these compliments? ;-) #MGlitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @WaldenPondPress @elissacruz @john_zeleznik The dead body is a stranger they happen upon & are then pulled into the mystery. #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
laurapauling @KateMessner Or they won't read the next book. #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @JillCorcoran Welcome! #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress RT @thereadingzone Kids self-censor very well. If a book is too young or too old for them, they will put it aside. #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @jscottsavage I would consider it MG as much as some of the others mentioned. #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn This is esp true of MG @naveltwins: not to get too caught up in age categories here. A well told story will find its audience #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis I chose 13 for my MC's age partially b/c of what she does in the story (goes on a plane alone, rides subways in NYC alone, etc.) #MGLitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa RT @naveltwins: We need to be careful not to get too caught up in age categories here. A well told story will find its audience #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PHCMarchesi RT @KDuBayGillis: I chose 13 for my MC's age partially b/c of what she does in the story (goes on a plane alone, rides subways in NYC alone, etc.) #MGLitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @jscottsavage I thought Graveyard Book felt older too. #MGlitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
laurapauling I love Minnie and Moo and they are early readers! #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman @laurapauling ALL upper (and lower) MG can be appreciated by adults. #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ceegates How about opening scene in The Graveyard Book? Violent and scary? Yes. MG? Yes. #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
SherWordsGirl RT @susankayequinn: This is esp true of MG @naveltwins: not to get too caught up in age categories here. A well told story will find its audience #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage What I want to know if can MG authors get offended at lack of respect too, like YA? #missingout #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn @WaldenPondPress Good to hear! I would love to see real SF in the hands of MG kids. #proscience #fromthesciencegeek #mglitchat -7:49 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ReadingVacation @WaldenPondPress @thereadingzone For sure! I won't read YA that is too old or MG that is too young. #mglitchat -7:50 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @elissacruz @MaryAnnScheuer - Good to know - thanks!! #mglitchat -7:50 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PHCMarchesi RT @susankayequinn: This is esp true of MG @naveltwins: not to get too caught up in age categories here. A well told story will find its audience #mglitchat -7:50 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop @rachelnseigel @PBWorkshop And all those Wannabe BeiberBabes are feeling ready for it- even if 6-8 yo. A good thing? #mglitchat -7:50 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @jjhoutman @laurapauling Certainly should be! #mglitchat -7:50 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
laurapauling @jjhoutman Yes, lower too. Depends on the story. #mglitchat -7:50 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @librarykelly @PBWorkshop When I was 9, we all sang Like a Virgin! Had no idea what it meant, but she was cool. @JoWhittemore #mglitchat -7:50 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mimicross @JillCorcoran Hi Jill! I've got a question :) Do you see too many MG manuscripts w twins? #mglitchat -7:50 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz I'm sure I missed a few #MGlitchat newbies, so welcome if this is your first time joining us! #officialwelcomewagon #mglitchat -7:50 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
john_zeleznik @LauriCorkum @elissacruz I think that if it's about a mystery or a journey around the dead body, then it could be MG. #mglitchat -7:50 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @PBWorkshop It's the same principal I hated about Mary Kate and Ashley Olson books. #mglitchat -7:50 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
Robin_Weeks @jscottsavage LOL--Nope. Only YA can get offended. MG is too young for that level of tortured angst #mglitchat -7:51 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @rachelnseigel @librarykelly @PBWorkshop @JoWhittemore And don't forget Papa Don't Preach. Didn't understand that until way later #mglitchat -7:51 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @jscottsavage What do you mean? #MGlitchat -7:51 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @john_zeleznik A lot of it has to do with who is getting killed and how. #mglitchat -7:51 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jemifraser How did I not know there was a #mglitchat???? -7:51 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @rachelnseigel @librarykelly @PBWorkshop @JoWhittemore OH, me too! And Like a prayer! My grandma had a fit! #mglitchat -7:51 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
BethBowland @smozer I was just thinking about that book. Yea, and it's MG #mglitchat -7:51 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JillCorcoran @librarykelly humor a must for lower MG and is good in upper too. Voice in MG is very hard to nail. #mglitchat -7:51 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @PBWorkshop Alot of their books were about boys, makeup and going 2 the mall. For 7-9 yr olds? Really? #mglitchat -7:51 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JillCorcoran @mimicross twins? no #mglitchat -7:51 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @michaelascotto Yeah, and then the lines I'd been belting in public really started to sound embarrassing. :-) #MGlitchat -7:51 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @susankayequinn - I agree, it's a great genre - would love to see it trickle down more #mglitchat -7:51 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LemmeLibrary RT @WaldenPondPress: RT @thereadingzone Kids self-censor very well. If a book is too young or too old for them, they will put it aside. #mglitchat -7:51 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JenniferCEstes @mudmamba Yeah, that's where I'm at. Which is why ghosts are good. Reader's reaction is less intense/immediate. #mglitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @elliefalcone All the angst about people dissing YA authors. I want to be offended too But it's hard when you have fart jokes #MGlitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop @rachelnseigel @PBWorkshop How about celeb-authored books in general? Kids flock to fame...need alternatives. #mglitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @smozer @rachelnseigel @librarykelly @PBWorkshop @JoWhittemore Yes! #mglitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
lisa_schroeder I hear from parents of kids as young as 6 who have read It's Raining Cupcakes w/ parent, and kids 10-12 reading it too. #mglitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @rachelnseigel @librarykelly @pbworkshop Bwahaha! #MGlitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KateMessner Was talking w/ my son about MG novels where people get killed - he pointed to Alex Rider series, which walks line between MG/YA. #mglitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @jemifraser It's new. This is week 2, and we're still getting the word out to people. #mglitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn @jemifraser Welcome! *waves* #mglitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ReadingVacation @rj_anderson Yes - just a bit is perfect for me. #mglitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mimicross @JillCorcoran Good to know, thanks! #mglitchat #ManuscriptsWithTwins -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jemifraser @susankayequinn Hi!! :) #mglitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JenniferCEstes @mudmamba My own wip has ghosts, dead bodies, and other creepy stuff...but, less than, you know, stephen king kinda creep. #mglitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
laurapauling Quite a few first graders read 5-7th grade books. #mglitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jemifraser @elissacruz Thanks! I'm glad I found it! #mglitchat :) -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
john_zeleznik @LauriCorkum I think it can work. Who is it? Why'd they die? Kid is the sheriff or head detective's kid... #mglitchat -7:52 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop RT @JillCorcoran: @librarykelly humor a must for lower MG and is good in upper too. Voice in MG is very hard to nail. #mglitchat -7:53 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @JillCorcoran @librarykelly - I agree, I think MG voice is much harder to nail than YA #mglitchat -7:53 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
lisa_schroeder So it is possible to write a MG that will work for a wide age range. #mglitchat -7:53 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @mudmamba Well yeah. But that happens everywhere. people are embarrassed to be reading anything that weighs less than 5lbs. :) #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rj_anderson @KateMessner I've read the whole Alex Rider series to my 11 yo son and sometimes I've had to edit on the fly - too gruesome. #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @laurapauling I do worry if sometimes the younger kids are fully grasping - know some 2nd graders who read Harry Potter #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KateMessner I teach 7th graders, and they read both YA and MG, leaning a little more toward YA. #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
MWLibraryDiva @timothypower67 I have heard that kids don't like to read about characters that are younger than they are. #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @jscottsavage Oh. LOL. Um, I'm not too offended by stuff like that. Insult the readers? Gloves come off. #MGlitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum Alex Rider series @KateMessner What a great example! Thanks! #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mimicross I think an MG voice almost always has to be super quirky, because actual MG kids can be so quiet . . . #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LemmeLibrary I'm late and off topic, I'm sure, but as a librarian, I use the word TWEEN for middle grade kids... anyone else? #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
laurapauling @rj_anderson But boys love gruesome! #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
hannahmosk RT @thereadingzone: Kids self-censor very well. If a book is too young or too old for them, they will put it aside. #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KarenninaPosa we need a future chat on writing the MG voice #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ceegates @elliefalcone @jscottsavage My middle school students, 10-13, loved Graveyard. Deliciously scary. #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman I think I write MG because I've been stuck in middle school for 40 years. #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @JillCorcoran @librarykelly I keep hearing this. Basically, you would an 11 year old with a 30 year old's vocabulary? #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop My worst nightmare! They lack life experience to match.RT @laurapauling: Quite a few first graders read 5-7th grade books. #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @jjhoutman @pbworkshop @rachelnseigel I once thought song "Tubthumping" was motivational "I get knocked down, but I get up again" #MGlitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mimicross @timothypower67 Lol! I'll have to check it out ;) #mglitchat #Twins -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jemifraser Lightning Thief & Ranger's Apprentice series both super popular with my MG students & adults #mglitchat -7:54 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @JillCorcoran I hear a lot about how difficult MG voice is to get right. Do you think that's true for upper and lower MG? #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rj_anderson @laurapauling They do, but I don't! :) #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @PBWorkshop Completely agree #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
Mike_Jung Re: people dying, WAYS TO LIVE FOREVER is about a protag with a fatal illness. Not violent/graphic, but emotionally intense. #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
lisa_schroeder I read the most when I was in that 8-12 year range, have really strong memories of books then, so I LOVE writing middle grade. #MGlitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @laurapauling - they were great readers but I wondered if they got nuances or message #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @ceegates Did you read it out loud to them? #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz @KarenninaPosa *adding voice topic to the list* #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
laurapauling @smozer Me neither. #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
kellypolark @AnshaKotyk @susankayequinn Double YAY! I have EH on my computer. Still oldschool. But my daughter will get ereader for 9th bday. #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
john_zeleznik @jemifraser THe Ranger's Apprentice series is a great fantasy, never mind MG! It really steps up quite well. #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto @mimicross my own key when attempting an MG narrator is to drop my cynicism, approach everything in near-complete earnest #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
NikiBurnham RT @thereadingzone: Kids self-censor very well. If a book is too young or too old for them, they will put it aside. #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @LauriCorkum - I'd say depending upon the complexity and content of the rest of the story - it could go either way #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @PBWorkshop I have an easy solution- I don't stock them. (with few exceptions liek Jamie Lee Curtis #mglitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone Do you, should you, call upper mg for boys "tween"? #MGlitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @SoonerBookworm Oh, yes! Are You There God? was racy reading for me. #MGlitchat -7:55 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jemifraser @john_zeleznik I agree - I love the books and the kids keep reading them after I introduce it! #mglitchat -7:56 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis @jjhoutman I think I write MG b/c those years were so brutally hard for me...and I want a redo! #MGLitchat -7:56 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis RT @KarenninaPosa: we need a future chat on writing the MG voice #mglitchat -7:56 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KateMessner @lisa_schroeder Yep- The books I read when I was 10 are the books that made me who I am. That's why I write MG. #mglitchat -7:56 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @JoWhittemore @jjhoutman @pbworkshop @rachelnseigel Is it not? R we the kids that get N trouble 4 not paying attention in class? #mglitchat -7:56 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop Agree! RT @KarenninaPosa: we need a future chat on writing the MG voice #mglitchat -7:56 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @john_zeleznik @jemifraser The one problem w/ that series is the characters get too old by last books. Readers drop off #mglitchat -7:56 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage Right there! RT @KDuBayGillis: @jjhoutman I think I write MG b/c those years were so brutally hard for me...and I want a redo! #MGLitchat -7:56 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @hannahmosk Or just understand it at their level. @cecilseaskull 's has a great artic on her interp of Deenie's "special spot":-) #mglitchat -7:56 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mimicross @mudmamba Interesting, that's why I asked @JillCorcoran 'cause I'd heard something similar 2 days ago. #mglitchat #DoNotWantToGiveUpMyTwins -7:56 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @PBWorkshop I was thinking about that earlier. And perspective. #mglitchat -7:56 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman @lisa_schroeder I've heard from readers from 8 to 15 (and up to 70, in fact). Is that a wide enough range? #mglitchat -7:56 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ClaireCaterer RT @KateMessner: @lisa_schroeder Yep- The books I read when I was 10 are the books that made me who I am. Thats why I write MG. #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone I hear ya. RT @KDuBayGillis: @jjhoutman I think I write MG b/c those years were so brutally hard for me...and I want a redo! #MGlitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jemifraser @smozer I haven't finished it yet - only in the first few. I'll look out for that! #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn Yes! @PBWorkshop: Agree! RT @KarenninaPosa: we need a future chat on writing the MG voice #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk RT @KDuBayGillis: @jjhoutman I think I write MG b/c those years were so brutally hard for me...and I want a redo! #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
lisa_schroeder I think of books for tweens as different from middle grade. After all, books for tweens are often shelved in the YA section. #MGlitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop @rachelnseigel @PBWorkshop I agree- Curtis has some actual talent! #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KateMessner @elissacruz @KarenninaPosa Hmm...what will we say about MG voice? I think that's the hardest part of writing to teach. #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @hannahmosk Here's the link to theLARB article: http://tinyurl.com/43cblut #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum @michaelascotto Earnestness... great word. Couple that with a sense of innocence and apply that. #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mimicross @michaelascotto That makes sense, and then add the quirks? ;) #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @PBWorkshop @KarenninaPosa Apparently. #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore Ooh. That's a good question. Thoughts, @WaldenPondPress? RT @elliefalcone: Do you, should you, call upper mg for boys "tween"? #MGlitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JillCorcoran gotta make dinner for 8 hungry teens...more soon #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage How about books per year? Harper is having me do 2 a year. in HB Which I like. #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari I think MG allows children to explore tough topics like death, family issues, divorce in a really safe way #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
lisa_schroeder @jjhoutman haha, yes - that's wonderful! #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
SMullenGilbert Me too :) RT @JoWhittemore: @SoonerBookworm Oh, yes! Are You There God? was racy reading for me. #MGlitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @PBWorkshop If hte book is good, I'll take it. I've read good things about the Hilary Duff so am willing to give it a shot. #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @Brucewriting @Susankayequinn - I'd say as a genre it's under-represented in MG, but Larklight is a good example #mglitchat -7:57 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
john_zeleznik @jemifraser @smozer Biggest compliment I got for my YA fantasy was that it reminded the editor of RA. #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mimicross @mudmamba Lol! I almost made one the figment of the other's imagination! #mglitchat #Twins -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mudmamba I would happily strike the word "tween" from the English language. #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jemifraser @john_zeleznik Now, THAT's a compliment! :) #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @JillCorcoran Whoa! Intense :) Good luck! #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman @JoWhittemore @jjhoutman @pbworkshop @rachelnseigel You mean it's not motivational??? #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer @john_zeleznik Nice :-) #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop @jscottsavage Nice problem to have! :) #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
kellypolark @jmaschari @laurapauling I see that too. 2nd graders may be able 2 sound out words, but not mature enough for full comprehension. #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mudmamba What was wring with "pre-teen"? #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
mimiteacher I teach 7th/8th graders. Generally kids read "up" their age, love to read about older kids. My students love high school stories. #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ClaireCaterer RT @mudmamba: I would happily strike the word "tween" from the English language. | Thank you! #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KateMessner MG voice is so varied - when I'm writing young, funny MG, I'm in a totally different mindset than when I write upper MG novels. #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage Agreed. It's like a non target target. RT @mudmamba: I would happily strike the word "tween" from the English language. #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rj_anderson As a 10-11 yo I read some adult books aware there might be edgy content, but if I found that stuff in MG it really upset me (1/2) #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum Vocabulary is an issue- do we dumb it down or write at a higher level to expose MG readers to new words? #mglitchat -7:58 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis Just in case folks need to leave, thanks for being here!! Check out the blog later for a transcript http://t.co/5kCUVG5 #MGLitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @JoWhittemore @WaldenPondPress @elliefalcone Eek. I don't think so. #mglitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
susankayequinn I agree. I wish we had a better word. @mudmamba: I would happily strike the word "tween" from the English language. #mglitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @mudmamba Agree :) #mglitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jemifraser Only a very small % of my students (gr 5/6) want to read anything by/about celebs #mglitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elliefalcone @mudmamba :::high five::: #MGlitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage True! RT @PBWorkshop: @jscottsavage Nice problem to have! :) #mglitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
ceegates @jscottsavage Read it to some, but others read on their own. #mglitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KKittscher @KateMessner @elissacruz @KarenninaPosa I agree. I'm not sure voice can be taught, really. I feel like it's built over time. #mglitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PHCMarchesi Loving the chat, but have to go (unfortunately)...see you all next time. And remember, fantasy/sci-fi rules! :) #mglitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
michaelascotto @mimicross Quirks are great "tells." You can learn things chars don't necessarily even understand about themselves #mglitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
Shelley_Watters RT @JillCorcoran: well, if you have any questions for an agent that reps MG, ask away #mglitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jjhoutman RT @KDuBayGillis: @jjhoutman I think I write MG b/c those years were so brutally hard for me...and I want a redo! #mglitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rj_anderson (2/2) because I felt like my trust had been betrayed. I expected books written for my age to be a safe haven. #mglitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @JoWhittemore @jjhoutman @pbworkshop I don't know that song. I'll have to look it up. #MGlitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
LauriCorkum RT @KDuBayGillis: Just in case folks need to leave, thanks for being here!! Check out the blog later for a transcript http://t.co/5kCUVG5 #MGLitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
JoWhittemore @jjhoutman @pbworkshop @rachelnseigel Probably not the "pissin' the night away" part. ;-) #MGlitchat -7:59 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
WaldenPondPress @JoWhittemore @elliefalcone - Great question, I would be careful with that since upper MG boy can be a tough sell already #mglitchat -8:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
KDuBayGillis Thanks to @elissacruz for kicking off #MGLitchat and @Rachelnseigel for co-hosting tonight (and wrestling with the transcript!) #MGLitchat -8:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
actualteen RT @thereadingzone: Kids self-censor very well. If a book is too young or too old for them, they will put it aside. #mglitchat -8:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
PBWorkshop @LauriCorkum Vocabulary should be organic- arise out of the characters and situations so context will support it. #mglitchat -8:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jmaschari @LauriCorkum I think incorporating higher level vocab is fine if there is context + it makes sense in the confines of the story #mglitchat -8:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
jscottsavage @ceegates I like that approach. Read enough to get the kids hooked and let them at it. #mglitchat -8:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
librarykelly @LauriCorkum See, I think Sisters Grimm is another good example here as well. #mglitchat -8:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
elissacruz And for those who want to be added to the unofficial #MGlitchat writers Twitter list, let me know. #mglitchat -8:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
AnshaKotyk RT @KDuBayGillis: Thanks for being here!! Check out the blog later for a transcript http://t.co/5kCUVG5 #mglitchat -8:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
smozer Our reading staff developer always says, "Do you really want a kid reading The Giver and saying what a nice story?" #mglitchat -8:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
kellypolark @JoWhittemore Ha! If I'm ever in TX, I'd be glad to. :) #mglitchat -8:00 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  
rachelnseigel @KDuBayGillis @elissacruz Thanks 2 my awesome co-hostesses and 2 everybody 4 coming out. #MGLitchat #MGLitchat -8:01 PM Jul 28th, 2011
  

3 comments:

  1. Just found this site - yea! The transcript is hard to read, however. Look at how kidlit chat does it: http://www.thehappyaccident.net/kidlitchat-transcript-march-29/ Maybe something like that could be done here.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thanks for the suggestion, Susan. Unfortunately, the programs kidlitchat used to create those transcripts are no longer available. We all (Greg Pincus included) are scrambling to find other ways to post transcripts. We'll keep trying to clean things up, though.

    ReplyDelete
  3. I agree, it is a little difficult. Still, love the idea of being able to read everything you've missed!

    ReplyDelete