The Magic Words: Writing Great Books for Children and Young Adults

Klein, executive editor at the Arthur A. Levine Books imprint of Scholastic Books, serves as an insightful and thorough guide to writing fiction for children and young adults. She teaches readers to identify a book’s “core”—its primary reason for being—and examines character, plot development, voice, revision, and specific genres, such as speculative fiction. After covering the writing basics, Klein addresses the nitty-gritty details specific to the younger market, such as choosing an age for the protagonist that will appeal to one’s audience, and insights into what YA editors are looking for (hint: no prologues). Klein also illustrates each section of her book with examples from successful children’s literature and includes frequent writing exercises. The book excels in clarity and usability: for example, it takes the reader step by step through the specifics of character development, which Klein separates into different components that include a protagonist’s compulsions, ethical values, degree of self-awareness, and tastes. She clearly knows the market and how to cut to the heart of what’s important, and provides valuable and methodical guidance for any writer on how to shape a manuscript into a salable book. (Sept.)