Tagging onto our discussion of Big Words on Monday, this happened yesterday …
Mighty Mite (7yo): “What four words do you think describe me?”
Me: “Um…short, jumpy, fun, and cute?”
Mighty Mite: “Unbelievable, Boundless, Exciting, and Radical.” (reading from the YMCA camp brochure)
This little exchange is also a case study in Point of View. What we see as adults (children are short) is not at all what they perceive (I. AM. BOUNDLESS.). This unrestrained, unlimited view of the world is one of the things I love about kidlit, and why I write it. Everything is new. Anything is possible. The jadedness of the world has yet to set in. The most dire things can happen, and yet there is a thorough expectation that good will triumph over evil.
I think this essential character of youth – that the world is filled with endless possibilities – is a key part of getting the middle grade Voice down. More than a “smaller word” vocabulary or childish way of speaking. It is this Viewpoint – a fresh vantage point, gazing up at a boundless universe – that determines a child’s Point of View.
p.s. the reading level of this blog post (as well as Mighty Mite’s words) is 6.5 (sixth grade, fifth month). He’s in second grade. Even if those words had to be read to him (as opposed to reading them himself), there’s great value in having them a part of his world.
p.p.s. Awesome regular commenter Darby Karchut is my 300th follower! Which makes me think we need a follower contest to celebrate … I shall ponder that over the weekend. Have a great one!
What a great reminder! I love the fact that your little guy has such a wonderful sense of self! Definitely something for us adults to remember!
And yes! That is exactly why I write YA too!
I agree. We hold kids to too low of a standard. A lot of 2nd graders I know still struggle to read and others are reading 7th-8th grade books! So it does more come down capturing their voice and where they're at in life. And even that can be different.
Excellent post. Middle grade is not about vocabulary (and EDDY is a perfect example: diagenesis? monotreme? prescient?). I never thought about it the way you said it, but it's true. MG is all about possibilities, discovery, opening the door to adulthood.
Boundless! Love it!
@Jamie If I could bottle Mighty Mite's self-esteem, the world would be a better place. 🙂
@Laura I think it comes down to remembering that kids are individuals, just like the grown-ups they will become. Eventhough our lives shape us, the kid-version of me is remarkably like the adult-version of me. 🙂
@Jacqueline I haven't heard of EDDY! Who is the author (I'm having a hard time finding it on Goodreads)? And these words: I never thought about it the way you said it completely rock my day. Thank you!
Oh, hee hee. EDDY is short for THE REINVENTION OF EDISON THOMAS by um, me.
What a great post!!! I agree that "typical" is often more of a hinderance than anything. Congrats on your 300th follower – I just hit 50 and was thrilled. . . you must be celebrating:)
@Jaqueline Lord have mercy. Actually I HAVE heard of The Reinvention of Edison Thomas – have it on my TBR in fact (under MG-NEW)! I can't decide if I'm mortified or excited that you stopped by! I'm going with excited … ! And I've heard great things about your book! When I read/review, maybe I can have you back for an interview??
I'd love it. Thanks!
This little post is a case study in AWESOME!
And congrats on The 300.
Congrats on the 300 followers! 😀
I much prefer your son's words, even though I would have picked the same as you, Susan.
@Matthew *blushes* Thanks!
@Stina I know, he kinda blew me away. Wished I come up with better words! 🙂
Thanks for the shout-out, Sue. And your son sounds precious. Which, I'm sure, is a word he would not choose for himself. 🙂
Boundless. Whoa. What a word, what a concept for a mite. I love this post.
I love this post, Susan. It may be my favorite Ink Spells post ever. I'm not sure why I'm connecting with it so strongly, but I am. 🙂
@Darby Yup, pretty sure he would wrinkle up that little nose at the word "precious." LOL
@Tricia The Mite often leaves me speechless. I'm in serious trouble when he reaches teen-hood. 🙂
@Shannon I always get a sense of boundless optimism when I visit your blog, so maybe that's it? 🙂
This is fantastic. I love mighty mite's perception. Boundless. I wish there were more books written for the younger reader with more advanced vocab. I hated having my 2nd grader reading middle school books just so she would be challenged by the writing. What's worse is finding something challenging and appropriate for a 5th grader (she was reading at college level).
Man, what a lesson, both as a parent and a writer – get out of your own head! 🙂 Getting inside other skulls is one of the great keys to good writing – and probably helps a ton for parenting, too. How does it all look from down below?
I'll second Matt on the awesomeness.
@lotus I'm standing in your shoes right now, with a 6th grader who wants to read adult books! And there's simply nothing in the YA aisle for him anyway (I exaggerate. But only a little).
@Bryan Climbing inside another viewpoint – so important and so hard to do! Fortunately, my kids aren't shy about sharing their point of view! 🙂
Great post. 🙂
Congratulations on the 300 Followers!
Susan you are doing awesome! It wasn't too long ago both of us were sitting in libraries. I'm so excited for you.
Love this! MG aged kids are indeed boundless and brave and ready to engage with texts that challenge them!
Congratulations on having 300 followers and for being a good mom. 🙂
I. Am. Boundless. Oh, I love that part of youth and when I see it in my own daughters!
@Eagle Thanks!
@JJ Thank you !
@Jemi They are ready for more than we are, it seems. 😉
@Sharon You are so sweet! Thank you.
@Margo I'm so glad your daughters have that wonderful sense of self! 🙂