My link yesterday to the Top 10 Dads in Science Fiction and Fantasy got me thinking about the choices characters make in children’s books, both kidlit and young adult.
Often parents are removed from a story, through death, kidnapping, or incompetence, leaving room for the child characters to have the epic adventures and magical journeys that provide the meat of the story. This sort of story-starter is so common that we can be hard pressed to find a child character that has an intact family. I don’t think this is as dire as it sounds, but I would like to see more strong Dad characters.
With the general lack of parental oversight, child characters sometimes make bad choices. In fact, the main adventure of a story may be caused, or at least exacerbated, by our characters making the wrong choice in a situation. After all, if they didn’t venture into that dark cavern, when all good sense not to mention the camp rules, dictate that they should go home and stay snug in their beds … well, we wouldn’t have much of a story, would we?
So making some bad choices, or simply less-than-prudent ones, may be necessary for a story. But what about writing the kinds of characters that we want children (both kids and teens) to emulate? Do kidlit writers have an obligation to write stories that show children the right choices to make? Or do kidlit writers need to provide stories that reflect the (sometimes) harsh realities of life, where not everything has a happy ending, and where bad things happen to good people?
In some senses, stories have always been the way that we explain the world – to ourselves, to our children, to each other. The best of these stories hold lessons about life that have meaning in the real world – even if they are high entertainment along the way. I believe kidlit writers have an obligation to tell these kinds of powerful stories, even more than adult writers. Simply because the impact of a story on a child can be so far reaching.
Do you think kidlit writers have an obligation to have their child characters make good choices?
ALSO: This week I will be posting EVERY DAY. This is because I have a VERY SPECIAL announcement to make … AND A CONTEST! So please check back tomorrow! (Hint: the announcement will have something to do with character choices …)
Ha, this is funny (not in a ha ha way, though maybe) b/c I'm currently trying to decide whether I want to kill off my MC's father (she's eighteenish, so not exactly an MGer). It's a big off-scene waffle for me right now. I'd like to keep him around, but sometimes a loose thread needs to be cut.
I think using an absent parent is a great way to involve emotion – but it is almost becoming…overdone. There's got to be more ways of eliminating the parents than killing them off. Like setting the story outside the house. Or the parents are working.
And I don't think kids want to read books about kids making the right choices. This is fiction. They want to read about kids doing things they woudn't dare do. Like possibly breaking the rules for the greater good. It's all in how it's done. Interesting post!
@Bane I was just struggling with this exact issue, not for the father of a MC, but for a love interest. The best advice I heard was to make sure the death is important to the plot or MC – not just for shock value. Not "Meh. Dead. Moving on." but show what impact the death has on the MC. I would think this would apply regardless of kidlit vs. not.
@Laura I agree about the overdone part. Some of the more interesting (read: creative) stories have something more unique happening with regard to the parents. Of course, it is all in the telling of the story, as you say! I think kids like the more outrageous the better, especially MG.
Those are some pretty good questions! I don't think I should shackle myself to a rigid set of rules like "my characters need to make good choices." I think I AM obligated to write TRUE characters. True characters, to my mind, make bad AND good choices. But I do think I'm obligated to show how real-life kids could come back from a mistake. That all isn't lost, ya know?
Not sure that makes sense, lol. But I'm happy to report my MG sci fi Jump Boys has a strong Dad. Huzzah! :0
@Ali Yay for Jump Boys! You'll have to let us know when that gets published (note the positive!). 🙂 I like your emphasis on TRUE characters. Keep your character true to themselves, let them make good and bad choices, but bring them back from the brink … all good storytelling. 🙂
I wouldn't say they're obligated to showcase good choices, it is fiction after all. But I'm up for sliding some consequences in there for really BAD choices. Nothing too preachy, but we can't let them off scott free, can we?
@Vicki I'm definitely a "natural consequences" kind of person – you make a choice (good or bad), let's see how it plays out. *cue evil music* 🙂
I try not to make rules while writing but go with my gut. For YA I've written where the MC actually loses her life and her parents live, she still makes bad decisions but you see the suffering from all aspects.
I think for children it's tough, it's okay for them to make bad decisions and losing a parent is the easiest answer on how to allow them to grow. You just have to play it well I suppose.
Awesome post Susan, really great post!
@Jen You YA novel sounds cool! A great twist on the "separated by death" issue with the parents. 🙂 Bad decisions in YA are almost required, I think – a bit less so in MG.
Yes, the amount of bad parenting in children's literature is astounding 😛
I think showing natural consequences for bad choices makes sense. But kids run from preachy books so I think if you're trying to write a moralistic story it needs to be done subtly.
One beta reader of my current WIP actually said one of the things she liked about my story is that the MC has a strong family unit but it doesn't prevent the MC from getting into scrapes. We'll see if any of the gods of publishing agree!
I agree with Ali. Not everything in real life is happy. We don't all wake up in the morning and make blessedly good decisions each day – grown-up or child. However, most of us do LEARN from the choices we make. That is the key. 🙂
I also posted about that Wired top father's list and included some of my own thoughts about fathers in fantasy. I agree that there should definitely be more strong fathers in fantasy. Usually the father gets killed and is soon replaced by a wise mentor who guides the child to adulthood but I don't see any reason why the father can't play that role as well. It's just a matter of pulling different emotional strings.
I believe that many authors believe that fractured families create instant drama. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD had a strong father and was a prize winner to boot. Maybe conventional wisdom isn't so wise?
I'm writing a YA urban fantasy, CAPTAIN OUTRAGEOUS, which is a combination of AUNTIE MAME meets THE TWILIGHT ZONE meets HONDO. It has a strong surrogate father in it. Wish me luck with it. Roland
LOVE these thoughts. And I think you're right! We need more of this in YA. Can't wait for the big announcement!
You know I think if it can work in the story – having a father there is important. In my book, The Pack, the father is a constant and strong force behind the main character. He's her champion and when she's at her lowest, he was there to lean on. It was tricky keeping both parents alive and supportive, but fun also.
@Solvang I think a good adventurous MC will find those scrapes, in spite of the loving family. At least this is what I fear for my third son! LOL
Also: Don't forget to stop back Tuesday to enter my contest! 🙂
@Simcha I know kids don't like to listen to their parents – but I think that's cliche as much as anything. Parents ARE a huge factor, and as you say, they could be the "wise guiding force."
Also: Don't forget to stop by Tuesday and enter my contest! 🙂
@Roland LUCK! Seriously, that sounds very cool, especially the Twilight Zone part! And I'm a firm believer in bucking conventional wisdom if it serves your story. That's how the great ones go, right?
Also: Don't forget to stop by Tuesday to enter my contest! 🙂
@Laura and Laura Thanks for stopping by! The contest and announcement are up!! Come by and enter! 🙂
@LM Good for you! I can see how it would be difficult navigating that parent-child relationship and still let the child be challenged. Thanks for stopping by! Don't forget to come back and enter the contest! 🙂
@Shannon YES! Learning from the bad choices, especially if it helps make good choices later: hello, character arc! 🙂 Don't forget to come by and enter the contest! 🙂
At least if they don't make good choices, there should be negative consequences involved. If not, then kids don't learn to think of the consequences before they act. 🙂
@Stina Sounds good to me! I think much of MG and YA reading should help kids understand the real consequences of the world. 🙂