Are boys stereotyped in YA (young adult) and MG (middle grade) books?
There’s been a rash of discussion on the blogosphere about stereotypes of boys in YA lit (The Sweet One, The Bad Boy, The Nerdy Guy) and the subsequent lack of boy readers of YA, as they avoid the aisle of pink-kissy-lip covers like a toxic spill. The amazing boylit writer (and YA herself) Hannah Moskowitz has a fascinating discussion of The Boy Problem on her blog (also: check her out, she’s awesome).
This got me thinking about boy characters in MG. Do we stereotype them as well? I don’t think they serve as cardboard cut-outs, the way boys often do in YAlit, simply because MGlit seems more designed to appeal to boys AND girls. In fact, if you expect to have high concept, broad appeal books in MG, you had better have both male and female lead characters that are strong in their own rights.
Examples
Harry Potter: Where would Harry be without Ron and Hermoine?
Artemis Fowl: Artemis is counterbalanced by a rocket-powered fairy girl (Holly)
The Red Pyramid (Riordan’s latest): Brother and sister dynamic duo, with alternating voices
Leviathan: Prince Alex arguably isn’t even the lead, because so much of the stage is stolen by derring-do Deryn
Lemony Snicket: Bookish brother Klaus is meek compared to inventor Violet and biter extraordinaire Sunny
There are certainly some books without major female leads (Percy Jackson comes to mind), but I would say on balance characters are more likely to be boy/girl teams than solo boy adventurers. These examples happen to be fantasy/science fiction, but they are drawn from the bestselling MG books, which I think speaks to their broader appeal. I don’t read a lot of real-life MG books (Frindle), but while those seem to have more girl lead characters, they also don’t tend to be the breakout (read: super popular) books.
In almost all of these examples, the girls run against type – they are inventors and pilots and sassy sister/fairy/friends. But what about the boys? Well, they are almost uniformly orphans, but that is more plot device than stereotype, I believe. Harry is average in intelligence and kinda nerdy in a pleasant sort of way, but has a special destiny. Artemis is an evil (sort of) genius that has a soft heart. Percy is dyslexic and gets in trouble a lot, but is also loyal and has a special destiny as well. Alex is argumentative and a bit snobbish, but noble and valiant.
Looking at all these great characters, I’m having a hard time seeing a stereotype. Having a “special destiny” is practically required for fantasy books, and being an orphan frees you up for adventure. They are uniformly brave, but I think most heroes need to be. Perhaps the common thread is that all these boys are outsiders, ostracized a bit from their peers and misunderstood by adults, but ultimately saving the day (with their girl sidekicks and often an adult mentor).
Is this bad? Are we missing a boy character type that needs to be brought out in MG fiction?
The one thing I haven’t seen yet is a breakout book with a girl as the strong lead character, even if she has a boy sidekick (ala Hunger Games in YAlit). But I think we’re heading in the right direction as girl characters get stronger roles (also Byrne Risk is my personal attempt at moving that trend forward).
What tropes do you see in MGlit, either in boy or girl characters?
p.s. The lovely Sheri Larsen has interviewed me over at The Graffiti Wall, where you can WIN a copy of Life, Liberty, and Pursuit! And be sure to check back with Sheri next month, where she’s hosting a Paranormal Writing contest, and I’ll be offering a critique as one of the fab prizes!
Wow, now that I think about it, it sure looks like the publishing community does. We book buyers can only purchase what's available to us. I for one usually purchase anything with a boy on the cover, because that's all my son will bother to read.
The only stereotype I have a problem with is the Perfect Boy. The super nice boy who sacrifices everything for the girl and has no flaws to speak of (e.g. Peeta in Hunger Games, Po in Graceling).
When that guy shows up, I know a woman wrote the book. Even the nicest guys just aren't that nice, but that's what every girl wishes we would be, yes?
@LM We book buyers can only purchase what's available to us. So true. Although publishers do their best (they're out to make money after all), the pressure to lean conservative is intense – even more so as they get squeezed. So the temptation to publish what "works," what they think "sells" is enormous. The only problem being that no one really knows what will sell … until it does. Although self-publishing has it's drawbacks (some serious), there is something to be said for a "free market" of books available, all with an equal chance to spiral up into consumer consciousness.
@Adam I'm partial to nice guys (married one), but if all girls wanted nice boys, then The Bad Boy wouldn't be quite so attractive. I think the problem lies not so much in Peeta being a nice guy, as him being the Too Perfect Boy – as you say, with no flaws. It romanticizes boys too much, and it's asking too much of any human to be that self-sacrificing in every way. (Bear in mind, I'm hugely Team Peeta when I say this) But when someone (real or fictional) makes a sacrifice, it means more to me if they are more balanced – they choose the sacrifice, not because they are a perfect person, but because they are flawed, but still make the choice. Does that make any sense? (also: I think we have more realistic boys in MG)
Ah, the sweet irony of it all. Girls getting stronger roles. Don't hear that happening enough in the real world. 😉
You have a great point about the guys in YA novels. My goal is to mix things up a little. 🙂
@Stina Yeah, those postings made me take a hard look at my boy characters!
I think the stereotypes that affect me are… how shall I put this… If I have a strong female character I worry that the boys come across as wimpy. If I have a male protagonist then I worry that the females are all helpless. I don't consciously think about any of this while writing, thank goodness, but when I get to later editing stages, I do try to make sure my girls aren't crying all the time (even if it's in anger) and the boys aren't running around taking care of everything all at once.
@Deniz I think every writer has a built in bias/perspective of the world, and there's nothing wrong with that. And consciously trying to make sure your characters don't fall into a certain type is *exactly* the right thing for writers to do, IMHO! 🙂
One of the things I love most about Hunger Games is seeing boys reading them as often as girls. I write adventures for boys and girls with girls as the main character… so if nothing else, I'd love to see the tropes change as well as the norms on what boys will or will not read! :o)
Great discussion, Sue! Now I'm off to check out your interview!
@Jackee The awesome thing about Hunger Games is that I think it is opening eyes to the possibilities – a story can have frilly dress-up AND weapons. Dystopia AND love story. And readers of all ages and genders will read it. I heart the HG trilogy in a major way.
Wow… I'm only just realizing how much I've missed out on by not joining the blogging world much, much sooner! Your post made me sit up and listen for sure – my MC is a boy and there is a strong female as well. But he's got both parents (~wipes forehead in relief~)… but I think I'm going to have to beef up some of the other characters and make absolutely certain I've not missed an opportunity to make them completely real. I do believe I may have cheated along the way in my story. Thanks for shaking me out of my complacency!
Your comment that the books with strong female leads don't become as phenomenally popular as ones with boys is something I've noticed as well and it really bothers me. It seems that girls are more open to reading novels with either gender as the protagonist, while boys run at the first site of a girl taking the reins. Maybe it's because of the covers? A lot of the girl-heroine covers are very stereotypically "girly" in design (like you said, pink-kissy-lip). That would serve to explain why The Hunger Games broke down this barrier – the cover is completely gender neutral. Whether we like it or not, people do judge books by their covers. Maybe that's something marketers should take into account. They have the potential to open up a whole new world of reading possibilities for young boys.
@DL I've just recently taken to writing out whole mini-narratives of the story from my secondary character POVs – it really forces you to make them real. Good for you, and best of luck with your story!
@Bookish Covers are huge, but I think publishers dance a fine line between attracting all comers and trying to target their audience, so they get the RIGHT people to pick up the book. The true trick, I think, is writing a book that TRULY appeals to everyone. So not easy to do, and not always desireable either. But as a parent, I am totally on board with encouraging my boys to read books with girls as the MC. And they do. 🙂