WHAT MAKES A GREAT NOVEL FOR CHILDREN?
Regardless of the age of the intended audience, great novels have one large common denominator: each is a great story. Great stories share traits that coincide with the five fundamental elements of fiction (character, plot, setting, theme, and style).

CHARACTER. According to Donald Maass, in Writing the Breakout Novel, great stories " . . . involve characters whom you cannot forget. . . they are larger than life . . . they act, speak, and think in ways you or I . . . do not."

In children's novels, that means the story has at least one unforgettable character. Most likely that character grows or matures, and emerges from the story as a changed person.

PLOT. The characters must do something important. According to Maass, in great novels "what happens to the characters in the course of the story is unusual, dramatic, and meaningful. A great story involves great events."

SETTING. Characters don't perform on an empty stage. As outlined by Maass, your favorite novels "probably . . . whisked you into their worlds, transported you to other times or places, and held you captive there."

That means setting is more than just a stage. It incorporates a milieu, a broader sense of culture and environment, so integrated into the story that setting almost becomes another character.

THEME. A great novel is more than just entertainment. According to Maass, another aspect of great stories is that they alter the reader's way of seeing the world.

Ideally, a great children's novel leaves the reader stronger, wiser, and better able to cope with whatever real-world challenges he may face.

STYLE. Style is the "how" of fiction, reflecting a myriad of decisions made by the author, from individual word choice to choice of viewpoint to choice of tone. In the past, many novels shared a cumbersome, difficult-to-read style. Although modern novels differ significantly in various aspects of style, great novels for today's youth share one overall trait in style: they are told in an accessible, straight-forward manner.

In capsule form, the cornerstones of a great novel for children are:
* An intriguing character
* A dramatic, meaningful plot
* A captivating setting
* An appropriate theme
* An accessible, straight-forward style
When these traits are combined into one story, the reader is hooked from the beginning, keeps turning the pages, and at the end is left hungry for more.

Learn more about this author, Mike Klaassen.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

---

Add your voice

Know something about Writing children's books: Getting started?
We want to hear your view. Write now!