Publisher's Weekly Review
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.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.
Horn Book Review
Editor Klein has revised her earlier self-published book Second Sight: An Editors Talks on Writing, Revising, and Publishing Books for Children and Young Adults, weaving the content of that books conference talks and online posts into unified chapters on elements of writing, often with examples from books she edited. Her advice--sometimes but not always particular to writing for young people--goes beyond the you-need-a-plot basics, providing specific, useful guidelines (get to the inciting incident by chapter two) and strategies (use supporting characters opinions to influence readers views) as well as broader observations (your fictional work can contribute to real-world consequences, so imagine responsibly). A useful resource for fiction writers developing their craft. shoshana flax (c) Copyright 2017. The Horn Book, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Booklist Review
*Starred Review* For anyone wishing to write for young readers, Klein's remarkable new book will be a sine qua non, an indispensable, authoritative guide to the act, art, and craft of creation. An editor for 15 years, Klein clearly knows her apples about the writing and publishing process and demonstrates an extraordinary gift for analyzing it, breaking it into its constituent parts, and reducing those parts to other parts until an essential kernel of truth is uncovered. Keep digging down until that inner truth is revealed, she advises. Klein then shows how that truth can be applied practically and strategically, guiding the reader through, for example, eight principles of plotting, six of writing outside our experience, 10 strategies to build relatability or compellingness into characters, etc. The book should come with a warning, though: it's not for the lazy because reading its generous contents (more than 350 detail-packed pages) requires careful attention and concentration; moreover, the inclusion throughout of exercises invites the reader to become the writer, interacting with the text. Have characters make choices and DO THINGS, Klein counsels; clearly the same can be said of her readers. Finally, though her focus is on chapter, middle-grade, and young adult books, her sage advice can be applied to writers for any age, who will justifiably treasure it.--Cart, Michael Copyright 2016 Booklist
Library Journal Review
To this work, Klein (Second Sight) brings 15 years of book editing experience and a boatload of strategies, exercises, and practical tips to help novelists publish for middle grade and YA audiences. Klein draws heavily on familiar series such as J.K. Rowling's Harry Potter books, Stephenie Meyer's Twilight saga, and Suzanne Collins's Hunger Games trilogy, also relating her experiences editing Francisco X. Stork's Marcelo in the Real World and other titles. Though the author's advice is consistently strong throughout, it's mightiest in regards to the idea of character-for example, everyone who reads this wonderful book will know their characters must do things. The volume also distinguishes itself from other similar titles with its wealth of exercises, each provocative, proven, and sure to right the ship. For instance, the "book map" technique ties into a number of other methods that would improve any manuscript. There's also much-needed guidance on writing "outside your groundwork," developing a voice, and penning historical and speculative fiction. VERDICT The new go-to guide for aspiring middle grade and YA authors.-Paul Stenis, Pepperdine Univ. Lib., Malibu, CA © Copyright 2016. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
