A high-level checklist for evaluating the substance of a MG novel
When reviewing middle-grade fiction, whether for an awards program or for the purpose of writing a review, you’ll want to consider all the essential elements that go into the spinning of a fine story — but through the lens of what resonates with the audience. What kids in this age group are looking for in a story, and what it is they can handle.
Questions to consider
The questions here are generative: meant to help cue and prompt. Reading through them before you begin, or occasionally as a refresher, can help you focus your attention on the most fruitful aspects and — where you sense a weakness — to diagnose cause.
Holistically
Did the book pull you in? Hold your attention, keep you engaged?
Are the characters sharply drawn, clear, unique? True to life, yet indisputably themselves? Is the narrative voice fresh and engaging? Strong and individual?
Does the book fulfill its aims?
Does the story speak to a middle-grade audience? Does it talk down to that audience?
. . .
Titles
Does the title of the novel forecast or reflect the substance of the narrative in some way?
Is it creative or intriguing? Further revelatory once the book has been read?
If chapter titles appear, do they likewise forecast or reflect? Do they promise what is then fulfilled?
Are they creative, intriguing? Do they add to the story?
Story structure and development
Is the premise of the story strong? Unique? Likely to appeal to a middle-grade audience?
If there is a prologue, is it used well?
Does the novel as a whole deliver on the promise of the first chapter?
Are the chapters and scenes well-conceived? Do they form useful building blocks? Artistic building blocks?
Does the novel continue engagingly from start to finish? Or does it lose narrative drive, or falter in other ways, at any point?
If there is a subplot, is it related organically to the main plot? Does it further the main plot, act as a foil to it, or in some way delightfully complicate it? Or does it instead feel tacked on or forced in any way?
Is the conflict sustained throughout?
Is the emotional cadence varied throughout?
Are scene and summary used effectively and artistically? Appropriately for the genre?
Does the author avoid info-dumping? (Noticeable chunks of exposition; awkward, perhaps prolonged, flashbacks; or “as you know, Bob” dialogue.)
Is POV handled well? Does it serve to tell the story the author wants to tell?
Character and voice/tone
Is the cast of characters the right age?
Do the kids themselves play all the major roles, with the adults carefully shuffled off to the sidelines? Or does the author give the kids too little credit for being smart and resourceful?
Does the story unfold through the eyes of the kids? Does it have that emotional tenor, that emotional truth?
Do the characters live in a world of contemporary issues? In the world of today?
Do the main characters have depth? Are they richly layered, complex, believable? In other words, are they well-rounded rather than flat characters? Do they seem real?
Do they care about what they care about with truth and ferocity?
Do they have a mission? Something to work towards, to question, to succeed at — or to fail at. Something to give structure to the tale, something to grow from in the end.
Do they face real-life challenges?
Do they grow and change? Does that growth and change come as a result of the story events?
. . .
Are the characters distinct? Do they sound different from one another?
Does the world as filtered through their consciousness and thoughts sound like, feel like, the world as experienced by this character? Or is there an adult author filter lurking in there somewhere?
Do the kids sound like kids? If there’s slang, is it dated or likely to become dated?
Themes
Are the themes appropriate for middle grade?
Is the book heartfelt? Does it ring true?
If the story is meant to be light, is it fun? Or if there are light moments, do those work? Are they fun?
If the story is serious, is that seriousness treated in an age-appropriate way, so that it doesn’t overwhelm?
Writing style
Is the writer’s voice strong and clear? Individual, compelling, unique?
Is the sentence structure and vocabulary appropriate for the target age?
If humorous, is the humor natural or is the author trying too hard?
Whatever the writing style, is every word in the sentences doing work? Such that language is distilled and compressed.
Does the writing seem to be highlighted, foregrounded, as would be the case with literary fiction? And if so, does that work? Is there enough strength in the writing for that treatment?
Alternatively, does the writing tend to fade into the background such that the story “tells itself” or does it simply take a back seat to a compelling story? And if so, does that accord with the story’s aim? Is this a work of genre fiction?
Does the style of the narrative, and its voice, hold steady throughout? Or does it waver, does it change?
Does the level of diction hold steady?
Does the style work for the story being told?
Is it engaging?
Final thought
Would you recommend this book to a child of the appropriate age?
Would you recommend it to the child of a close friend?