Thursday, March 3, 2011

Is Your Book's Hero as Special as this Cat??

My magic violin will save da world, I tell you, da world!!!!
Okay, so generally when we are writing about children's fantasy middle-grade or YA, we see a lot of the same storyline over again.

By and large, it goes something like this:
Step 1. Our Hero is called to adventure.
Step 2. He/she has a road of trials and tribulations they must face.
Step 3. He/she must complete a mission.
Step 4. He/she must go back where hence they came. (That's in hero language)
Step 5. He/she uses their newly learned skill, power, etc. to save or better the world.

Sure, we could say this is a formula. I'm positive you could all name several books in which you've seen this, but what, in your opinion, makes any of those books break through the above formula and elevate to a truly fantastic book? What did that writer do differently? Was it the hero? The plot? The creativity? The world saving magic violin played by a hairless kitty? What made that book rock out the hero theme?

xoxo -- Hilary

20 comments:

  1. I think the ones that stand out have complex, interesting likable and unlikable characters, plus something unique in the plot to set it apart.

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  2. That is indeed pretty special. :D

    I don't know if you know this, but your book showed up in the last edition of the Writer's Digest magazine. :) In the "small Press Spotlight" section. Looks good. :D

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  3. Kelly, I love characters I love to hate! They are the best!

    Holy Cats, Anita! It did? Do you happen to have a link? That is nuts!!! I couldn't find anything on-line! :(

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  4. Usually, there is something about the main character that appeals to me. That cat is hilarious!

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  5. I saw it too!!! It's on page 65 of the new March/April edition under Standout Markets and listed under Holiday House Inc.

    I love relationships between the characters. If I really connect or if it's quirky and different; that really stands out to me.
    My Blog

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  6. I think it's the characters, the plot twists, and the world building that makes books unique. Like yours, by the way.

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  7. I think when the hero is called to adventure, what makes middle grade fantasy stand out is the actual adventure. Some are just more compelling and different than others.

    Shelley

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  8. Kelly H-Y, I totally want to write a story about that cat now and his magical violin! Ha, ha! ;) Sad thing is, I'm serious. ;(

    Argh, Catherine! I'll have to buy a copy! Nothing on-line! :( Yes, I love quirky too, except when people call me quirky! ;)

    Natalie, I totally love you for saying that! ;) I'm really a character person. I loved to be sucked in by intriguing personalities and I also love world building.

    Story, I love it when a writer just comes up with something so creative, you're thing wuh?? I love being in a world I never could/would think up on my own!

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  9. For me, in MG it is always non-stop action or tension. Rick Riordan is a master of this. While I'm not a fan of his style, I can't lay off his books because of the guaranteed ride.

    I'm loving Mr. Bigglesworth on the base.

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  10. Agreed.

    That cat has to be the bad guy in your next book. Maybe he has a pet evil scientist that he compulsively pets.

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  11. Bfav, you know I adore RR for several reasons! He is awesome at keeping the action going and I love his ability to build up to the action w/o boring the reader. He is an adventure MASTER!!! :)

    Bob, that is a totally awesome idea! I LOVE IT! Bad guys are my favorite! :)

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  12. Simple but great formula! Awesome and have a super weekend :O)

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  13. It's all about the voice for me. The character has to be someone I think about months after I finish reading, someone whose voice I can't get out of my head :)

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  14. Diane, that sums it up! You too, on the weekend! ;)


    Jude,that's such a good point. I think about my favorite characters often. I like them better than most real folks!! Shhhhh! :)

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  15. hi miss hilary! cause im a mgrader i could tell you for me the plots got be real exciting and real twisty turny so mostly i cant guess whats coming next. im with you on loving to hate a character and i like conflicts with characters. for sure you got all that in nightshade city. thats how come i love it so much. im reading it again right now so i could be ready for the next one. rats rule!!!
    ...hugs from lenny

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  16. I think it's characters that young readers can relate to that have made truly great books, despite following that formula for the most part.

    Look at JK Rowling - her books pretty much follow that formula. But it's how the readers have become so attached to the main characters that have made Harry Potter such a phenomena.

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  17. Here... I took a picture of it. :) (btw... my name is Nichole. :D I don't know who Anita is...)

    Here's the link.
    http://i179.photobucket.com/albums/w308/Elenthoniel/IMAG0003.jpg

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  18. I'm sorry it's not the best picture. :( I just thought it was so cool.

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  19. Star, it's so weird, your post and some others came up under Anita's name, another blogger I know. I thought, did she change her screen name?? WEIRD! Thanks so much for sharing the picture!!! =) That is just the coolest think ever!

    xoxo -- Hilary

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  20. :D That's ok. And you're welcome.

    Yeah, I don't know why that happened with the username, but I don't mind too much. I just paused for a moment when I read that name: it made me smile. ^_^

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