Book Review - Writing Irresistible Kidlit: The Ultimate Guide to Crafting Fiction for Young Adult and Middle Grade Readers by Mary Kole

Although the Kidlit market is hale and hearty, competition is fierce. How then can emerging writers gain a foothold? In Writing Irresistible Kidlit, former literary agent Mary Kole presents an overview of both the children's book market and the finer elements of craft. She offers valuable advice from well-known authors and publishers, and couples this with a collection of excerpts from contemporary works. Kole has impeccable credentials; previously an associate agent at the Andrea Brown Literary Agency, she later became senior literary manager and head of the children's department at MovableTM.com, before going freelance.

Kole covers all the relevant issues - such as reading habits and expectations of the middle grade and young adult fiction reader - and takes us into the minds of our audience, focusing on their motivations, beliefs, hopes, and fears. We discover how to tailor our work to suit the age range, by finding themes, characters, and plots that resonate, so that the novel strikes the right emotional chord and avoids the blunders and clichés that are commonplace in children's fiction.

Kole reminds us to think big and be fresh, even if the story is somewhat familiar, 'What makes every story unique in today’s market place is execution. That’s what you bring to the table. As a writer it’s not the story itself per se, it’s how you express it, the theme you project upon it, the characters you create, and your own unique voice'. As French film director Jean-Luc Godard said, 'It's not where you take things from. It’s where you take them to'.

Kole examines loglines, sales hooks, and the vagaries of success. She describes how modern commercial children's books are an American innovation, primarily attributed to Ursula Nordstrom, an editor at Harper and Row (now HarperCollins) in the 1950s. At the time, most children’s books were written for adult approval and not necessarily to engage the child; they were often patronizing and moralistic, too afraid to be authentic lest they be controversial – and Nordstrom set out to change that.

Nordstrom once wrote, and this is Kole’s touchstone idea throughout the book: 'The writer of books about the real world has to dig deep and tell the truth'.

Kole discusses story beginnings, conflict, stakes, and the importance of keeping readers invested by developing authentic characters with recognisable motivations, backstories and emotions. Kole also touches on story structure, dialogue, tense, point of view, and the delicate balance between action and information. We learn how to use imagery and setting, and cultivate an individual voice by making varied choices over syntax, rhythm, and mood. Kole then delves deeper into the mechanics of plot, covering the inciting incident, rise, fall, climax, and evening out of the protagonist’s journey.

Writing Irresistible Kidlit is a comprehensive, user-friendly addition to the writer’s bookshelf, with both an excellent analysis of the children’s book market, and a concise overview of elements of the writing craft. Kole’s delivery is crisp, friendly, and good humoured, if a little self-indulgent. 

Kole shows us how to develop story, plot, and characters using real details and emotional depth, rather than off-the-peg traits and timeworn plot contrivances. Her work is comparable to Robert McKee’s Story, Donald Maass’ Writing the Breakout Novel, and Blake Snyder’s Save the Cat, although it may not be suitable for new writers who will probably need more guidance on the basics.