I think the fairy needs to function as a MG-aged kid, despite their actual age, bc the MC needs to be a kid. It's okay if they're a bear or a thimbleberry or a balloon that acts like a kid, but I think you may have trouble if the MC isn't (at heart) a middle grader.

I had a MG ms that became unsaleable bc it had an adult sidekick--even though the kid MC had agency and solved everybody's problems. So maybe I'm extra sensitive to that, but I suspect you need to be careful here.

My question is more about the human girl. She's not the POV character, and I'm wondering whether that would mean the book wouldn't be considered MG

Hi all!
So, I have a fantasy novel I've been working on that I currently think of as MG. Here's my problem: the main protagonist is a 600-year-old fairy, while the supporting protagonist is a 12-year-old human girl. Should I keep it as MG for querying, or should I move it up to YA to be safe?

Hi Meena,

Another possibility is that you have a young MG in the making...

Jody

Hi Meena. I love your message.

You
re right that the word count is high unless you're writing nonfiction for middle grade. But don't think of it as taking your book apart. Think of it as chiseling down to the necessary core like a sculptor so the parts shine even more strongly. Cut anything that the pictures show. Also, think of the age of your reader. For your message to work, they have to follow and comprehend. We can get so caught up in the sound of language that we lose the beauty in the simple elegance of fewer words and the sense that we must reach and audience that isn't ourselves.

If you haven't had your work critiqued, you can post up to 1000 words here: https://www.scbwi.org/boards/index.php?board=121.0. I promise to comment. You can also seek critique partners here: https://www.scbwi.org/boards/index.php?board=127.0

Sometimes it takes another pair of eyes to help us see what our work can be. Good luck.