[Lill Posts: 651 Status: Offline]

Looking for examples of mg books told in 3rd omniscient. TYIA.

 

[mrh Posts: 4,560 Status: Offline www.marciahoehne.com WWW]

Lill, for me your post couldn't be better timed. I just started one: BEYOND THE LAUGHING SKY by Michelle Cuevas.

[Lill Posts: 651 Status: Offline]

Thanks, I'll look it up. My current w.i.p. is close third ... but an agent last year suggested omniscient ... and I'm thinking it might work better.

[ruecole Posts: 475 Status: Offline MG Writer WWW]

Isn't Lemony Snicket omniscient?

What about Alex and the Ironic Gentleman?

I'm out of touch with recently published titles, though. Need to remedy that!

Rue

[Natalie Posts: 820 Status: Offline Flying the Dragon, Charlesbridge 2012 WWW]

I'm fairly sure that Kate DiCamillo's TALE OF DESPEREAUX is 3rd person omniscient, although she does break that fourth wall when addressing the reader.

[katya-szewczuk Posts: 6 Status: Offline WWW]

Third Person Omniscient is a favorite writing style of mine. Trust me, it becomes easier once you get the hang of it. Many of my short stories that I've been working on with my editor are told in this style and I haven't looked back since. When I found out I write for Middle Grade I was told to avoid First Person and focus on Third Person. So what did I think was best suited for my stories? Well, not only a little bit of magic, but a witty narrator who could tell a great story about all of the characters. It's a great tool to use. It can be tricky at times when you want to avoid head-hopping, but it's a fun process to learn.

Best of luck!

 

[Pons Posts: 3,331 Status: Offline]

Lill, the Shoe books by Noel Streatfeild are 3rd omniscient.

[Arona Posts: 513 Status: Offline The house didn't fall on me. It fell on my sister.]

It used to be (more years ago than I care to remember) that omni POV was madly frowned upon...considered cheating at the least, but really much worse. The occasional established writer was allowed.

Does anyone else remember that, and know what the turn of thinking on it was?

[Debby G Posts: 647 Status: Offline WWW]

My humorous Supernatural Rubber Chicken chapter book series (published 2008) is third person omniscient.

[Pons Posts: 3,331 Status: Offline]

It used to be (more years ago than I care to remember) that omni POV was madly frowned upon...considered cheating at the least, but really much worse. The occasional established writer was allowed.

Does anyone else remember that, and know what the turn of thinking on it was?

I remember this, but I have no idea why it changed. It may still be frowned upon by some, but, if done well, I think it lends a cozy sort of feel to a narrative.

[austen Posts: 228 Status: Offline Patience is everything.--Rilke]

I love omniscient narrators!
Some of my favorites:
THE INCORRIGIBLE CHILDREN OF ASHTON PLACE Maryrose Wood
HOOK'S REVENGE (Heidi Schultz)
A WHOLE NOTHER STORY (Cuthbert Soup)
THE ROOFTOPPERS Katherine Rundall

[jennifer-bushroe Posts: 21 Status: Offline I love kids' books!]

I recently read (and loved!) THE HERO'S GUIDE TO SAVING YOUR KINGDOM, which is told in 3rd-person omniscient.

[mark.holtzen Posts: 12 Status: Offline "Begin anywhere." - John Cage WWW]

Hi, Just saw this, but I have been toying with a dual POV for my latest MG effort. It doesn't seem to be working - mostly because I don't have a great reason to use it other than I wanted to try it out. 3rd person is working better. I just reread The Penderwicks third in the series and her 3rd person is smooth smooth. She floats from about three of her characters heads' effortlessly. We discussed Flora and Ulysses (agent Jen Rofe') at the recent WWA SCBWI conf, and though I do think that is mostly dual POV (squirrel and Flora) there is a bit of omniscient as she floats into the squirrel's consciousness after he's vacuumed up. It's beautifully done.

Question - do you see many MG books that are dual POV done well? I hear it's not the best of ideas, but I'm sure there are exceptions if there is a good reason.