tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post3311669233481960456..comments2023-10-16T10:42:13.287-05:00Comments on Abby Minard: Non-Existent Parents in YAAbby Minardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11963640263845561309noreply@blogger.comBlogger30125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-8045578959528901432011-03-08T11:24:42.347-06:002011-03-08T11:24:42.347-06:00It's kind of weird when the parents just disap...It's kind of weird when the parents just disappear, honestly. I mean, in books like Linger, the parents suck. But they're real. They react in way I'd expect. It makes the book that more real, even though it's talking about wearwolves.Samhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06544115879736949909noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-20242350623572073962011-03-04T07:48:27.756-06:002011-03-04T07:48:27.756-06:00As so many have said I think the the absent or wea...As so many have said I think the the absent or weak parents in YA lead to the MC taking the burden upon themselves. I think this is something that teens relate to because who has not felt like they have had to take up the slack for parents during our teen years. In my writing I have tried to make the situation of the world lead to divison of the MC from the family. They have been there and come back into the story frequently, but since the MC has to go to a different geographic location for training I have a built in tool for removing the parents. But like you I do find it interesting that if you find that there is a missing parent you know that you are reading YA or watching a Disney movie.Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16973660631964143410noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-73648256281633938932011-03-03T19:28:38.409-06:002011-03-03T19:28:38.409-06:00Most of the dad's in my novels commit suicide ...Most of the dad's in my novels commit suicide - or at least try. No reflection of my own really cool dad. :)<br />ericaerica and christyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13074820593371226159noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-24943778137194654422011-03-02T16:04:27.533-06:002011-03-02T16:04:27.533-06:00I don't think about it when I'm reading. ...I don't think about it when I'm reading. I like the autonomy of YA characters. I also appreciate the novels with present parents. It depends on the story.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-71175746271335518392011-03-02T11:13:30.852-06:002011-03-02T11:13:30.852-06:00Thanks for the good wishes. You will see this in b...Thanks for the good wishes. You will see this in books for younger readers too, and not just fantasy. A popular devise is the use of the boarding shcool to get kids out of their element.mom (kid's librarian)noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-46398896546149631572011-03-01T22:52:38.902-06:002011-03-01T22:52:38.902-06:00I've definitely noticed this (how could one no...I've definitely noticed this (how could one not? Like you said, it's everywhere in YA!) and I've even seen reminders in writing tips that it's just not realistic for EVERY child to come from a broken home. <br /><br />I think there needs to be a good, believable reason why the parent/s are not present, a reason that is part of the story, rather than just -- the parents are not in the story for convencience sake.<br /><br />But it's definitely easier not to have them there!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06181241692016438730noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-19720430626560898892011-03-01T19:34:05.953-06:002011-03-01T19:34:05.953-06:00I've noticed it, but I agree with you, I think...I've noticed it, but I agree with you, I think it's a convenience thing for the story to be able to happen.alexiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07122487552931794871noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-65938336094200914162011-03-01T18:55:41.931-06:002011-03-01T18:55:41.931-06:00I've noticed that in Fantasy the parents are d...I've noticed that in Fantasy the parents are dead and in contemporary, a parent has died tragically leaving much emo baggage with the MC. And if the parents aren't dead? The relationships are strained. Which makes sense b/c every teen knows that their "parents are clueless, duh." :)NiaRaiehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13245742876021926812noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-3387803386837915662011-03-01T11:51:39.367-06:002011-03-01T11:51:39.367-06:00I never actually thought about this, but now that ...I never actually thought about this, but now that you've pointed it out -- you're right! I wonder if there's another way to get around that?Talli Rolandhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04780882465745107715noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-20487469175616924572011-03-01T10:58:47.302-06:002011-03-01T10:58:47.302-06:00It's true...but it makes for a better story. ...It's true...but it makes for a better story. The parent's don't have to be dead, but they can't be there to help. They're either gone, too busy, don't care, or the kid just doesn't want to bother the parent so they take on the responsibility to fix the 'problem' all by themselves. I'm okay with it. <br /><br />The first book I wrote had two loving parents and a fun little sister. It totally worked because the protag didn't want to bother her family with her problems...and she was threatened not to tell anyone anyway :)Michelle Merrillhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00040685503147648297noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-31732732887748429932011-03-01T07:40:12.457-06:002011-03-01T07:40:12.457-06:00You are so right with the absent parents. My curre...You are so right with the absent parents. My current WIP has Dad out of the picture. He left the family when my MC was five,and the mom plays a very small role, but of no real significance.<br /><br />My main problem with writing about teens is the school day. Maybe I should have placed it during the summer when kids are out of school.<br /><br />Nice blog you have!Ronald L. Smithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03649046677631873728noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-60913915613064861872011-02-28T22:25:49.643-06:002011-02-28T22:25:49.643-06:00Oh and BTW, as a mother who has had to be open eno...Oh and BTW, as a mother who has had to be open enough to accept Jersey Shore, I think I could handle a little glitter and a few fangs. Just saying.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08798243128846248604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-468988380428100802011-02-28T22:24:49.106-06:002011-02-28T22:24:49.106-06:00Definitely the norm in almost every book I read. A...Definitely the norm in almost every book I read. After a few chapters though, I don't think much about it. I think there's a happy medium oout there. One where the parents could be there and in the story, caring, and attentive. Cool enough to hang out with the vampire boyfriend, or sweep up the glitter after so and so's wings leave glitter on the kitchen floor. That would be way cool.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08798243128846248604noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-22386246432531941552011-02-28T19:45:56.244-06:002011-02-28T19:45:56.244-06:00Ha! So true. Sooo true. It is just easier. BUT bot...Ha! So true. Sooo true. It is just easier. BUT both my parents are alive in my second novel. Well, actually, all the parents are alive. But they do play a huge role in it so...I guess unless parent's are really important they are just dead or gone ;)Colene Murphyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06086195075690893194noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-589356717257321292011-02-28T18:09:11.080-06:002011-02-28T18:09:11.080-06:00I definitely see the value in killing off your MC&...I definitely see the value in killing off your MC's parents or having them be less than present, but it's always interesting, too, to see the family dynamic.Meredithhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00462382909938737612noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-3519669976090144872011-02-28T17:53:08.370-06:002011-02-28T17:53:08.370-06:00Spot on, Abby!
It all depends on what's out a...Spot on, Abby!<br /><br />It all depends on what's out at the moment. The pendulum swings, so to speak, for non-existent to over-bearing. My idea? Make each family member unique. Not every family member has the same traits.David P. Kinghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17259276981865439853noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-38555085114464797702011-02-28T17:45:45.854-06:002011-02-28T17:45:45.854-06:00Seems like it must be for many YA books, though no...Seems like it must be for many YA books, though not all. And often, there's a "weak" parental figure, like a single parent who's away a lot, or a grandparent instead. <br /><br />I've done everything--parents, an uncle, a dead parent replaced by another de-facto parent. But in all of them, the protag has to work things out by themselves.Lydia Kanghttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00484415427764822386noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-44033620978972473582011-02-28T17:19:32.338-06:002011-02-28T17:19:32.338-06:00I must admit that for my next two books - parents ...I must admit that for my next two books - parents are still alive. Both sets. Well, it's hinted and believed that one set are dead in my dystopian, but they are not. I think it's funny that all of us had at least one parent dead. Hilarious! But who cares? There are no rules and that's how stories are set this time around! As long as it works in the story, which it does in all of ours, there is no reason for them not to be! :-)Jennie Baileyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02088195986628533511noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-78651065283652167512011-02-28T15:58:06.567-06:002011-02-28T15:58:06.567-06:00I also read the post about this on Nathan Bransfor...I also read the post about this on Nathan Bransford's blog a while back. I hadn't really thought about it before. It just seemed the way to go and I have a dead parent in my YA fantasy as well, so...guess I'm good with it! :)Donea Leehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15393184831994368021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-45469708266763732712011-02-28T15:55:31.650-06:002011-02-28T15:55:31.650-06:00Well, you know I have a dead parent. ;)
I think i...Well, you know I have a dead parent. ;)<br /><br />I think it really does help add depth to our characters in a relateable, understandable way. It forces our characters to be adults and make decisions on their own. <br /><br />That being said, my next idea both parents are active and involved in my MC's life. I think it makes for a whole different type of conflict that will add a layer to the story - parents that the character loves getting in their way. <br /><br />I don't think absentee parents are a cliche. I don't really think that it's something that can be considered a cliche. It's too real nowadays (unfortunately). A lot of kids have absentee parents.Melissahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12096764010151024050noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-46769998742702622422011-02-28T15:55:15.336-06:002011-02-28T15:55:15.336-06:00I think it depends a lot on how it's done. To ...I think it depends a lot on how it's done. To me, it just depends on the story and what it needs. If it feels too forced that the parents are gone just so the kid can do whatever he/she wants, it can get too cliche. But if it's a part of the plotline, I don't mind as much.Shalleehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09907680428735740943noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-7101634489426730062011-02-28T14:35:31.902-06:002011-02-28T14:35:31.902-06:00I've read YA books with parents in them who ac...I've read YA books with parents in them who actually played a big part, and it worked well for the story--one would be <i>Impossible</i> by Nancy Werlin.Golden Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08721520451194318436noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-11748069664158493232011-02-28T12:14:47.650-06:002011-02-28T12:14:47.650-06:00I have to agree. My characters usually mention the...I have to agree. My characters usually mention their parents or their parents are involved in the first few chapters. After that, it's all the MC and his/her pals. It is easier that way. And you're right: no one likes to be lectured while trying to save the world (just ask Ron Weasley...;))<br /><br />Cheers!<br />JenJenhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06683486631901017529noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-8381530592484213062011-02-28T10:59:13.493-06:002011-02-28T10:59:13.493-06:00I never really thought about this, but it is true....I never really thought about this, but it is true. It is easier to let the characters go on and do whatever they want if the parents aren't present. Having parents in the way would make for an interesting time as well though. Might paint the main character in a bad light though if they disregard authority and are always sneaking off.Kindroshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08320478076212368779noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4834283692288715813.post-44484679091039664292011-02-28T09:37:07.863-06:002011-02-28T09:37:07.863-06:00Hahahaha.. I was JUST saying this to someone yeste...Hahahaha.. I was JUST saying this to someone yesterday! It certainly makes it a little easier when a parent is MIA, but I think I'd be interested to see a story in which the parents aren't missing. It makes it more realistic... but, then again, as you said, that's what makes it interesting. That's what make it a fantasy. I think it would be a tough thing to write, but I think I would like to see it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com