I realized what middle grade and British detective shows have in common.

What middle grade and British detectives have in common.

Here at the Smorgasbord, I don’t necessarily have a preplanned content calendar or schedule ideas months in advance. I mean, my plan is that I do one interview and one essay a month, basically, but I like to keep it no tighter than that.

I wanna interview whoever I feel like.

I want to keep things honest by just writing about what’s truly been on my mind.

And what’s been on my mind is Ben Miller Professor T Ben Miller and Juliette Stevenson that I realized a big but maybe surprising thing that British detective shows and middle grade books have in common. And it’s possibly why I am obsessed with both of them.

Let’s start by pointing out what I think is a telling detail in the titles of both middle grade books and British detective shows.

Both often include the protagonists name.

In our detective shows we’ve got Sherlock. Ludwig. The trio of Endeavor, Lewis, and Inspector Morse. McDonald and Dodds. Rosemary and Thyme. Shakespeare and Hathaway. The made-just-for-me Professor T.

And think of how often that happens in middle grade. Percy Jackson. Odder. The Ramona books. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Harry Potter. Simon Sort of Says. Efren Divided and The Total Eclipse of Nestor Lopez. Plus books like Diary of a Wimpy Kid, The Bad Guys, and The Last Kids on Earth, even if they don’t specifically state the name of the main character(s), the title still basically tells us who the character is, and that this character or group of characters is the focus.

And in middle grade media too…I mean, think of how many Disney movies are just named for the character.

In my own books, I always just think of them as the character’s name when I’m drafting. Stars was Libby. Breathing Underwater was Olivia. Nightmare House was initally called Penny Hope and the Fear Maker and Monster Tree was Linus Hyde and the Monster Tree before my publisher decided those sounded too series-esque for what we were going for.

Point being, in so many cases, its clear from the titles of these things that the main character is central.

Contrast that with the longest running and most popular American detective/crime shows—like Law and Order or Criminal Minds, where it’s clear from the title that the job and the procedures are the draw and interest.

(To be fair, there are a few American detective shows that follow this formula, but one stars a British actor in a role based originally on a British story (House). The other is Monk. No surprise to anyone that I love both of these shows. I quite like the new shows like Matlock and Elsbeth too.)

The protagonist is often a bit over the top.

The reserved, quirky, damaged British detective is a trope for a reason. Morse is obsessive. River is literally seeing visions and hearing voices. Professor T has all the tisms. And who is more over the top than Sherlock?

And same with middle grade. Think of how often middle grade characters have an obsession. Think of Ramona’s determination. How over the top and fun the characters in Wimpy Kid, Timmy Failure, and Dog Man are.

Even if the character themselves isn’t so over-the-top, their world often is, and the people around them. (Ahem Charlie.)

These characters often have a tragic history.

What’s a British detective without a dead partner/friend/spouse?

What’s a classic/award-winning middle grade protagonist without a missing parent?

The point is that we see so much about these characters initially, and see their arc more clearly, as we watch them cope with this heavy and hard backstory.

So why are they both so great?

Nothing is more satisfying to me in a middle grade novel than a cinnamon role character who has been trying so hard but been beaten down by the world and is so lonely finally finding their tribe and their team and their support and the beginnings of happiness.

Nothing is more satisfying to me in a British detective show than a cinnamon role character (in a grumpy, crusty, broken box) who has been trying so hard but been beaten down by the world and is so lonely finally finding their tribe and their team and their support and the beginnings of happiness.

So really, what middle grade books and British detective shows have in common is this:

In the end, both are about learning to make friends.

Even if its just one.

Now someone please, please, please go watch Professor T or any of these other shows and let’s talk about them :D :D :D

Any favorite middle grade or detective shows that match this formula? The Smorgasbord is a hand-kneaded, hand-shucked, reader supported publication. YOU make it possible! If you’d like to tip your waiter and keep the kitchen cooking, become a paid subscriber and help make this meal possible! Plus get access to special publishing resources, writing classes, the query letter that got me 4 agent offers, and more!

Subscribe now

9 Side Dishes Worth Sharing

The Orem library, my library from my home town, has put together a list of books to read if you loved K-Pop Demon Hunters. Check it out!

A really cool behind-the-scenes look at the careful and deliberate making of a picture book by and why AI could never.

Seat Assignments is a totally weird and cool series of photos taken on airplanes using only what’s available. I thought it was so creatively inspiring.

wrote a fantastic guest post on ’s newsletter about 10 storytelling tips from his years at Disney and I thought they were fantastic!

I loved this older post from about avoiding the talking head trap in comics.

This is an oldy but a goody from The Nelson Agency about pitfalls of middle grade books and how to avoid them.

Ok I wish I’d had this list from Kelli Estes about favors to do for your future author self a long time ago.

Just thinking about this scene from Remains of the Day gets me all shivery. Ugh that movie. (Speaking of a Brit trying (and failing) to learn how to make friends…)

Did you know that Kelly Clarkson wrote and released a song based on Meryl Streep and Martin Short’s characters in Only Murders?

Share your own favorite sides in the comments!Teacher’s Table

Some goodies especially for the teachers:

Gen Z are changing what it means to be a reader.

Everything needed to get your young writers started is here in Tools Not Rules: A Writing Guide for Young Creatives.

Various and free activity sheets up on my Teachers Pay Teachers store! More added all the time, so check back regularly.

I am so, so excited and honored to now be on the roster at the Macmillan Speakers Bureau! For school and other events, you can find my speaker page here!

You guys are rock stars!

Thanks for reading!

Thanks for coming along everyone! 1) Subscribe, 2) get a copy of the book bebes, and 3) keep glowing, you shining star you.

-Sarah

Links include Amazon Affiliate links where I may make a small commission.

Thanks for reading!