Wendy answers “I am a huge Gary Schmidt fan and have read...”

Nancy Gruneisen asked this question about Orbiting Jupiter:

I am a huge Gary Schmidt fan and have read this book. I honestly think it should be categorized in the young adult section rather than children. I think it's more for middle schoolers versus elementary school kids. Thoughts?

Wendy I thought it was definitely middle grade, due to the delicacy with which all adult issues were handled as well as a certain kind of inevitability in t…moreI thought it was definitely middle grade, due to the delicacy with which all adult issues were handled as well as a certain kind of inevitability in the conclusion, and most characters being easily identifiable as good or bad. I think the whole "then he said words I'm not supposed to say" type of writing would feel ridiculous for YA readers. The , uh, creation of the teen pregnancy is far less explicit than any health class information taught in middle school, and the abuse is also implied, not described. I guess I'd say if a kid is mature enough to read The Giver, they're mature enough to read Orbiting Jupiter. (less)

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Orbiting Jupiter

by Gary D. Schmidt

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