What is Young Adult, New Adult, Middle Grade, & Adult Fiction?

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No one seems to understand how age category in fiction works, and that's a problem, so let's fix that.

by Jenna Moreci


Middle Grade (MG)

readers: 8-12 years old

characters: 9-13 years old

themes: friendship, family, schoolyard shenanigans, etc.

does not include: cursing, graphic violence, sex


Young Adult (YA)

readers: 12-18 years old

characters: 13-17 years old (high school age)

themes: friendship, family, identity, coming-of-age, etc.

can include: bullying, drugs, alcohol, violence, profanity, sex (but watered down)


New Adult (NA)

readers: college-age

characters: 18-30 years old

themes: embarking on adulthood for the very first time

can include: graphic sex/violence, flagrant drug/alcohol abuse (but not required)


Adult

readers: adults

characters: 20+ years old

can include: everything

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