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Save the Cat!
Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel
An indispensable guide in the bestselling Save the Cat! story structure series that reveals the 15 essential plot points needed to make any young adult novel a success, from an accomplished novelist and the author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel.
In Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel, prolific author and story coach Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story structure guide for anyone who wants to write a young adult novel by applying the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of YA fiction. In this book, you will learn:
• The fifteen "beats" (or plot points) that are necessary for crafting a successful story with a compelling character arc —including the Opening Image, Catalyst, Fun and Games, Bad Guys Close In, Dark Night of the Soul, and Finale
• The ten universal story genres that will help you drill into what makes your type of story work, including those most commonly found in young adult novels like Rites of Passage, Superhero, Buddy Love, Institutionalized, and Golden Fleece
• Quirky, original insights and writing tips like “Save the Cat,” the “Shard of Glass,” and the “Dark Night Epiphany,” that help you craft a story that will thrill and captivate teen readers
Filled with practical advice, easy-to-follow templates, and "beat sheets" analyzing the structure of popular young adult novels such as Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows, John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, and Lois Lowry's The Giver, this book is the ultimate reference for anyone who's ever dreamed of writing their own young adult bestseller.
In Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel, prolific author and story coach Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story structure guide for anyone who wants to write a young adult novel by applying the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of YA fiction. In this book, you will learn:
• The fifteen "beats" (or plot points) that are necessary for crafting a successful story with a compelling character arc —including the Opening Image, Catalyst, Fun and Games, Bad Guys Close In, Dark Night of the Soul, and Finale
• The ten universal story genres that will help you drill into what makes your type of story work, including those most commonly found in young adult novels like Rites of Passage, Superhero, Buddy Love, Institutionalized, and Golden Fleece
• Quirky, original insights and writing tips like “Save the Cat,” the “Shard of Glass,” and the “Dark Night Epiphany,” that help you craft a story that will thrill and captivate teen readers
Filled with practical advice, easy-to-follow templates, and "beat sheets" analyzing the structure of popular young adult novels such as Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows, John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, and Lois Lowry's The Giver, this book is the ultimate reference for anyone who's ever dreamed of writing their own young adult bestseller.
432 pages, Paperback
First published May 2, 2023
341 people are currently reading
923 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Brody
60 books2,809 followersJessica Brody is the author of more than 20 novels for teens, tweens, and adults including The Geography of Lost Things, The Chaos of Standing Still, Amelia Gray is Almost Okay, A Week of Mondays, 52 Reasons to Hate My Father, the Unremembered trilogy, and the System Divine trilogy which is a sci-fi reimagining of Victor Hugo's Les Misérables, co-written with Joanne Rendell. She’s also the author of the #1 bestselling novel-writing guides, Save the Cat! Writes a Novel and Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel as well as several books based on popular Disney franchises like Descendants and LEGO Disney Princess. Jessica’s books have been translated and published in over 20 languages and several have been optioned for film and television. She’s the founder of the Writing Mastery Academy and lives with her husband and three dogs near Portland, OR.
Visit her online at JessicaBrody.com or WritingMastery.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @JessicaBrody
Visit her online at JessicaBrody.com or WritingMastery.com. Follow her on Twitter or Instagram @JessicaBrody
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 106 reviews
November 29, 2023
“Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel. The Ultimate Guide to Writing a YA Bestseller,” by Jessica Brody is the third “Save the Cat!” (STC) book that I’ve read. While the first book was geared towards screenwriting (but also used by novelists), the second book—Brody’s 2018 “Save the Cat! Writes A Novel. The Last Book on Novel Writing You’ll Ever Need,” was the first one in this series that was written specifically for novel writing. After being impressed by the second book in the series, I was determined to read this third STC book that was geared towards YA writers.
Just like her prior how-to, this book is comprised of 17 chapters. This book is also laid out the same way in respects to how to craft a well-written manuscript. One of the ways that Brody does this is through the use of copious examples. In her prior book, Brody used a large number of different authors writing in different genres. For this book, however, the author focused solely on using YA writers and/or YA books in her examples.
I’m certain that there is bound to be that certain “extra” that this book offers that I haven’t to date found, but at the time of writing this reviews, the only “extra” that I can find is that every single example used by Brody comes from a YA book. People who spend all of their time writing in this genre will appreciate the examples used in this book. And while the author does discuss how to craft characters that teen readers will care about, the information provided doesn’t veer drastically from her prior book. If Brody had included a small section on what readers, publishers, and literary agents are expecting, that would have been a welcome addition and this would have separated it from her previous book on the same subject. For example, if the author had included what is considered appropriate for this genre (first kiss, etc.) and what is not considered appropriate (full throttle sex scene), it could have helped a lot of writers.
Now, don’t get me wrong—I know that most YA writers are also readers of YA literature, but there are always some that aren’t. I just wonder if the use of YA-only examples is enough to create a brand-new book. Writers could easily pick up Brody’s prior work. In fact, I would recommend this. But if someone is reading this review and they are a hard core YA reader who wants to read a YA book, I would encourage them to get this one; just remember that these two books are primarily the same thing with different examples.
Just like her prior how-to, this book is comprised of 17 chapters. This book is also laid out the same way in respects to how to craft a well-written manuscript. One of the ways that Brody does this is through the use of copious examples. In her prior book, Brody used a large number of different authors writing in different genres. For this book, however, the author focused solely on using YA writers and/or YA books in her examples.
I’m certain that there is bound to be that certain “extra” that this book offers that I haven’t to date found, but at the time of writing this reviews, the only “extra” that I can find is that every single example used by Brody comes from a YA book. People who spend all of their time writing in this genre will appreciate the examples used in this book. And while the author does discuss how to craft characters that teen readers will care about, the information provided doesn’t veer drastically from her prior book. If Brody had included a small section on what readers, publishers, and literary agents are expecting, that would have been a welcome addition and this would have separated it from her previous book on the same subject. For example, if the author had included what is considered appropriate for this genre (first kiss, etc.) and what is not considered appropriate (full throttle sex scene), it could have helped a lot of writers.
Now, don’t get me wrong—I know that most YA writers are also readers of YA literature, but there are always some that aren’t. I just wonder if the use of YA-only examples is enough to create a brand-new book. Writers could easily pick up Brody’s prior work. In fact, I would recommend this. But if someone is reading this review and they are a hard core YA reader who wants to read a YA book, I would encourage them to get this one; just remember that these two books are primarily the same thing with different examples.
December 20, 2021
Loved this book! The outlining in it helped me prep for, and complete, this year’s NANOWRIMO. Highly recommend for writer’s looking for help with breaking things out in novel prep and other useful writing resources.
July 17, 2023
Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for providing this eARC.
Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel brings all the delicious insight of the Save the Cat! Series into the context of YA literature.
The thing that I think makes Save the Cat! So special as a series on craft is that it is approachable, it is thorough, it is well-researched, and it manages to balance simplicity and nuance without making the reader — the writer! — feel alienated or lost. As someone with multiple degrees in writing, craft discussions can often end up far too in-the-weeds. Sometimes this is important — breaking down voice, characters, worlds, dialogue, etc. etc. etc. — but sometimes it can make it seem like there’s an infinite, ever-growing field of inevitable pitfalls between the writer and their work. Save the Cat!, however, never loses sight of its largest concept: a finalized book. Here, we talk about story moments always within the context of how they serve the piece at large, and then later we take the time to investigate how those ideas may even serve a much larger goal of a series. We learn how to balance and balance and balance, always with the sum of all these parts in mind. Along the way, Jessica Brody takes time and care to explain each concept, with ample tangible, relevant examples from touchstones within the genre (I spend a large portion of my life thinking about things within the context of The Hunger Games, so I was thrilled to see the series featured prominently in many examples).
What is especially great about this book, aside from all the other great things that come with any Save the Cat! Guide, is that it is abundantly clear and thoroughly discussed exactly why the Young Adult literary space required an entirely separate guide. Jessica Brody recognizes and understands the importance of the differences and the uniqueness of YA lit, and for me, that adds abundantly to the value of this work. I’ve already got my finished copy preordered, and I am so excited to revisit this valuable guide as I approach the now slightly less daunting task of tackling my own writing.
Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel brings all the delicious insight of the Save the Cat! Series into the context of YA literature.
The thing that I think makes Save the Cat! So special as a series on craft is that it is approachable, it is thorough, it is well-researched, and it manages to balance simplicity and nuance without making the reader — the writer! — feel alienated or lost. As someone with multiple degrees in writing, craft discussions can often end up far too in-the-weeds. Sometimes this is important — breaking down voice, characters, worlds, dialogue, etc. etc. etc. — but sometimes it can make it seem like there’s an infinite, ever-growing field of inevitable pitfalls between the writer and their work. Save the Cat!, however, never loses sight of its largest concept: a finalized book. Here, we talk about story moments always within the context of how they serve the piece at large, and then later we take the time to investigate how those ideas may even serve a much larger goal of a series. We learn how to balance and balance and balance, always with the sum of all these parts in mind. Along the way, Jessica Brody takes time and care to explain each concept, with ample tangible, relevant examples from touchstones within the genre (I spend a large portion of my life thinking about things within the context of The Hunger Games, so I was thrilled to see the series featured prominently in many examples).
What is especially great about this book, aside from all the other great things that come with any Save the Cat! Guide, is that it is abundantly clear and thoroughly discussed exactly why the Young Adult literary space required an entirely separate guide. Jessica Brody recognizes and understands the importance of the differences and the uniqueness of YA lit, and for me, that adds abundantly to the value of this work. I’ve already got my finished copy preordered, and I am so excited to revisit this valuable guide as I approach the now slightly less daunting task of tackling my own writing.
December 28, 2023
3.75 stars
Absolutely wonderful for breaking apart the story structure of a YA novel. Great craft building book.
Stars were deducted for content, however, a full 4.75 stars for adults looking for a writing craft book.
Content:
Frequent discussion of plot elements in various YA books that involve sexuality. Mentions of violence and magic in books.
*Note: marking the book as read, however, I only made it partway through the individual beat sheets.
Absolutely wonderful for breaking apart the story structure of a YA novel. Great craft building book.
Stars were deducted for content, however, a full 4.75 stars for adults looking for a writing craft book.
Content:
Frequent discussion of plot elements in various YA books that involve sexuality. Mentions of violence and magic in books.
*Note: marking the book as read, however, I only made it partway through the individual beat sheets.
October 6, 2024
This book made me realise how masterfully skilled good stories are, and how BEAUTIFUL storytelling is. Everything has a reason. It’s all purposeful. Everything threads together nicely. Yep, the art of storytelling really warms my heart.
July 9, 2025
Well, I chose to take a chance on something a little different and let's just say it did not pay off.
(An indispensable guide in the bestselling Save the Cat! story structure series that reveals the 15 essential plot points needed to make any young adult novel a success, from an accomplished novelist and the author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel.
In Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel, prolific author and story coach Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story structure guide for anyone who wants to write a young adult novel by applying the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of YA fiction. In this book, you will learn:
• The fifteen "beats" (or plot points) that are necessary for crafting a successful story with a compelling character arc —including the Opening Image, Catalyst, Fun and Games, Bad Guys Close In, Dark Night of the Soul, and Finale
• The ten universal story genres that will help you drill into what makes your type of story work, including those most commonly found in young adult novels like Rites of Passage, Superhero, Buddy Love, Institutionalized, and Golden Fleece
• Quirky, original insights and writing tips like “Save the Cat,” the “Shard of Glass,” and the “Dark Night Epiphany,” that help you craft a story that will thrill and captivate teen readers
Filled with practical advice, easy-to-follow templates, and "beat sheets" analyzing the structure of popular young adult novels such as Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows, John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, and Lois Lowry's The Giver, this book is the ultimate reference for anyone who's ever dreamed of writing their own young adult bestseller.) ~ Blurb from Goodreads
I loved the way this book broke down the Save the Cat structure. It goes beyond explaining its origins and how it works, as it also includes how it can be used for revising and overcoming writer's block and even which beats are the best to start with. It's well-rounded and digestible and allows authors of all skill levels to get something out of it (such as helping newer authors understand how this structure can provide them a foundation for building their storytelling skills and even helping more experienced authors looking for a different way of approaching how they tell their stories).
Though, I am split on the general writing advice in this book. On the one hand, there is some legitimately good advice here. Show, don't tell. In order to break the rules, you have to learn the rules. Characters that have internal and external struggles, a tangible goal, and a life lesson to learn are more interesting and relatable than characters that don't have these traits. Structure (like the Save The Cat beat sheet) is helpful in shaping your story, but it's up to you if you want to use it before or after you write your story and if your story doesn't follow the structure to a T, that's perfectly okay. I do admire this emphasis on flexibility, especially for newer authors who are trying to discover what strategies work and don't work for them, because, while all stories need some kind of structure, different stories have different needs and won't always be able to follow story structures perfectly. On the other hand, the vast majority of this advice is something you can find on the internet for free, like with this video and this article.
The history lesson in the Opening Image section was... let's just say not great. Basically, the author claims that, prior to the release of works like Twilight and The Hunger Games and such, Young Adult Literature was not super popular or notable. While there's no doubt that works like this boosted its popularity, this take on the history is way too oversimplified. Like, are we just gonna forget about works like Seventeenth Summer (which came out in 1942, was written by a teenager for teenagers, and is considered the first YA book ever written), The Chocolate War (which was one of the first YA books with a non-happy ending), and the Sweet Valley series (which started in the 1980's and has sold over two hundred million copies and arguably paved the way for works such as the Babysitter's Club series and Gossip Girl)? I mean, I wasn't expecting the author to explain every single little bit of Young Adult Literature history, but I was expecting at least a little bit more.
Also, there were some important questions that I felt were either answered extremely poorly or not at all. For example, let's say you have a novel that falls into more than one of the ten Save the Cat storytelling genres (i.e Golden Fleece, Institutionalized, Rites of Passage, etc). What do you do? Yeah, there is some kind of attempt to answer this question towards the end of chapter four. Now, given the kind of writing advice that has been given up until this point, you would expect something straightforward and consistent like "If your story falls into more than one of the ten genres, pick the genre that it most heavily falls into." But the answer the author actually provides is just flat out contradictory. On the one hand, the author seems to imply that stories can only fall into one of the ten genres, especially since each genre has its own characteristics and "must include" elements (i.e Fool Triumphant stories must include: A fool, an establishment, and a transmutation). But then the author turns around and says, "So if you’re caught between two or even three story genres for your own work, ask yourself what feels best to you. Which one resonates with you? What kind of story do you want to tell?" So, in other words, your story must fall into one genre, but if your story falls into more than one genre and all those genres work best for you, then that's perfectly fine? Like, am I missing something? Also, there's an entire chapter dedicated to pitching one's book to publishers, readers, and a few others. But never does this chapter ever answer the question, "How can an author tell if the person/entity they're pitching their book to is legitimate?" While there is some stuff in this book that more experienced authors can use, this book seems primarily aimed at less experienced authors and I think having some kind of clear answer to this question would really help prevent those less experienced authors from being screwed over in more ways than one.
At times, some of the information and examples related to the ten story genres are rather questionable.
In chapter fourteen (a.k.a the Monster in The House chapter), the author uses Wilder Girls for this chapter's beat sheet. During the "Opening Image" section for this chapter, the author says, "Hetty, our hero and primary narrator, stands guard on the roof with her best friend, Byatt, rifles raised and aimed at a giant animal stalking between the trees. They are on “Gun Shift,” while the “Boat Shift” returns from their trip across Raxter Island to the dock where the Navy delivers rations." But in the "Bad Guys Close In" and "All is Lost" section, the author says that there's a Tox-infected bear wreaking havoc and basically trying to murder Hetty and her lover, Reese. Also, the author mentions in the "All is Lost Section" that Hetty "...listens to Headmistress..." despite the fact that, based on the author's retelling of Wilder Girls up until this point, Hetty is well aware of the fact that the adults cannot be trusted. Now, I have currently not read Wilder Girls and this could very well be how these events actually play out in the novel, but... where is the Gun Shift during this whole bear thing? Did they die by the Tox? Did they run out of ammo trying to snuff out some other threat? Also, it seems like Hetty trusts Headmistress because the plot and story structure need her to rather than because it makes sense for her character to do so.
In chapter thirteen (a.k.a the Whydunit chapter), the author uses One of Us is Lying for this chapter's beat sheet and while it fits the genre's criteria pretty well and whatnot, I don't really feel that this was the best example to go with from a "quality storytelling" point of view. I wrote an entire review on One of Us is Lying, but essentially, most of the main characters are little more than underdeveloped tropes, the way that technology is depicted is very out of touch and uninformed, and the mystery is set up in such a boneheaded way, that you can easily solve the mystery before you even get to chapter two. Now there's nothing wrong with learning from bad stories. In fact, I encourage it. However, I don't believe that was the author's intention here and in that case, I think a better example to use would've been something like Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets.
Oh and in chapter eleven (a.k.a the Dude With a Problem chapter), there's this part: "And Alex Rider may not seem like he’s cut out to be a spy and save the world; even the people who recruit him don’t have much faith in his success. But his grandfather was a spy too, and little did Alex (and the reader) know, he’s been secretly grooming Alex the whole time." Now admittedly, I have not read Stormbreaker at this point in time, but I do know that there is no grandfather character that matches this description. In reality, it's Alex's Uncle Ian who secretly trains him to be a spy so that Alex can take over in the event that Ian dies. Like, was this a typo? Did the author actually not read Stormbreaker and just assumed Alex was trained by an elderly man because mentors in fiction tend to be elderly characters?
Overall, Save The Cat Writes a Young Adult Novel was a book that had some legitimately good advice, but it just has way too many flaws for me to confidently recommend it as a good resource for writing. If you're looking for some good writing resources, here's just a few I recommend:
- Writer Brandon McNulty
- KrimsonRouge (including his The Book Was Better series and his long form book reviews such as his multi hour long reviews tearing the Lightlark series a new one)
- Masterclass's writing articles
- Film Courage (Specifically the videos starring Kim O'Hara such as this one titled "Mistakes Beginners Make Starting a Book")
- Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling
Overall Grade: D
(An indispensable guide in the bestselling Save the Cat! story structure series that reveals the 15 essential plot points needed to make any young adult novel a success, from an accomplished novelist and the author of Save the Cat! Writes a Novel.
In Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel, prolific author and story coach Jessica Brody presents a comprehensive story structure guide for anyone who wants to write a young adult novel by applying the famed Save the Cat! screenwriting methodology to the world of YA fiction. In this book, you will learn:
• The fifteen "beats" (or plot points) that are necessary for crafting a successful story with a compelling character arc —including the Opening Image, Catalyst, Fun and Games, Bad Guys Close In, Dark Night of the Soul, and Finale
• The ten universal story genres that will help you drill into what makes your type of story work, including those most commonly found in young adult novels like Rites of Passage, Superhero, Buddy Love, Institutionalized, and Golden Fleece
• Quirky, original insights and writing tips like “Save the Cat,” the “Shard of Glass,” and the “Dark Night Epiphany,” that help you craft a story that will thrill and captivate teen readers
Filled with practical advice, easy-to-follow templates, and "beat sheets" analyzing the structure of popular young adult novels such as Leigh Bardugo's Six of Crows, John Green's The Fault in Our Stars, and Lois Lowry's The Giver, this book is the ultimate reference for anyone who's ever dreamed of writing their own young adult bestseller.) ~ Blurb from Goodreads
I loved the way this book broke down the Save the Cat structure. It goes beyond explaining its origins and how it works, as it also includes how it can be used for revising and overcoming writer's block and even which beats are the best to start with. It's well-rounded and digestible and allows authors of all skill levels to get something out of it (such as helping newer authors understand how this structure can provide them a foundation for building their storytelling skills and even helping more experienced authors looking for a different way of approaching how they tell their stories).
Though, I am split on the general writing advice in this book. On the one hand, there is some legitimately good advice here. Show, don't tell. In order to break the rules, you have to learn the rules. Characters that have internal and external struggles, a tangible goal, and a life lesson to learn are more interesting and relatable than characters that don't have these traits. Structure (like the Save The Cat beat sheet) is helpful in shaping your story, but it's up to you if you want to use it before or after you write your story and if your story doesn't follow the structure to a T, that's perfectly okay. I do admire this emphasis on flexibility, especially for newer authors who are trying to discover what strategies work and don't work for them, because, while all stories need some kind of structure, different stories have different needs and won't always be able to follow story structures perfectly. On the other hand, the vast majority of this advice is something you can find on the internet for free, like with this video and this article.
The history lesson in the Opening Image section was... let's just say not great. Basically, the author claims that, prior to the release of works like Twilight and The Hunger Games and such, Young Adult Literature was not super popular or notable. While there's no doubt that works like this boosted its popularity, this take on the history is way too oversimplified. Like, are we just gonna forget about works like Seventeenth Summer (which came out in 1942, was written by a teenager for teenagers, and is considered the first YA book ever written), The Chocolate War (which was one of the first YA books with a non-happy ending), and the Sweet Valley series (which started in the 1980's and has sold over two hundred million copies and arguably paved the way for works such as the Babysitter's Club series and Gossip Girl)? I mean, I wasn't expecting the author to explain every single little bit of Young Adult Literature history, but I was expecting at least a little bit more.
Also, there were some important questions that I felt were either answered extremely poorly or not at all. For example, let's say you have a novel that falls into more than one of the ten Save the Cat storytelling genres (i.e Golden Fleece, Institutionalized, Rites of Passage, etc). What do you do? Yeah, there is some kind of attempt to answer this question towards the end of chapter four. Now, given the kind of writing advice that has been given up until this point, you would expect something straightforward and consistent like "If your story falls into more than one of the ten genres, pick the genre that it most heavily falls into." But the answer the author actually provides is just flat out contradictory. On the one hand, the author seems to imply that stories can only fall into one of the ten genres, especially since each genre has its own characteristics and "must include" elements (i.e Fool Triumphant stories must include: A fool, an establishment, and a transmutation). But then the author turns around and says, "So if you’re caught between two or even three story genres for your own work, ask yourself what feels best to you. Which one resonates with you? What kind of story do you want to tell?" So, in other words, your story must fall into one genre, but if your story falls into more than one genre and all those genres work best for you, then that's perfectly fine? Like, am I missing something? Also, there's an entire chapter dedicated to pitching one's book to publishers, readers, and a few others. But never does this chapter ever answer the question, "How can an author tell if the person/entity they're pitching their book to is legitimate?" While there is some stuff in this book that more experienced authors can use, this book seems primarily aimed at less experienced authors and I think having some kind of clear answer to this question would really help prevent those less experienced authors from being screwed over in more ways than one.
At times, some of the information and examples related to the ten story genres are rather questionable.
In chapter fourteen (a.k.a the Monster in The House chapter), the author uses Wilder Girls for this chapter's beat sheet. During the "Opening Image" section for this chapter, the author says, "Hetty, our hero and primary narrator, stands guard on the roof with her best friend, Byatt, rifles raised and aimed at a giant animal stalking between the trees. They are on “Gun Shift,” while the “Boat Shift” returns from their trip across Raxter Island to the dock where the Navy delivers rations." But in the "Bad Guys Close In" and "All is Lost" section, the author says that there's a Tox-infected bear wreaking havoc and basically trying to murder Hetty and her lover, Reese. Also, the author mentions in the "All is Lost Section" that Hetty "...listens to Headmistress..." despite the fact that, based on the author's retelling of Wilder Girls up until this point, Hetty is well aware of the fact that the adults cannot be trusted. Now, I have currently not read Wilder Girls and this could very well be how these events actually play out in the novel, but... where is the Gun Shift during this whole bear thing? Did they die by the Tox? Did they run out of ammo trying to snuff out some other threat? Also, it seems like Hetty trusts Headmistress because the plot and story structure need her to rather than because it makes sense for her character to do so.
In chapter thirteen (a.k.a the Whydunit chapter), the author uses One of Us is Lying for this chapter's beat sheet and while it fits the genre's criteria pretty well and whatnot, I don't really feel that this was the best example to go with from a "quality storytelling" point of view. I wrote an entire review on One of Us is Lying, but essentially, most of the main characters are little more than underdeveloped tropes, the way that technology is depicted is very out of touch and uninformed, and the mystery is set up in such a boneheaded way, that you can easily solve the mystery before you even get to chapter two. Now there's nothing wrong with learning from bad stories. In fact, I encourage it. However, I don't believe that was the author's intention here and in that case, I think a better example to use would've been something like Dead Girls Can't Tell Secrets.
Oh and in chapter eleven (a.k.a the Dude With a Problem chapter), there's this part: "And Alex Rider may not seem like he’s cut out to be a spy and save the world; even the people who recruit him don’t have much faith in his success. But his grandfather was a spy too, and little did Alex (and the reader) know, he’s been secretly grooming Alex the whole time." Now admittedly, I have not read Stormbreaker at this point in time, but I do know that there is no grandfather character that matches this description. In reality, it's Alex's Uncle Ian who secretly trains him to be a spy so that Alex can take over in the event that Ian dies. Like, was this a typo? Did the author actually not read Stormbreaker and just assumed Alex was trained by an elderly man because mentors in fiction tend to be elderly characters?
Overall, Save The Cat Writes a Young Adult Novel was a book that had some legitimately good advice, but it just has way too many flaws for me to confidently recommend it as a good resource for writing. If you're looking for some good writing resources, here's just a few I recommend:
- Writer Brandon McNulty
- KrimsonRouge (including his The Book Was Better series and his long form book reviews such as his multi hour long reviews tearing the Lightlark series a new one)
- Masterclass's writing articles
- Film Courage (Specifically the videos starring Kim O'Hara such as this one titled "Mistakes Beginners Make Starting a Book")
- Pixar's 22 Rules of Storytelling
Overall Grade: D
May 17, 2023
I’ve read the original Save the Cat Writes a Novel several times and have found it an incredibly valuable tool as I plan and write my own books. The Young Adult version has the same foundation as the original, with the same plot beats and formulas, and the same structure as the original. All of the examples Jessica Brody uses are YA books from a variety of genres, (fantasy, contemporary, romance, thriller, etc.) Even if you are not planning on writing a YA novel, this is still a great craft book that is expanded from the original Save the Cat book. Brody has answered some commonly asked questions, including how to customize the beat sheet to fit your story (prologues, early or late catalysts, etc.) as well as in depth instructions on how to work in multiple POVs, plot for a multiple book series, and more. If you’re a writer, add this to your craft book collection! (Digital galley provided by Netgalley)
July 17, 2023
Book review time! It’s a craft book. I don’t know why I chose a craft book, but I did. Mostly because it’s been a while since I read one, I guess. Anyway, Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel by Jessica Brody was released on July 18th from Ten Speed Press. As usual, I must thank them and NetGalley for access to an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review. Let’s do the thing.
Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel expands on Blake Snyder’s screenwriting guide (Save the Cat!) and tweaks it to make it more easily applicable to YA novels. Along with the expected beat sheets, the author also includes guides to what she calls the ten Save the Cat! story genres. There’s also a chapter dedicated to writing a series and one about creating loglines and synopses when you’re preparing for publication/the agent hunt/whatever you decide to use them for.
The original Save the Cat! is pretty much the only craft book that I remember with fondness. Most I’m either meh about or hate with a passion. This particular craft book is better than most of the ones I’ve read, but I couldn’t get into it when the genres came up (and they’re most of the book). First, the good. I liked the beat sheet. It explains where events usually go and how plotlines merge and diverge and how to make your own beat sheet either before writing, during it, or between drafts. Plus, you can tweak it as needed if your story feels off. It’s a great tool. I also liked that the author discusses how to apply everything to a series and a synopsis. That was all actually very helpful.
My biggest problem with this book was the breakdown of genres. Instead of using traditional genres (fantasy, sci-fi, etc.), the author tries to categorize stories by their essence (rites of passage, buddy love, etc.). That’s cool. I like the idea. But there’s far too much overlap for these genres to be distinct from each other. How do I know? Because a lot of the same books are used as examples in multiple genres. It’s confusing. The author says that’s okay and that many people will disagree as to what books go into which genre, like it’s not a big deal. It’s fine for debates. But she also says each genre needs to include certain things. If my book crosses multiple genres, how do I know what to include? It’s confusing. Especially for newbie writers who might think a craft book is writing law and don’t realize they can break the rules. It’s just too messy for my liking.
The other problem I have with the book is definitely a me thing. I don’t like it when writers use their own work as examples in craft books. It just feels like they’re trying to get me to buy their stuff and they never delve as deeply into their own stuff, like they don’t want to give away spoilers. Meanwhile, they’ve just spoiled every other book they used as examples. This author does it sparingly until the chapter on series which is all about one of her series in the example. It’s annoying to me, but I know most readers don’t care.
As far as the writing goes, it’s a craft book. Starts out a little preachy, but that fades away pretty quickly. Otherwise, it’s long and very repetitive as most craft books are.
Ultimately, I found some useful things in Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel. It was one of the better craft books I’ve read. Apparently there’s also one about writing novels in general, so I might look that one up.
Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. Craft books are either pretty good (4), meh(2), or bad (0) to me. This one leaned toward pretty good. If you’re writing a YA novel and you’re stuck, it’s worth having around.
Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel expands on Blake Snyder’s screenwriting guide (Save the Cat!) and tweaks it to make it more easily applicable to YA novels. Along with the expected beat sheets, the author also includes guides to what she calls the ten Save the Cat! story genres. There’s also a chapter dedicated to writing a series and one about creating loglines and synopses when you’re preparing for publication/the agent hunt/whatever you decide to use them for.
The original Save the Cat! is pretty much the only craft book that I remember with fondness. Most I’m either meh about or hate with a passion. This particular craft book is better than most of the ones I’ve read, but I couldn’t get into it when the genres came up (and they’re most of the book). First, the good. I liked the beat sheet. It explains where events usually go and how plotlines merge and diverge and how to make your own beat sheet either before writing, during it, or between drafts. Plus, you can tweak it as needed if your story feels off. It’s a great tool. I also liked that the author discusses how to apply everything to a series and a synopsis. That was all actually very helpful.
My biggest problem with this book was the breakdown of genres. Instead of using traditional genres (fantasy, sci-fi, etc.), the author tries to categorize stories by their essence (rites of passage, buddy love, etc.). That’s cool. I like the idea. But there’s far too much overlap for these genres to be distinct from each other. How do I know? Because a lot of the same books are used as examples in multiple genres. It’s confusing. The author says that’s okay and that many people will disagree as to what books go into which genre, like it’s not a big deal. It’s fine for debates. But she also says each genre needs to include certain things. If my book crosses multiple genres, how do I know what to include? It’s confusing. Especially for newbie writers who might think a craft book is writing law and don’t realize they can break the rules. It’s just too messy for my liking.
The other problem I have with the book is definitely a me thing. I don’t like it when writers use their own work as examples in craft books. It just feels like they’re trying to get me to buy their stuff and they never delve as deeply into their own stuff, like they don’t want to give away spoilers. Meanwhile, they’ve just spoiled every other book they used as examples. This author does it sparingly until the chapter on series which is all about one of her series in the example. It’s annoying to me, but I know most readers don’t care.
As far as the writing goes, it’s a craft book. Starts out a little preachy, but that fades away pretty quickly. Otherwise, it’s long and very repetitive as most craft books are.
Ultimately, I found some useful things in Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel. It was one of the better craft books I’ve read. Apparently there’s also one about writing novels in general, so I might look that one up.
Overall, I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. Craft books are either pretty good (4), meh(2), or bad (0) to me. This one leaned toward pretty good. If you’re writing a YA novel and you’re stuck, it’s worth having around.
July 13, 2023
Wonderful addition to the Save the Cat family! This new installment goes deeper into many aspects from Save the Cat Writes a Novel and it's absolutely required reading for any YA plotter who loves story structure!
August 29, 2025
The original Save the Cat! Writes a Novel is one of my favorite books on writing, and now that I’m finally getting back into my own writing after a five-year bout of writer’s block, this was just what I needed! This is basically my writing Bible and I know I will reference it constantly.
Read
August 11, 2023"Inspiration only gets you started. Discipline gets you finished. "
January 20, 2024
This book is god sent. ❤️
August 14, 2024
Absolutely life changing and such a fun, helpful, accessible read. Blew through this and loved every second!!!
Except maybe that negative character arc in the Chosen One chapter 🥲
Except maybe that negative character arc in the Chosen One chapter 🥲
February 28, 2025
found this pretty useful - especially for structure!
June 12, 2024
Highly recommend for anyone working through writing a novel. This book really helped me strengthen my craft. I love how many practical examples she provides regarding structure.
December 2, 2024
Fantastic!
July 3, 2023
Excellent guide. Especially for beginners, but more experienced writers will still find useful tips. The whole chapter 3 is a delight and the whole beat sheet thing is very detailed and it's very interesting to see how it is applied to series.
June 21, 2023
Following her incredible book Save the Cat Writes a Novel based on Blake Snyder’s 15 beats for movies , Jessica Brody is back with Save the Cat Writes A Young Adult Novel. Full of the same familiar beats as her first book but with information tailored to the age category of young adult.
To be short, if you want to write a young adult novel, this is a book you need to read. The first book is what I would consider a novel writing bible. This falls right in line with that.
The knowledge and tips in this book are what I would consider required reading.
Buy this book. There’s so many examples, the different genres, it’s a fantastic book on novel writing. One of the best craft books on the market. Buy it. I’ve preordered it. I own the first book. It unlocked writing for me and the second has expanded on that knowledge.
She writes so casually it’s like you’re talking with a friend who just keep dropping knowledge on your.
I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.
To be short, if you want to write a young adult novel, this is a book you need to read. The first book is what I would consider a novel writing bible. This falls right in line with that.
The knowledge and tips in this book are what I would consider required reading.
Buy this book. There’s so many examples, the different genres, it’s a fantastic book on novel writing. One of the best craft books on the market. Buy it. I’ve preordered it. I own the first book. It unlocked writing for me and the second has expanded on that knowledge.
She writes so casually it’s like you’re talking with a friend who just keep dropping knowledge on your.
I received this eARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thanks to them and the publisher.
July 19, 2023
Based on when I heard people talk about the Save the Cat method in writing circles, I was afraid that this book was going to be one of those "your book must have these 100 elements exactly in this way and you must outline or it's going to be bad" types of books. I'm so glad I took a chance and that it exactly the opposite. Jessica Brody uses the famed "Save the Cat" method in building great Young Adult novels with lots of flexibility and guidance to help both new and experienced writers produce better structured novels without boxing them into writing handcuffs.
After a brief introduction about the Young Adult demographic and how it differs from adult fiction, the first two chapters go into developing your protagonist and a detailed overview of what the Save the Cat formula is. Despite being all about structure, it doesn't bash those that plot lightly or at all before drafting, though she encourages making an outline at some point in the editing/revision process. Chapter 3 is dedicated to the idea that the formula is highly customizable, and it gave me a relief for sure. She also introduces concepts that aren't meant to box a writer in, but tools to help guide a confused writer into constructing a great story. It sure helped me change a few things at a whim while I'm rewriting my novel.
About half the book is dedicated to breaking down the Save the Cat formula to ten basic types of story setups, each taking up a chapter. It sums up the basics, with the three essential elements of each, and books fit into this category. Finally, there's a deep breakdown of one well known book in the genre (spoilers everywhere!) and a more compact version at the end of the chapter. I love how each were fleshed out and enlightening, and helped understand how the formula can fit almost any book. It really expanded my ideas and views of books I've read.
Then the book closes with how to use Save the Cat to promote your book to others, including building a pitch, longline, and a sales copy, then finally how to use it if you're plotting a series, even going up to seven books! The book even ends with one more encouraging pep talk!
The start of each chapter has spoiler alerts for the books being covered in case you haven't read them, which was an awesome thing in case you haven't read it yet and wanted to go in blind. There were a few I haven't read and for the ones I cared to avoid the spoilers, I dodged them on my own.
Overall, the book was easy to read and comprehend in terms of the prose and concepts, and allows for plenty of flexibility that I'm sure will work for most writers, and already, I'm seeing early returns! Highly recommended for any Young Adult writer!
*I received an ARC from Ten Speed Press and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.*
After a brief introduction about the Young Adult demographic and how it differs from adult fiction, the first two chapters go into developing your protagonist and a detailed overview of what the Save the Cat formula is. Despite being all about structure, it doesn't bash those that plot lightly or at all before drafting, though she encourages making an outline at some point in the editing/revision process. Chapter 3 is dedicated to the idea that the formula is highly customizable, and it gave me a relief for sure. She also introduces concepts that aren't meant to box a writer in, but tools to help guide a confused writer into constructing a great story. It sure helped me change a few things at a whim while I'm rewriting my novel.
About half the book is dedicated to breaking down the Save the Cat formula to ten basic types of story setups, each taking up a chapter. It sums up the basics, with the three essential elements of each, and books fit into this category. Finally, there's a deep breakdown of one well known book in the genre (spoilers everywhere!) and a more compact version at the end of the chapter. I love how each were fleshed out and enlightening, and helped understand how the formula can fit almost any book. It really expanded my ideas and views of books I've read.
Then the book closes with how to use Save the Cat to promote your book to others, including building a pitch, longline, and a sales copy, then finally how to use it if you're plotting a series, even going up to seven books! The book even ends with one more encouraging pep talk!
The start of each chapter has spoiler alerts for the books being covered in case you haven't read them, which was an awesome thing in case you haven't read it yet and wanted to go in blind. There were a few I haven't read and for the ones I cared to avoid the spoilers, I dodged them on my own.
Overall, the book was easy to read and comprehend in terms of the prose and concepts, and allows for plenty of flexibility that I'm sure will work for most writers, and already, I'm seeing early returns! Highly recommended for any Young Adult writer!
*I received an ARC from Ten Speed Press and Netgalley. All opinions are my own.*
May 23, 2023
Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with a copy of this book.
I’ve read Brody’s previous Save the Cat book and absolutely love it. I use it every time I start a new writing project. I requested this book since I wanted to see if there were any differences between the two.
My initial thoughts were it was structured like the first book and Brody explains there are enough differences to warrant a separate book. By the time I was finished reading, I agree.
For whatever reason, I found this book to be easier to read than Brody’s original. There are a ton of examples given to demonstrate how each beat is done in different novels.
An addition that I really liked was the different beat sheet customizations the writer could do in regard to duologies, trilogies, etc. That was something I had missed with the first book and I loved that the time was taken to show these.
I’m thinking of adding this to my own collection. I’m not a YA writer but a lot of the content was easier for me to understand.
I’ve read Brody’s previous Save the Cat book and absolutely love it. I use it every time I start a new writing project. I requested this book since I wanted to see if there were any differences between the two.
My initial thoughts were it was structured like the first book and Brody explains there are enough differences to warrant a separate book. By the time I was finished reading, I agree.
For whatever reason, I found this book to be easier to read than Brody’s original. There are a ton of examples given to demonstrate how each beat is done in different novels.
An addition that I really liked was the different beat sheet customizations the writer could do in regard to duologies, trilogies, etc. That was something I had missed with the first book and I loved that the time was taken to show these.
I’m thinking of adding this to my own collection. I’m not a YA writer but a lot of the content was easier for me to understand.
August 23, 2023
As a writer, my FAVORITE book on story structure is “Story Genius” by Lisa Cron—which I couldn’t help but compare as I read “Save The Cat! Writes A YA Novel.”
While “Story Genius” emphasizes psychology and brain science, “Save The Cat!” focuses on the patterns of popular novels, making it an easier read.
However, there were times when STC! got a bit too … convoluted …
“A beat sheet” is a “save the cat,” which is a “transformation machine,” which is a “15-step cheat sheet,” which is “the secret storytelling code,” which is “basic story structure.” 🥴 They all mean the same thing. It’s like learning a new, very complicated language, and it gets old after a while …
That being said, I appreciated the story studies A LOT!
It’s easier to understand structure when you see it in a familiar form (i.e. a book you’ve read and enjoyed). Once you ignore the creative labels, you begin to learn story from a hands-on approach, and the multiple examples help hammer it home, Bay-Bay!
I love the idea of these beat sheets being “story recipes.” That is *exactly* what I use these books for!!
✨ Hot Writer Tip: Books on story structure can help you “unstick” when you’re STUCK. ✨
I’m able to follow these books beat for beat to find what my story is missing. What is causing it to fall flat?
The beats also help write a SYNOPSIS when the time comes! A misery, unfortunately, we’ll all have to face.
And (as a plotter), prepping the beats ahead of time gives me the confidence that my story “has legs to stand” before I put pen to paper. I NEED that guarantee before I dedicate a year of my life to a project.
That’s what makes books like “Save The Cat! Writes A YA Novel” an excellent weapon in any writer’s arsenal. 💪🏻
Taking all the creative labels with a grain of salt, I will definitely be using Save The Cat! methods to compose my next book—and I’m not even writing YA!
Favorite quotes:
“If you want to be a better writer, you have to be a better reader.”
“Inspiration gets you started. Discipline gets you finished.”
#bookreview #writertips #SavetheCatWritesaYoungAdultNovel #NetGalley #bookstagram #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writersnetwork
While “Story Genius” emphasizes psychology and brain science, “Save The Cat!” focuses on the patterns of popular novels, making it an easier read.
However, there were times when STC! got a bit too … convoluted …
“A beat sheet” is a “save the cat,” which is a “transformation machine,” which is a “15-step cheat sheet,” which is “the secret storytelling code,” which is “basic story structure.” 🥴 They all mean the same thing. It’s like learning a new, very complicated language, and it gets old after a while …
That being said, I appreciated the story studies A LOT!
It’s easier to understand structure when you see it in a familiar form (i.e. a book you’ve read and enjoyed). Once you ignore the creative labels, you begin to learn story from a hands-on approach, and the multiple examples help hammer it home, Bay-Bay!
I love the idea of these beat sheets being “story recipes.” That is *exactly* what I use these books for!!
✨ Hot Writer Tip: Books on story structure can help you “unstick” when you’re STUCK. ✨
I’m able to follow these books beat for beat to find what my story is missing. What is causing it to fall flat?
The beats also help write a SYNOPSIS when the time comes! A misery, unfortunately, we’ll all have to face.
And (as a plotter), prepping the beats ahead of time gives me the confidence that my story “has legs to stand” before I put pen to paper. I NEED that guarantee before I dedicate a year of my life to a project.
That’s what makes books like “Save The Cat! Writes A YA Novel” an excellent weapon in any writer’s arsenal. 💪🏻
Taking all the creative labels with a grain of salt, I will definitely be using Save The Cat! methods to compose my next book—and I’m not even writing YA!
Favorite quotes:
“If you want to be a better writer, you have to be a better reader.”
“Inspiration gets you started. Discipline gets you finished.”
#bookreview #writertips #SavetheCatWritesaYoungAdultNovel #NetGalley #bookstagram #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #writersnetwork
November 2, 2023
I have Save the Cat! Writes a Novel at home, so I checked out the audiobook of Save the Cat! [STC] Writes a Young Adult Novel because of course I did. (Please, I can't explain why I am the way I am any more than you can.) I mean, it's probably because I am currently working on a YA novel, but still.
I was actually pretty familiar with most of the beats explored here because I took the HEA WTF Workshop (highly recommended for anyone interested in writing any kind of romance into their stories) and author Amy Spalding uses the beats as part of her outline/novel prep process. However, I had not yet been exposed to the STC story genres, so I appreciated the look at those. I found those really helpful in thinking about story and extremely helpful when it comes to writing a logline. I also really liked the fact that author Jessica Brody provided detailed analysis of books and how they fit both the story genres and the beats. I may not have agreed with all of her classifications (stories can sometimes fit more than one category, by which I mean most YA is technically rites of passage, for example) but generally they all seemed to fit where she said they did.
I should also point out that I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by the author, and I thought she did a good job. She was certainly engaging and easy to follow.
All in all, I found this extremely useful and am glad I have the paper version of the original STC novel writing guide to refer to as a reference. If I didn't, I would definitely buy this one.
Oh and not for nothing, but the breakdown in here made me want to reread The Hunger Games, so there's also that.
I was actually pretty familiar with most of the beats explored here because I took the HEA WTF Workshop (highly recommended for anyone interested in writing any kind of romance into their stories) and author Amy Spalding uses the beats as part of her outline/novel prep process. However, I had not yet been exposed to the STC story genres, so I appreciated the look at those. I found those really helpful in thinking about story and extremely helpful when it comes to writing a logline. I also really liked the fact that author Jessica Brody provided detailed analysis of books and how they fit both the story genres and the beats. I may not have agreed with all of her classifications (stories can sometimes fit more than one category, by which I mean most YA is technically rites of passage, for example) but generally they all seemed to fit where she said they did.
I should also point out that I listened to the audiobook, which is narrated by the author, and I thought she did a good job. She was certainly engaging and easy to follow.
All in all, I found this extremely useful and am glad I have the paper version of the original STC novel writing guide to refer to as a reference. If I didn't, I would definitely buy this one.
Oh and not for nothing, but the breakdown in here made me want to reread The Hunger Games, so there's also that.
March 31, 2024
Save the Cat! Writes a YA Novel is a game-changer for writers delving into the YA genre. Building upon the proven structural framework of the original Save the Cat!, it seamlessly integrates examples from YA novels, making it an all-purpose resource for plotters, pantsers, and everyone in between. Whether you're outlining your story, knee-deep in scenes and outlines, or refining during an edit, this book is a guiding light, helping you organize the ideas that come in droves and with no warning, and maintain a pacing for a compelling narrative journey.
One standout is its exploration of multiple POVs, series writing, and other structural nuances prevalent in YA literature. It doesn't just provide a roadmap; it tailors it to the unique challenges and opportunities of writing for young adults, making it an indispensable companion for YA authors.
The chapter on crafting loglines and short synopses is a treasure, offering some practical tools to hook your beloved readers from the start. The guidance on plotting a series is invaluable, addressing complexities that arise when extending a story across multiple books.
I personally experienced the 'aha' moments while reading this book, I can attest to its effectiveness in addressing specific questions that often go beyond the scope of the original Save the Cat! For instance, the insights on creating beat sheets for multi-POV narratives and series were particularly helpful in breaking through a writer’s block.
Save the Cat! Writes a YA Novel is a must-read for writers at any stage of their journey. Its comprehensive approach, coupled with real-world examples from YA literature, makes it not just a writing guide but a trusted companion for crafting captivating stories. Highly recommended for writers seeking to elevate their YA storytelling game.
One standout is its exploration of multiple POVs, series writing, and other structural nuances prevalent in YA literature. It doesn't just provide a roadmap; it tailors it to the unique challenges and opportunities of writing for young adults, making it an indispensable companion for YA authors.
The chapter on crafting loglines and short synopses is a treasure, offering some practical tools to hook your beloved readers from the start. The guidance on plotting a series is invaluable, addressing complexities that arise when extending a story across multiple books.
I personally experienced the 'aha' moments while reading this book, I can attest to its effectiveness in addressing specific questions that often go beyond the scope of the original Save the Cat! For instance, the insights on creating beat sheets for multi-POV narratives and series were particularly helpful in breaking through a writer’s block.
Save the Cat! Writes a YA Novel is a must-read for writers at any stage of their journey. Its comprehensive approach, coupled with real-world examples from YA literature, makes it not just a writing guide but a trusted companion for crafting captivating stories. Highly recommended for writers seeking to elevate their YA storytelling game.
November 26, 2024
I read Save the Cat! in college and I can say this book is a fantastic add-on for the specific audience it targets. You do not have to read the original Save the Cat to understand this book, as Brody goes through everything you need. However, if you're interested in screenplay writing, I would highly recommend it.
As for Brody's YA version of the book, it's chock full of great tips that are easy to digest for any writer whether you're experienced or a total newbie. There are several wonderful essays here. While you will get the most out of them if you are already familiar with the work Brody references, you can still easily understand the points she drives home and how structure works in these stories. She has a valuable chapter on how to break the rules, which I appreciated. Sometimes, writers giving tips or analysts will throw out "breaking the rules" without actually explaining what that means, but Brody includes a whole chapter on that very topic.
Fortunately for Brody, this is a book on writing structure and how to be an analyst/how to read like a writer versus a book on design for your published work. This book is hard to read physically rather than because of jargon or complicated subjects. Brody breaks down big ideas in easily comprehensible ways, but the book itself is hard on the eyes. This could be rectified by adjusting the page margins, changing the font, and adding more kerning. Chapters are also very long, so it's easy to get lost in the sauce.
If you're someone who struggles with reading in a physical sense, you might need to look ahead and give yourself specific places to start and stop. This could be a long read not due to the content itself but how it's presented. However, the material is worth it.
Regardless of age, experience, or specific genre of interest, if you're interested in writing YA fiction, this book is for you.
As for Brody's YA version of the book, it's chock full of great tips that are easy to digest for any writer whether you're experienced or a total newbie. There are several wonderful essays here. While you will get the most out of them if you are already familiar with the work Brody references, you can still easily understand the points she drives home and how structure works in these stories. She has a valuable chapter on how to break the rules, which I appreciated. Sometimes, writers giving tips or analysts will throw out "breaking the rules" without actually explaining what that means, but Brody includes a whole chapter on that very topic.
Fortunately for Brody, this is a book on writing structure and how to be an analyst/how to read like a writer versus a book on design for your published work. This book is hard to read physically rather than because of jargon or complicated subjects. Brody breaks down big ideas in easily comprehensible ways, but the book itself is hard on the eyes. This could be rectified by adjusting the page margins, changing the font, and adding more kerning. Chapters are also very long, so it's easy to get lost in the sauce.
If you're someone who struggles with reading in a physical sense, you might need to look ahead and give yourself specific places to start and stop. This could be a long read not due to the content itself but how it's presented. However, the material is worth it.
Regardless of age, experience, or specific genre of interest, if you're interested in writing YA fiction, this book is for you.
November 25, 2023
Originally posted on my blog Nonstop Reader.
Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel is a tutorial guide/workshop for writers (and would-be-writers) by Jessica Brody with guides for producing a finished YA novel. Released 18th July 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Ten Speed Press imprint, it's 432 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.
This is a practical and logically arranged guide to the craft of writing; specifically young adult narrative fiction. The chapters progress from creating worthy protagonists to blueprints/charts/storyboards for creating a narrative arc, through denouement and resolution. There are also tutorials for polishing, finishing, marketing, and planning sequels and series.
Nearly all the books on writing craft seem to be dry and so full of detail that it's easy to get overwhelmed. The Save the Cat! series is humorous, very useful, and accessible.
Four and a half stars. This would be a great public or school library acquisition, reference for aspiring writers, writing/bookclub groups and similar.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel is a tutorial guide/workshop for writers (and would-be-writers) by Jessica Brody with guides for producing a finished YA novel. Released 18th July 2023 by Penguin Random House on their Ten Speed Press imprint, it's 432 pages and is available in paperback, audio, and ebook formats.
This is a practical and logically arranged guide to the craft of writing; specifically young adult narrative fiction. The chapters progress from creating worthy protagonists to blueprints/charts/storyboards for creating a narrative arc, through denouement and resolution. There are also tutorials for polishing, finishing, marketing, and planning sequels and series.
Nearly all the books on writing craft seem to be dry and so full of detail that it's easy to get overwhelmed. The Save the Cat! series is humorous, very useful, and accessible.
Four and a half stars. This would be a great public or school library acquisition, reference for aspiring writers, writing/bookclub groups and similar.
Disclosure: I received an ARC at no cost from the author/publisher for review purposes.
August 4, 2025
The JLM Writing Books Book Club (https://storycoach.judylmohr.com/book...) reviewed this book in August 2025. This book is an excellent primer for the Save the Cat! model as it relates to ALL novels. Don't be put off by the "Young Adult" included in the title of this book. The only thing that is YA about this book is the examples used to describe the Save the Cat! genres.
While much of the information included in this book is a duplication of what is found in Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, this book goes into greater detail about certain concepts, utilizing language that is more accessible than the original book. In addition, THIS book discusses how to use the Save the Cat! story structure model across a series, regardless of the length of the series. The discussion on writing series is not found in the original book.
If you are already familiar with the original book by Jessica Brody, we recommend that you read a digital copy of this book (Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel), picking up on the information that was added (writing in series) and the information that was better explained (writing multi-pov stories). For those who have never read the original book, then just read this one.
While much of the information included in this book is a duplication of what is found in Save the Cat! Writes a Novel, this book goes into greater detail about certain concepts, utilizing language that is more accessible than the original book. In addition, THIS book discusses how to use the Save the Cat! story structure model across a series, regardless of the length of the series. The discussion on writing series is not found in the original book.
If you are already familiar with the original book by Jessica Brody, we recommend that you read a digital copy of this book (Save the Cat! Writes a Young Adult Novel), picking up on the information that was added (writing in series) and the information that was better explained (writing multi-pov stories). For those who have never read the original book, then just read this one.
August 8, 2023
I loved the new information, especially in chapter three. It's about customizing your beat sheet. It is valuable to all writers. Chapter 16 is also delves into series beat sheets, another amazing resource to any writer regardless of genre. If you've read Save The Cat Writes a Novel
I'd still suggest buying this one if you're working on a series or want more information about customizing your beat sheet. Jessica answers your what if my beat sheet questions.
Yes, some of the information is a review, the beats haven't changed. However you get a whole new collection of examples. To be honest, I'd heard of more and read more of these than the examples from her previous book. I loved the book and am already re-reading it.
I'd still suggest buying this one if you're working on a series or want more information about customizing your beat sheet. Jessica answers your what if my beat sheet questions.Yes, some of the information is a review, the beats haven't changed. However you get a whole new collection of examples. To be honest, I'd heard of more and read more of these than the examples from her previous book. I loved the book and am already re-reading it.
April 2, 2024
I'm not writing fiction, but writing craft books have been catnip for me lately. I love the ideas and frameworks that authors use to write fiction. It's so interesting to me. I enjoy seeing how (and if) well-done books align with these (now iconic) story beats, and how they fall into one or more of the 10 thematic categories that she identifies.
I understand why some people strongly dislike "formulaic" books like these. I'm not a huge fan of big promises like "follow these steps and write a bestseller," but I'm not wholly unconvinced that this beat sheet isn't useful to writers, especially new writers. It sure is interesting, I'll give it that. Because I'm not an author, I feel serenely removed from this debate, watching from afar on my reader's couch.
Why did I choose the YA version instead of the original? Because it's newer, and I wanted to see if Brody revised any of her earlier advice. She hasn't.
I understand why some people strongly dislike "formulaic" books like these. I'm not a huge fan of big promises like "follow these steps and write a bestseller," but I'm not wholly unconvinced that this beat sheet isn't useful to writers, especially new writers. It sure is interesting, I'll give it that. Because I'm not an author, I feel serenely removed from this debate, watching from afar on my reader's couch.
Why did I choose the YA version instead of the original? Because it's newer, and I wanted to see if Brody revised any of her earlier advice. She hasn't.
July 30, 2023
New and improved version of Save the Cat writes a novel with extra chapters about series and answering common questions (such as early or late inciting incidents / catalysts, or what's up with prologues), also provides more beat sheets for popular YA books allowing for people to see how the cookie crumbles.
What I loved the most is advice that is both specific, and yet not restrictively prescriptive. After reading so many writing guides saying "this is THE way to write a story, period" I'm glad to see a division into "10 genres" and how they differ in objective, character's status quo and type of character arc.
I'm also happy to see the author mention mistakes like "I picked the wrong genre for my novel", because heck I think I did the same with my wip. It's helpful to know even successful published authors aren't cruising problem free and sometimes have to troubleshoot.
What I loved the most is advice that is both specific, and yet not restrictively prescriptive. After reading so many writing guides saying "this is THE way to write a story, period" I'm glad to see a division into "10 genres" and how they differ in objective, character's status quo and type of character arc.
I'm also happy to see the author mention mistakes like "I picked the wrong genre for my novel", because heck I think I did the same with my wip. It's helpful to know even successful published authors aren't cruising problem free and sometimes have to troubleshoot.
December 14, 2025
This's probably the best writing advice book I remember reading in a while. Brody gives on-point pacing and plotting advice, laying out a standard skeleton and showing in detail how it's there in numerous well-regarded novels. She also shows how it can be twisted and gilded over while staying there in the background. This, she says, is the sort of skeleton most of your readers will be subconsciously expecting - and in many ways, the sort of plot that's inherently interesting.
She doesn't go into what makes it inherently interesting - how much it's culture and the sort of novels people read, and how much it's inherent to humanity - but she doesn't need to.
I've written down her skeleton, and I'm planning to use it in my own novel-writing. Many of my previous problems were with pacing; this skeleton will I expect help a lot.
She doesn't go into what makes it inherently interesting - how much it's culture and the sort of novels people read, and how much it's inherent to humanity - but she doesn't need to.
I've written down her skeleton, and I'm planning to use it in my own novel-writing. Many of my previous problems were with pacing; this skeleton will I expect help a lot.
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