Goodreads Authors/Readers discussion

I am a high school teacher who writes novels on the side. I've always wanted to try my hand at novel writing, so I took about a year and really worked on creating something special.

My goal in writing my novel, LARP: The Battle for Verona, was to create an entertaining YA novel that also taught a lesson. As a teacher, I see lots of kids being bullied, or, they are treated poorly by their peers because of their interests. LARP addresses both of those issues without being preachy.

So, my question to everyone is...because YA novels are geared toward teens, is it important for there to be a lesson in the novel, or should the novels just be entertaining?

I'm not sure if including a lesson is that important, but what I'd advise is: at least make sure that it doesn't contain a negative lesson. For instance, several of the YA novels I read over the past year or so were permeated with underlying messages such as "true love makes you weak": strong heroines being reduced to helpless heaps of Damsel In Distress as soon as they've found their Soul Mate, and so on. A teenage girl may not consciously register it, but I'm pretty sure that on an unconscious level, it might give her wrong ideas about what life is like.
(I mean, there are enough women already suffering from abusive partners, but staying with them because they're in love. I hate to think that any girl may end up believing this is normal!)

This is a specific example, but there are others, and not only affecting girls, of course.

I agree about the negative lesson. For that reason, I didn't like The Hunger Games. I thought it was super repetitive, and that Katniss is a weak character. She isn't decisive enough in her personal life, which tells me that her ability to win the competition isn't realisitc.

I taught the Hunger Games a few years ago, and as I was teaching it, the thought occured to me that the novel really doesn't have a purpose, other than to entertain. Because of its popularity, I really think the author missed a chance to use her art for a bigger purpose.

I think part of the method in doing it is like teaching...the best teachers can teach a lesson without the kids knowing it. It's better to use examples, character behavior in this case, than to come out and state the important life lesson.

If I want a life lesson, I go to church. I read a book for entertainment, and that's what it is to most people, first and foremost. The story is the most important part. Without that, it's just a lecture.

Now if you can slide a lesson or two in there where it isn't in your face shouting for attention? That's fine. Readers should be learning things when they write, whether it is about human nature, the dark depths of our soul, etc. I don't see a problem with having a positive message, as long as it is recognized that Story Comes First.

What if the story and the lesson are the same thing?

Yep total sense. That's why the characters in my novel LARP: The Battle for Verona are normal. They have normal jobs, are normal looking, and face normal life situations. What makes them special is how they respond to an abnormal situation.

I don't think a lesson is necessary in the novel. Most teens read for sheer entertainment aka to get away. They learn enough in school so why do they want to in a unsanctioned book. I find most books wind up having one in them the more realistic you make the characters but I just don't feel one is necessary.

I don't think there has to be a life lesson, but if one is included, it is always better is it is a teaching lesson and not a preaching lesson.

I don't think its necessary but it wouldn't hurt to add one in there. It would go well with the fact that the book is YA and since your a teacher you still want to get a good lesson in there.

Justin wrote: "I agree about the negative lesson. For that reason, I didn't like The Hunger Games. I thought it was super repetitive, and that Katniss is a weak character. She isn't decisive enough in her persona..."

I like what you said Justin about the teacher teaching a lesson without the students really knowing it. I feel it's the same way for authors. A good author doesn't have to come out straight with the lesson and declare it. Rather, he can use his story, the interactions of his characters, how they react to situations and how they are affected by the consequences (good or bad) of their decisions. Oddly enough, even if it's not the author's intent to teach a lesson, some kind of lesson can usually be derived if one gives it some thought! :)

Thinking is good! :) The art of subtlety is tough, though, because you want the message to come through without turning off the reader. But some people just don't get the message right away.

I never use didactic in a sentence...it sounds too grandiloquent lol

I use didactic in my reviews all the time. Actually, what I use is "overtly didactic" which is a common complaint for me. I want an important theme, but I don't want long speeches. I find that very clumsy and off-putting. I think the theme should be illustrated by the events in the plot.

If anyone here is interested, I'll send you a free PDF of the novel in return for reviews here on Goodreads and amazon. Just send me a private message with your email address and I will send it to you.
Or you can buy a copy for the super low price of 99 cents on amazon and bn.com. Just sayin'. :)