Today, I'm very excited to share my thoughts on Dylan Madeley 's book, The Last Gift-Knight . Dylan sent me a copy of his book after reaching out to ask for a review and I'm really glad he did. Keep reading to find out what I thought to The Last Gift-Knight , and decide whether this will be your next great read... But first, let's meet the book! Two lives, the legacies of grand stories, are at the forefront of this tale. Frustrated with living in the shadow of a long-dead hero, Derek flees to infamous ruins and begs his ancestors for a sign. The next day, he is summoned to serve as the personal guard of his family's greatest enemy. The ensuing journey leads him through storied places, the depths of loneliness, and a growing dread over what awaits at his destination. A reserved and bookish princess unexpectedly finds herself on the throne yet under suspicion. Chandra hardly has time to prepare or to grieve before facing her duties. Aided by a trustworthy few, she mu...
Why is it that, when you're teaching genres to children, you go through historical, fantasy, science fiction, adventure... and so on... and then... non-fiction. You go into detail about all the wonderful types of fiction, and then non-fiction gets lumped in together.
Perhaps because there are too many genres of non-fiction to count. I can't even name them all. So, with that in mind, I will attempt to write a single blog post about non-fiction.
What is the most challenging aspect of middle grade non-fiction?
For me, personally, the most challenging part is making the facts fun and engaging for children. It's a different skill writing facts for children rather than adults. Think back to when you were a child. If you picked up a dry wall of text, it might have put you off non-fiction for life. So, what can we do to ensure our non-fiction books grip children's attention?
Fun Language
Think Horrible Histories. Some of the facts in those books might not interest some kids, but they are written in a fun and humorous way. Children, in general, love funny things! They love reading things that they can tell to their classmates and have a bit of a laugh. The social currency of the playground is laughter. If you can (intentionally) make people laugh, you know you're onto something.
Consider Alternative Ways of Writing Non-fiction
By this, I mean... can you write facts through a story? Or perhaps through a diary entry. I'm currently writing a non-fiction middle grade book about how stars are formed, but I'm writing it like an autobiography of a star, with thoughts and feelings to offset the concepts of physics and astronomy.
Keep the Page Short and Sweet
If you're in charge of the illustrations too, make sure they take up half the page. When I wrote Tour of the Solar System, the writing on each page is only a paragraph or two, with the rest of the space (pardon the pun) as a picture. By ensuring there is not a wall of text on the page, it will be instantly more engaging for younger readers.
Use Pictures
Speaking of pictures, illustrations are your friends! Have you ever heard the saying, "A picture tells a thousand words." It is true! Diagrams work really well in non-fiction, and they provide a good teaching point too.
Use Interactive Resources
We, at Crowvus, are experimenting with QR codes in books, leading to videos or other interactive material. Children love interactive things, so this could really boost their enjoyment levels. Consider including quizzes or perhaps a related board game at the end of your book.
I know this is only a short blog on such a massive topic, but it's a start. Writing non-fiction for children is rewarding and fun, not to mention a great way to learn or consolidate your knowledge on a topic!
What's New With Crowvus?
Our ghost story competition is live! We had a bit of a fluster today as the payment options weren't working, but it should all be sorted now. Find out more here!
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