How Far Can You Go?

I've never read the wizard books. When they came out they weren't my thing, and now? The reported views of the author mean I won't be giving them a look anytime soon. I have, however, watched the films. Back to back, about ten years ago. Generally speaking, still not my thing, but an OK way to pass a few days. 

I preferred the first two Harry films. Magical school stories. A bit of threat, a bit of humour, with it all coming good in the end. That's how I remember them anyway. But then the vibe shifts. In the later films, the tone is darker, scarier, and there's real peril. What was fun family frolics at the start of the stories, becomes a sinister, creepy drama by the end. If a child of eight or nine reads the first book, it wouldn't necessarily be a great idea for them to power through the whole set of seven. Not at that age. Or maybe they'd naturally lose interest when it all got a bit grown up. Or maybe they'd love to keep reading and who am I to say they shouldn't read books that are slightly too old for them. I know I did when I was a youth. Who am I to sensor reading content to hypothetical fantasy readers?

There's a reason for this train of thought, of course. I'm writing my own series of books for young people. The Leeza McAuliffe Stories start when Leeza is ten. She turns twelve in Book Two, and in the book I'm currently, she becomes a teenager. The difference between ten and thirteen is massive. Well, it was for me, anyway. For cis girls in general, I think. Puberty has well and truly kicked in. Adult experiences are seeping in as childhood ones are becoming lame. Legally, there's still years to go 'til official grown up status is reached, but the tide has turned. This needs to be reflected in the story. 

I can do that. Mostly. Plot development and general shenanigans can be attuned to each new age that Leeza reaches. The physical markers of puberty have been covered in the first two books. In the third one, I'm writing about the giddy feelings of first love. But the thing I'm having to think about A LOT is swearing. Yep, what 'bad language' can I realistically use for Leeza and her friends without causing an international incident. Is it a big deal or not? Should I be wasting brain time on this issue? I've no idea, but it's in my head regardless.

It's my parents' fault. Natch. I grew up in a household that didn't do swearing. It wasn't the done thing. (The occasional under-his-breath shit from my dad at a televised Evertonian transgression, was as fruity as it got.) So in an act of pure rebellion and at a fairly young age, I developed a potty-mouth. I wasn't stupid. I didn't swear in front of teachers or do anything to get into trouble. But my vocabulary with my friends was pretty ripe. From the latter year of primary school, I'd say. And I remember playground swearing from other people in my class. Likewise, when I was a primary teacher, I was aware that some of the older students knew how to eff and jeff with competence. With that in mind, then of course Leeza would be a sweary old thing in her diary.

But then there are some kids that don't use swear words at all. I tried to investigate this with my older niece and nephew. They looked at me like I was mad that they might know some spicy words. Now, they could've been excellent actors who, away from adult supervision, are forever dropping C bombs, but I don't think so. I think I've been clouded by my own experiences and have assumed all youngsters are the same.

So what about Leeza? Am I going to turn her into Sweary McSweary in the next book? Well, nah. I don't want her to read like the wizard books. I want young people who have enjoyed the first book, to be able to read the whole series without too much of a jump. But the concept of her growing up means I've had to think about how to do it. You see, she's mature for her age; quite level headed and not one to give into peer pressure. She dislikes Poppy, a girl from school who's forever stirring trouble. Poppy would swear. Have I made Poppy swear? Not yet but I might. Leeza's old friend from primary school, Jenna, would also swear. Jenna's loyal and fun and has no problem saying what she thinks. She'd swear, for sure. Have I made Jenna swear? Not yet but I could. Perhaps this latest book could be the place for her to drop in a mild oath or two. It's going to have to be character led and gently done. For it to be authentic, that is. 

Me, not quite on the adult novels at this point.

There is one way, however, that I've shown Leeza's growth in terms of language. It's the books she chooses to read. As a young high schooler, I read a lot. I'd read ahead on class novels, and pillage the shelves of my local library on a regular basis. Then, when I was thirteen, my mum went through an ill-health related bout of binge reading. The upshot was, she suggested some novels I might like to read. Novels from the book shelf in her bedroom that she'd been ploughing through whilst laid up. That's when I read the Flowers in the Attic series and a load of Dick Francis books. Dick Francis wrote horse-related thrillers involving bad guys and bad language. The Flowers in the Attic books were about a mother who induces sibling incest with her terrible parenting choices. Yep, I know. Either way, I lapped them up. I'm pretty sure I wasn't perturbed by the content or language. What would have been too much in a film, and given a 15 or 18 certificate, was much milder on the page. Or maybe it was just much milder in my imagination. However it went down, I was ready for those adult stories. And it's not like my mum had lent me porn. They were just adult characters in adult situations. Kind of. (I'll admit the incest narrative isn't your usual dramatic trope.) The point is, I was ready to read on, to read older than I was, and to enjoy the process. 

I'm probably not going to make Leeza develop a potty mouth. But as for the books she reads? They'll include adult themes. They'll have some choice language. They'll show that she's growing and developing as she navigates the teenage years. And, if anyone who reads my books is eight or nine and starts at the beginning, I'm sure by the time they get to Book 3 (and the later still-to-be-written ones that will one day exist in the world) they'll either be bored and move on, or ready to lap up the experience.

Have a lovely week, folks.