[HPforGrownups] Re: World Building And The Potterverse

[Magpie]

No: HPFGUIDX 167638

Carol:
> Evidently, she doesn't make the "children's books," "young adult
> books" distinction that Magpie is making. And she clearly disapproves
> of children's books that don't allow their characters to suffer the
> pangs and awkwardness of adolescence.

Magpie:
The distinction I'm making is one from a publisher's and librarian's pov, 
not one really about content. But I would say at the same time that they've 
really retained the style of the earlier books. By YA standards the HP books 
are barely sexual. They have far more explicit violence and sex where there 
is violence or sex. But while I'd say the early books are clearly children's 
books I had to accept the correction of librarians who said that the age 
range really does go into the YA range by the later books. I think she's 
acknowleging that in what she's saying about the reader--obviously earlier 
books didn't include Harry dating because he was 11, but now that he's older 
the books are changing.

I think what JKR is saying is what she's said all along, that the story she 
wanted to tell fit comfortable into what would be considered juvenile (in 
the US) publishing and she's happy with that. She would never, imo, say 
"they're not really children's books" as if that was limiting, or "they're 
just children's books" as if that meant they weren't as serious.

-m