One of the first writing rules I learned in journalism school is that you have to know your audience. This rule applies to writing children’s fiction every bit as much as it does to news, only there’s a catch.
When you’re writing for children, it’s important to remember you’re writing for two audiences: the young reader and the adult gatekeeper. Whether that gatekeeper is a parent, grandparent, teacher or librarian, there’s almost always another set of discerning eyes on work intended for middle grade readers.