Brooding YA Hero: Becoming a Main Character (Almost) as Awesome as Me
What’s inside...
Broody McHottiepants, a popular Twitter character known as @broodingYAhero, explores the world of writing with his book, 'Brooding YA Hero: Becoming a Main Character (Almost) as Awesome as Me.' This satirical self-help guide, which includes activities, delves into YA tropes and offers advice on choosing genres, maintaining romantic interests, and navigating love triangles successfully. Meanwhile, Broody's nemesis, Blondie DeMeani, tries to hinder his progress. The book humorously addresses common tropes in YA novels, making it an entertaining read for fans and aspiring main characters alike.
Age
12-18
Length
335 pages
Text complexity
Discussion points
What qualities do you think make a character in a book interesting or 'awesome'?
How do you think the main character evolved throughout the story?
Which part of the book did you find the most exciting or surprising, and why?
If you could give the main character one piece of advice, what would it be?
How do you think the character's journey in the book relates to real-life situations?
Tip: Role play these questions
Start the conversation by sharing your own thoughts on the book’s themes and asking your child their initial impressions.
Encourage your child to compare the main character's experiences in the book with their personal experiences or those of friends.
Discuss the moral and ethical decisions the characters make in the story, and ask your child what they would have done differently.
Use examples from the book to talk about personal development and the challenges of growing up.
Praise your child’s insights and encourage them to think critically about how the story’s themes apply to their own life.
Key lessons
Example Lesson: Self-awareness
Explanation: The book humorously portrays the clichés and tropes common in YA fiction, allowing readers to see the importance of originality and self-awareness in storytelling and character development.
Real-World Application: Children can learn to recognize and appreciate their unique qualities and ideas, rather than conforming to popular norms or stereotypes in their daily interactions and self-expression.
Example Lesson: Critical thinking
Explanation: By satirizing common elements in YA novels, the book encourages readers to think critically about the media they consume and to question the underlying messages and values.
Real-World Application: This lesson helps children evaluate the content and messages in the books they read, the shows they watch, and the games they play, promoting discernment and informed choices.
Example Lesson: Creativity and imagination
Explanation: The protagonist's journey to becoming 'as awesome' as a typical YA hero inspires readers to use their creativity to rewrite or invent stories, and envision rich, original characters.
Real-World Application: This encourages children to engage in creative writing or storytelling activities, enhancing their imagination and ability to create diverse and compelling narratives.
Example Lesson: Humor and perspective
Explanation: The book's light-hearted and satirical tone teaches the value of humor in both writing and daily situations, showing how a different perspective can make common occurrences feel less daunting.
Real-World Application: Children can use humor to cope with and gain perspective on their challenges, turning potentially stressful situations into opportunities for laughter and shared joy.
Example Lesson: Importance of character growth
Explanation: As the protagonist aspires to become a main character, the emphasis is on personal growth and development, moving beyond static character traits.
Real-World Application: This mirrors the way children can focus on personal development, learning from their experiences, and growing in response to different life situations.