Opinions on Nash and Kaylee?

Posted by Rachel Vincent at 6/11/2010 10:53:00 AM
Now that it's been out for a couple of weeks... who has an opinion about the Kaylee/Nash developments in My Soul To Keep? I've kind of been anticipating this discussion for a few months now, and it's already started in the MSTKeep spoiler thread on The Pride. So if you want to discuss with spoilers, head on over there.

But for the purposes of this non-spoilery blog, here's a related question: Do you think that the viewpoint (not secondary) characters in YA fiction should be (non-preachy) role models? Do you think authors have a responsibility to write them as examples? Or do you think they should be realistic, something the target audience can actually relate to?

Is a compromise between the two possible? Have you seen it done somewhere?

PLEASE, NO SPOILERS IN THE COMMENTS...

Also, it's the last day to enter this contest!

And, at the suggestion of my best friend, I have joined Formspring. I'm gonna give it a couple of weeks and see if it works for Q&A...
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16 comments:

Natasha A.
Fri Jun 11, 12:03:00 PM 2010

* ** ** *** ** ****! There, I bleeped out my possible spoiler!!!

As for your question. I do think that authors have a responsibility. Readers get ideas from what we read. I think you did an admiral job with the who Nash and Kaylee development. It should be realistic and hopefully in some ways educational. Which you did achieve.

 
A.M Bells
Fri Jun 11, 12:50:00 PM 2010

Even though I was disappointed my Nash I was happy with the move. Was it hard for you to do it?
Anyway. They say "Boys in books are better" but sometimes they get annoying if they are perfect in every small thing. I know we turn to books to get away a little from the crappy reality but from time to time we have to face it in the pages too. Yes, things happen, guys are not perfect in books either. Go figure. And this helps us to not have unlimited expectations from the guys next to us.

 
Jess (The Cozy Reader)
Fri Jun 11, 01:28:00 PM 2010

I agree. I think overall the issue at hand was handled in a good way. I honestly think the only thing missing was the interaction between the teens and the parents but I have a feeling that will be addressed in the next book.

I believe the characters should be handled realistically. Some teens are for and some are against substances. I ultimately think this was addressed just fine in MSTKeep. I don't think any of the characters were preachy.

 
Jacqueline C.
Fri Jun 11, 04:00:00 PM 2010

Good point Jess. The lack of parental reaction was a bit odd, but since everything came to light at the very end I figure there wasn't time for that. I'm looking forward to seeing how they move forward in the next book. I like the direction that you took the the story in, though I ultimately want Kaylee and Nash to be happy.

As for the role model question - while I think that children's and middle grade lit should be filled with good examples, I feel that teens are mature enough to know right from wrong. They don't necessarily need a fictional example to demonstrate it for them. Not that there is anything wrong with good role models in teen lit, but if an author chose to write a dysfunctional character that's fine too. As long as the book doesn't seem to be telling people to go out and do crappy things. It's the responsibility of the adults in a teens life to guide moral behavior.

 
alsommer
Fri Jun 11, 04:16:00 PM 2010

I am an adult who loves to read, and I like to mix up my reading between YA & Adult books. As a parent I pre-read books that my children are interested in. I've found when YA books add the realistic parts of being a teen, they are more believable (alcohol, drugs, bullies, etc.). As an author, I don't think you have a responsibility to write anything that you don't feel. But a teen and parent can relate, compare and share so much by what an author writes. I see it as EVERYONE screws up, makes mistakes, and can never be perfect. I think teens needs to know that, and parents need to remember it too!

 
WulfLuva
Fri Jun 11, 04:20:00 PM 2010

I believe the way you told Nash and Kaylee's romantical developments was the most real one I've read in any paranormal romance book and I LOVED you for it!

(However I wish a certain relative would have punched someone a little harder.)

 
HCross9820
Fri Jun 11, 06:19:00 PM 2010

I was talking with my bff about the YA novels we have read. We both have the opinion that you write some of the most 'real' paranormal YA we've ever read. Your characters are not only dealing with issues that real teens deal with, but they actually sound like teens (not what a 40+ yr old thinks teens sound line now days).

I may just be a traditionalist when it comes to YA, but I believe that the lead characters should be role models. But I don't expect them to be perfect by any means. The book should be about the journey. I think that MY SOUL TO KEEP, does a very good job of this. In this book your characters show that they aren't perfect, and that they have flaws. The character are going through things that real teens have to deal with.

You should be proud of YA characters you have written, I know I am!

 
Jenna
Fri Jun 11, 08:11:00 PM 2010

I think that you made a good move on the Kaylee and Nash thing. Relationships aren't perfect, and sometimes your first love isn't who you end up with. (I want Kay and Tod together :-)
But you made a good movie. In a way, it made Kaylee smarter. She'll learn not to trust so easily and be more observant when it comes to boyfriends. I think what happened was a good thing for Kaylee.

 
Anonymous
Fri Jun 11, 08:15:00 PM 2010

I liked the development between Kaylee and Nash. I think it was needed in the story for Kaylee. It'll be good for her.
I think writers don't have to make their characters role models. I think it's better for the readers if the characters are more easy to relate to than if they were role models. Characters are more fun to read about when you can relate to them.

 
Bookaholic (Jessica)
Sat Jun 12, 12:27:00 AM 2010

I really like that this story doesn't try to create a perfect relationship between the characters. That isn't real life and issues come up in any relationship. The important part is how the characters deal with the issues. Forgiveness shouldn't come easy but that's how it should be.

Personally I'm not really a fan of Nash's. I'm not sure why. I enjoy reading more about Tod in each book though. But overall, this was my favorite Soul Screamers book so I am a fan at how things progressed and were handled. Kaylee is such a strong character and it's easy to see how her character is growing up and maturing in each book. In a way, I feel that she is growing up faster than Nash and maybe that is why I'm not as fond of Nash.

I don't like when books are preachy or too predictable with what the characters will do in bad situations. I like the gradual progression and learning through experience. Issues are not black and white, especially with teens. The reactions need to take some thought from the character. Doing the right thing is great but realistically, it doesn't always happen. So I believe that characters need to be realistic because that could lead to more of a good example in the end.

 
Jwb52z
Sat Jun 12, 07:51:00 AM 2010

I think there should be a mix of books where some main characters are role models and others are not in different books. This is because some kids, even if they shouldn't as older teens, still need the example of "perfectly right" as they may be more apt to do things in reaction to peer pressure from being weak in some manner. Other kids can handle the more realistic books without a problem. I thought the way things went with Nash and Kaylee were very real, but I think it might have been a bit more realistic for teenagers to actually scream and smack each other even if they are maturing. Rachel Vincent, you are a writer, not a member of the clergy or a politician or any other kind of public figure. Your only job is to entertain as a fiction writer. It's laudible that you try to do things sa you do them, and you really succeed almost perfectly in every case, but it's not some kind of mandatory thing. I did think that Nash was a bit smarter tan he turned out to be to let what happened happen to him and Kaylee and not try to stop it by asking for help. I hope that's not too spoilerish.

 
Anonymous
Sat Jun 12, 07:54:00 AM 2010

Role models... Put it this way. I am a teenager. Teenagers do stupid things. Everyone does. We all do it on different scales, and of course there are consequences sometimes. But I feel in YA that a lot of character's aren't realistic because they're PG13 versions of teenagers: not realistic. We cuss and swear, we act immature, we do more than just kiss our boyfriends, even if we're underage. This is one of the things I liked about 'Shade', by Jeri Smith-Ready. Her teenagers were realistic, and did things that maybe adults wouldn't approve of, without necessarily being 'bad kids'.
Of course, it's not all of us who act like this. And maybe in books there should be some role models, representing the teenagers who are responsible. But it can't be all teenagers, and it can't be preacher-like, because again, that's not very realistic.
This is just my opinion. :)

 
Victoria
Sat Jun 12, 09:51:00 AM 2010

To be honest as a mom I think there should be some responsibility but as a reader it should be true to life. When I consider how I felt reading as a younger person I would have found the material lacking if it weren't true to life. So I guess I'm saying be honest.

 
Andrea -The Blogging Mama
Sat Jun 12, 02:33:00 PM 2010

I think they should be fairly true to life and not perfect. Perfect is not real life. I think Kaylee has handled Nash's pressure appropriately and realistically. For a girl her age who wants to make sure that love is the reason to be with him (which is why I hope she would be with him), I think you are spot on.

I'd love to see Nash really address his feelings for Kaylee in the future :)

 
Gabrielle
Mon Jun 14, 11:53:00 PM 2010

If you make the characters perfect, then an inferiority complex might pop up by readers in a relationship. I do believe that their needs to be a realistic edge to the relationship, but in the current generation, people are to wrapped up in lust; therefore, they're being blinded from which should be the very existent love.

Overall, I think Kaylee has kept the vibe of an extremely honorable protagonist, but, like any relationship, she does sometimes become weak. I think that makes her that more realistic and a lot easier to relate to.

I think Kaylee could be considered a "role-model". She's not naive, yet she holds her ground and isn't easily pushed around by teenage hormones or a semi-idiot of what I'm praying will soon be a former ex-boyfriend.

I believe the characters have been nicely developed, and though their situations are impossible to relate to depending on the case, are overall easy to understand an compare to that of "real life."

Though I've never been put into a case where I've been pressured like Kaylee with Nash, or Influenced by a guy in general, I would hope I could handle it like she does. Albeit I've read a variety of YA romance novels, I feel Kaylee is one of the easier females to relate to. Considering this is a paranormal romance, I have to say kudos for that!

Note: I prefer the other brother.

 
Anonymous
Wed Aug 25, 11:10:00 PM 2010

I love Nash and Kaylee together I really do. I always want to read about there make out scenes. =) But I was very happy with her decision. I want them to hopefully repair their relationship and make it very strong where Kaylee won't have any doubts about him loving her. But I wish we readers would somehow know what exactly makes him love her. He must find her physically attractive but its never indicated, actually from what I can remember only the first book and thats it. I really hope that they do end up together. I see some flaws in their relationship but I kinda look over them because I really really want them together.

By the way I love Todd but not for Kaylee (unlike the many other commenters believe so) maybe a brief whatever, that would be enjoyable but not permanently.

Love Nash and Kaylee.

 

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