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Book Cover Trend: Gates in middle grade fiction

In my travels around the bookish world I cant help but notice certain cover trends as they crop up. One Ive seen quite often of late in middle grade and young adult fiction is the gate.

Perhaps its the childrens literature version of the thriller genres mysterious-archway-through-which-shadowy-figure-hurries. Or perhaps its that gates are pretty evocative when youre a younger person: they represent an adventure into somewhere out-of-bounds, or perhaps an escape from those strictly delineated boundaries set up by parents or teachers.

When it comes to gate treatments, I quite like the looming, illustrated silhouette approach. It indicates the old-fashioned sensibility that I tend to love in MG, and I tend to expect a mystery, plenty of dark secrets, and perhaps a coming of age narrative.

What do you think when you see gates looming large on a book cover? Do you think its an effective cover device? Or are you all gated out?

 

 Book Cover Trend: Gates in middle grade fiction

 Book Cover Trend: Gates in middle grade fiction

 Book Cover Trend: Gates in middle grade fiction

 Book Cover Trend: Gates in middle grade fiction

 Book Cover Trend: Gates in middle grade fiction

6 comments

  1. I think its interesting to spot cover trends in specific genres of books. Personally, I prefer more simple and/or mysterious covers so the whole gates thing kinda does it for me. I especially enjoy the covers for Unspoken, A Tale Dark & Grimm and The Cavendish Home for Boys and Girls. Hey! If it works, why not, right?

    • Stephanie /

      I agree completely, Nikki. I tend to prefer iconic covers rather than photographic covers, and I always prefer not to see a photograph or illustration of the main character. I prefer covers that give me a feel for the books tone and subject matter, rather than trying to force me to imagine something in particular.

  2. I love gates on book covers. Kind of spooky and intriguing without exactly being terribly scary or horrifying. I like this trend more than the decapitated girls on the front of YA books. :)

    • Stephanie /

      Good note about gates being spooky without being scaryperhaps thats why theyre a popular pick for MG? As I noted above, thriller novels often have an archway rather than a gate. Is there something scarier about an archway, do you think?

  3. Oh, I would have never noticed this! I think CAVENDISH does it effectively because I know its an important part of the book. I havent read the other books so I cant comment on that but Unspoken sure looks pretty. I really like the idea of what gates represent, like you said I expect a mystery, plenty of dark secrets, and perhaps a coming of age narrative too. :)

    • Stephanie /

      Its a motif that I like, tooit isnt especially subtle, but I think it works for this genre and age group. :)

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