The prologue—sometimes friend, sometimes foe—is certainly a divisive element in storytelling. Some authors love it; others add it in their books as if they invited an unwanted guest to their party, while a few believe it’s unnecessary and that you should take the reader right where the real adventure begins. But when it comes to middle-grade fantasy, does a prologue enhance the reading experience, or does it risk losing young readers before the story even starts? After reading a bunch of arguments for and against it, here are my conclusions.

The Case for Prologues in Middle-Grade Fantasy

1. World-Building Made Easy
   Fantasy stories often, if not always, require complex world-building. A well-crafted prologue can introduce key elements, history, or magical rules without bogging down the main narrative. For young readers who are stepping into an entirely new fantasy world, this can serve as an essential roadmap.
2. A Mysterious Hook
   A gripping prologue can tease an event or secret that later becomes crucial to the plot. If done right, it intrigues readers and makes them eager to find out how the main story connects to that opening scene.
3. Setting the Tone
   A prologue can establish the tone of the book—whether it’s dark and mysterious or light and whimsical—helping young readers settle into the mood of the story before meeting the main character.

The Case Against Prologues in Middle-Grade Fantasy

1. Young Readers Want Immediate Action
   Many middle-grade readers have short attention spans, especially nowadays, where their most common form of entertainment are 15-second videos. If a prologue delays meeting the protagonist or getting to the main plot, they may lose interest before reaching chapter one.
2. Risk of Info-Dumping
   Prologues sometimes serve as a way to deliver too much backstory at once, making it hard for young readers to retain key details, and some authors may fall into the trap of thinking that they need to do it for their story to be comprehended. It’s often better to weave world-building naturally into the main narrative.
3. They’re Sometimes Skipped
   Many young readers (and even adults) have a habit of skipping prologues, especially if they seem disconnected from the first chapter. If the information is crucial, it might be better placed in the main story. That’s what I did in my book. I created a character just to do that—a storyteller that every Saturday gathers kids around her and tells them some lore related to the Old World. This way I can still make the reader aware of the key elements of the fictional world I created, but without simply dumping all the information on them at once.

Finding a Middle Ground

If you love the idea of a prologue but worry about losing your audience, consider these alternatives:

• Make It Short and Snappy: A brief, action-packed prologue can intrigue young readers without dragging. But it doesn’t necessarily mean it has to be only two pages long. If your prologue is packed with action, dialogue, and thrilling scenes, it will have everything to keep your readers entertained as they read it.
• Tie It Directly to the Main Character: Instead of a detached historical event, show something relevant to your protagonist’s journey. Consider carefully if it is worth the pages you’ll have to add to your book or if you simply want to flex your author’s muscles.
• Weave Backstory Into the Main Plot: If the information can be naturally revealed later, a prologue might not be necessary at all. Try to shape your story in a way that the vital elements of it are revealed along the way and not simply dumped all at once.

Final Verdict

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer, but in middle-grade fantasy, prologues should be used with caution. If they’re engaging, mysterious, and essential, they can be a powerful tool, and readers would delight reading them. But if they slow down the start of the story, it might be best to dive straight into the adventure!

Once I finished writing my book, I felt the need to write a prologue—a long one! However, I did not include it in the paperback version but am considering adding it to the hardcover edition. The reason is that paperbacks are expected to be affordable and serve as a gateway for readers to discover your story. Hardcovers, on the other hand, are typically longer, whether due to a larger font size and increased line spacing or simply because they contain additional content.

But what do you think? Do you enjoy prologues, or do you prefer jumping right into chapter one? Feel free to leave a comment below and share with us your opinion!