In your children’s science fiction or fantasy novel, even if the setting is in a different time period, in outer space, or in a world completely unlike our own, it’s imperative that the young characters in the story overcome their adversaries through their own efforts and find solutions to the problems and obstacles that they encounter.
Adult characters can certainly appear in the book, and even assume very large roles in the story, but the main character or characters have to succeed by using their own abilities, even if they’re young children.
In The Alchemist’s Portrait, Tess works in the restoration department at the museum where the infamous portrait of Nicolaas van der Leyden is being expertly restored and Matthew does indeed receive a great deal of important information from her at various points in the story.
However, in the end it’s always Matthew, rather than Tess, who’s responsible for finding all the answers and ultimately winning the day.
Learn more about The Children’s Writer’s Guide, The Children’s Writer’s Guide 2, The Time Traveler’s Guide and all Simon’s other books on his website at https://simon-rose.com/.
