From: Dr. Ruth I. Gordon <druthgo>
Date: Sun, 22 Feb 1998 13:10:34 -0800

Someone wrote a message about looking at the names of authors in the "Dear America" (Scholastic) fake-diary series and indicated that she was convinced that the books were pretty good because they were written by known authors, not hacks. Alas, in the search for $'s (we all need to eat, after all) even the finest can become hacks. And many "diaries" in this series with all the illustrations (never indicated that they were produced somewhat--or considerably-?ter the period under consideration), and the obligatory portraits, and maps, and really necessary grosgrain (or whatever) bookmark, are indeed hack productions--yes, that's the word,
"productions" and "merchandise." Fortunately, we need not worry because Scholastic is not the only publisher of this stuff--many others are adding their versions to the lists so that the bottom line can be satisfied. I await picture book versions of the "diaries." Then...board books....

 From the very first book I read in the series, the one about the girl mal?-mer-ing her way from England to the Massachussetts Bay, I have been uncomfortable with the books. What is history and what isn't history (and yes, I do have a degree in that arcane subject)?

The problem with the books which may be intended as fiction is that they masquerade as nf. I can hear young people in history classes absolutely swearing to the authenticity of the characters. As adults, our minds should be well stocked with details and broad outlines of our nation's history. Thus, we should be able to spot what's fiction and what's nf. But children, because they are children, have considerably less well stocked minds and too often take as nf, fiction. We've all heard them say,
"But I read it in a book." (I knew a youngster who knew what was "real" because, "I read it in the Enquirer.")

I sometimes wonder if advertising budgets are not greater than copy editor budgets. But, what the hell, it doesn't seem to matter these days and the lack of knowledge of history won't hurt anyone--will it?

I'm waiting for the diary of someone who marched with Margaret Sanger and set up birth control advice centers. It can be called, "The Diary of Maggie Smith, Girl Prisoner". The illustrations should be priceless.

Thank you Nina Lindsay, thank you, Nancy Silverrod. for taking up the battle.

 Grandma

================="You may not be able to change the world, but at least you can embarrass the guilty." Jessica Mitford (191796)
Received on Sun 22 Feb 1998 03:10:34 PM CST