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Race of characters
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From: Connie Rockman <connie.rock>
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 13:34:49 -0400
Re: the characters in Make Lemonade and True Believer I truly believe that part of the brilliance of Wolff's writing (and there are many parts to that brilliance) is that the characters are so strongly developed without any specific reference to ethnicity. We live inside LaVaughn's head, we feel her thoughts, we know her so intimately
- but each in our own way.
This is also thanks to the fine "packaging" of these two novels by the publishers - without those very specific book jackets that try to show us how we should picture the characters.
I was made aware of the importance of packaging some years ago by a young reader who came to my Young Critics Club in a public library in Stamford, CT. The kids were in 5th-8th grades and they would share what they were reading, then I would booktalk some new books and old favorites. I was especially enthusiastic in booktalking a quartet of novels by Norma Johnston, beginning with The Keeping Days, that followed a girl through her four years of high school in early 20th century Yonkers, NY. The hardcover copies of the books all had covers that were nebulous and didn't specifically depict a setting or characters. Knowing they were based on family stories of Johnston's aunt, I had always pictured the characters as white . . . but one of the girls in the group - a black girl of a Haitian family - fell in love with the books, read them all, and finally asked me hesitantly, "They are a black family, aren't they?" For her they were, and that was the beauty of the books - as it is with Wolff's books - they can be who you want or need them to be.
We have many fine books today that specifically celebrate ethnic heritage, and relate circumstances in specific times and places helping us all learn about the rich diversity of our American culture and those around the world.
But it's also important to have books in which the essence of the humanity of the characters - and the universality of the growing-up experience - shine through on a very elemental level. Bravo for Virginia Euwer Wolff for making that happen - and bravo for Brenda Bowen for being a caring publisher and allowing it to happen.
Connie Rockman Children's Literature Consultant Stratford, CT
Received on Tue 10 Jul 2001 12:34:49 PM CDT
Date: Tue, 10 Jul 2001 13:34:49 -0400
Re: the characters in Make Lemonade and True Believer I truly believe that part of the brilliance of Wolff's writing (and there are many parts to that brilliance) is that the characters are so strongly developed without any specific reference to ethnicity. We live inside LaVaughn's head, we feel her thoughts, we know her so intimately
- but each in our own way.
This is also thanks to the fine "packaging" of these two novels by the publishers - without those very specific book jackets that try to show us how we should picture the characters.
I was made aware of the importance of packaging some years ago by a young reader who came to my Young Critics Club in a public library in Stamford, CT. The kids were in 5th-8th grades and they would share what they were reading, then I would booktalk some new books and old favorites. I was especially enthusiastic in booktalking a quartet of novels by Norma Johnston, beginning with The Keeping Days, that followed a girl through her four years of high school in early 20th century Yonkers, NY. The hardcover copies of the books all had covers that were nebulous and didn't specifically depict a setting or characters. Knowing they were based on family stories of Johnston's aunt, I had always pictured the characters as white . . . but one of the girls in the group - a black girl of a Haitian family - fell in love with the books, read them all, and finally asked me hesitantly, "They are a black family, aren't they?" For her they were, and that was the beauty of the books - as it is with Wolff's books - they can be who you want or need them to be.
We have many fine books today that specifically celebrate ethnic heritage, and relate circumstances in specific times and places helping us all learn about the rich diversity of our American culture and those around the world.
But it's also important to have books in which the essence of the humanity of the characters - and the universality of the growing-up experience - shine through on a very elemental level. Bravo for Virginia Euwer Wolff for making that happen - and bravo for Brenda Bowen for being a caring publisher and allowing it to happen.
Connie Rockman Children's Literature Consultant Stratford, CT
Received on Tue 10 Jul 2001 12:34:49 PM CDT
