From: Mason, John <JMason>
Date: Thu, 13 Jun 2002 15:21:02 -0400

Thanks for calling this article to our attention. I did read it on my commute this morning. Although it's nice to see an article about YA literature in the New York Times, it also saddened me to see this reporter summarizing the plot of "Freak the Mighty" by Rod Philbrick in this way:
"...About a brilliant two-foot-tall boy, Freak, and his long-legged friend, who cannot read and whose father murdered his mother. Freak has seizures and dies." I wonder if this caricature of what this book is about came from the "educated mother of the 10-year-old boy" who showed the reporter the summer reading list, or from the list itself, or from the reporter's own research? Anyone who knows this book knows that it's really about friendship, loyalty, finding a place in the world, and other great values. This shallow reporting just feeds into the sensationalism, the public's perception that these YA books are depressing, unsuitable for young readers and with no redeeming qualities. Thank goodness some editors were interviewed and defended the value of these books. But still, sometimes I feel we are making a very small dent against the majority of people's ignorance about YA literature.

John Mason, Director of Library and Educational Marketing, Scholastic Inc., Trade Book Group 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012999 Phone (212) 389770 Fax (212) 389063 Email: jmason at scholastic.com
Received on Thu 13 Jun 2002 02:21:02 PM CDT