From: Ed Sullivan <sully>
Date: Mon, 24 Mar 2003 14:47:13 -0500 (EST)

There certainly is a growing trend of YA books being published specifically for older teenage readers. This trend began before the Printz was established and I hope the award has helped to broaden and strengthen the trend.

I could not help but be awed by Aidan Chambers's technical brilliance in crafting such a complex, richly layered story, but I also could not help but think as I read it that had someone outside the children's and YA field written the book, it certainly would have been published for adults. I had a similar reaction to Anita Lobel's A Child of War, another brilliant book, but hard to imagine any reason for it being published as a book for young people other than that she is a well-established children's book author and illustrator.

I guess the question I want to ask is: "What makes Postcards from No Man's Land young adult literature?" It's true there is a teenage protagonist, but there are plenty of adult novels with adolescent protagonists that I would not call young adult literature.


Ed Sullivan


Ed Sullivan, M.S.L.S 103 Oneida Lane Oak Ridge, TN 37830
(865) 483r03


On Mon, 24 Mar 2003, Merri Lindgren wrote:

 the CCBC, we found this gripping work to model what we called "edgy" young adult novels of 2002; a new wave of books that tackled potentially controversial topics, such as POSTCARDS themes of sexuality, monogamy, and euthanasia. Who is the audience for this book? Do you think the Printz Award has fostered interest in writing and publishing books for older teenage readers? s, Giroux). nts focused on children and literature.
Received on Mon 24 Mar 2003 01:47:13 PM CST