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young adult literature
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From: Norma Jean <nsawicki>
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2005 12:49:47 -0500
As a former publisher, what to publish/not publish had less to do with the theme than whether or not the world created on the page was convincing/ credible/ and emotionally honest. In other words, a novel that was written from the inside out, rather than the outside in...or, today's newspaper headline becomes next year's book. Kids, as well as young adults, grow up in dramatically different circumstances, and environments. Some young people see/experience horrific deeds in their young lives that many adults never see, or experience. Other lives are different. When I was an adolescent in the 50s, novels for kids had nothing to do with my life...I knew nothing of summer camp, horses, etc...the novels were so sanitized that I began reading the work of F. Scott Fitzgerald and others of his ilk at an early age. Not that I understood the multiple layering in such novels but they spoke to me in ways novels for kids did not. At the same time, those novels that fall under "today's headlines are next year's book;" scenes/language,etc. are often gratuitous...intended to be cool, or whatever word/sensibility is in vogue, chick lit....whatever that means, etc.
In publishing, and now as an interested observer, I was always disheartened by the way the entire community lumps kids/young adults together. Kids will read this, kids do this or that, kids think this or that. When a junior member of the staff would write catalog/flap copy that said...children will read this over and over, or children will smile at this or that...I would ask if copy for adult books read...adults will smile at this or that...or adults will read this over and over. The point was well taken. I believed then, as I do now, that if anyone believes he/she knows what all children/young adults think, feel and believe, that person(s) should head to Washington...the country desperately needs them. Kids/young adults are individuals...they do not come off the assembly line, meaning, one still fits/matches the book with the reader but the world on the page should be convincing, not gratuitous. Norma Jean
Received on Wed 22 Jun 2005 12:49:47 PM CDT
Date: Sun, 22 Jun 2005 12:49:47 -0500
As a former publisher, what to publish/not publish had less to do with the theme than whether or not the world created on the page was convincing/ credible/ and emotionally honest. In other words, a novel that was written from the inside out, rather than the outside in...or, today's newspaper headline becomes next year's book. Kids, as well as young adults, grow up in dramatically different circumstances, and environments. Some young people see/experience horrific deeds in their young lives that many adults never see, or experience. Other lives are different. When I was an adolescent in the 50s, novels for kids had nothing to do with my life...I knew nothing of summer camp, horses, etc...the novels were so sanitized that I began reading the work of F. Scott Fitzgerald and others of his ilk at an early age. Not that I understood the multiple layering in such novels but they spoke to me in ways novels for kids did not. At the same time, those novels that fall under "today's headlines are next year's book;" scenes/language,etc. are often gratuitous...intended to be cool, or whatever word/sensibility is in vogue, chick lit....whatever that means, etc.
In publishing, and now as an interested observer, I was always disheartened by the way the entire community lumps kids/young adults together. Kids will read this, kids do this or that, kids think this or that. When a junior member of the staff would write catalog/flap copy that said...children will read this over and over, or children will smile at this or that...I would ask if copy for adult books read...adults will smile at this or that...or adults will read this over and over. The point was well taken. I believed then, as I do now, that if anyone believes he/she knows what all children/young adults think, feel and believe, that person(s) should head to Washington...the country desperately needs them. Kids/young adults are individuals...they do not come off the assembly line, meaning, one still fits/matches the book with the reader but the world on the page should be convincing, not gratuitous. Norma Jean
Received on Wed 22 Jun 2005 12:49:47 PM CDT
