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From: Monica Edinger <monicaedinger>
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 10:18:26 -0400
The industry people at ALA to whom I raised this issue tended to confirm my feeling that religion today is "too far" for many main stream publishers right now. (I didn't ask about politics, but suspect that is tricky too as it is so related to religion in this country.) I appreciated those here who suggested various recent titles, but how about some brand new and forthcoming recommendations? What of new/forthcoming YA books centering around young people grappling with these issues that so seem to be driving a lot of things in the US today, young people in the majority culture, in the majority religion, and part of families and communities who support a different political agenda from many of us? Can't say they were jumping out at me as I wandered the exhibits at ALA. How about a book, just to be provocative, about kids involved in advocating for prayer and/or religious organizations in public schools? (And I have to say I don't blame at all the main stream publishers for being skittish. I sure would be too in the current political climate.)
It seems much easier to address politics in works of historical fiction, nonfiction, fantasy. Two especially intriguing new/forthcoming books dealing with politics historically are Ellen Levine's work of historical fiction, CATCH A TIGER BY THE TOE (about the McCarthy hearings) and Betsy Partridge's biography JOHN LENNON: ALL I WANT IS THE TRUTH. Both clearly raise issues that are front and center for us today. As for fantasy, Catherine Fisher and Jonathan Stroud's trilogies come to mind. Haven't read Tamara Pierce's latest, but I'm guessing it too offers a more liberal viewpoint. This reinforces my sense that anything else, say a book in these genres with a more conservative point of view about religion and/or politics, is also too far. (Haven't read his latest, but one who does espouse a more conservative point of view, I seem to recall, is Orson Scott Card.)
Monica
Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at gmail.com
Received on Wed 29 Jun 2005 09:18:26 AM CDT
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 10:18:26 -0400
The industry people at ALA to whom I raised this issue tended to confirm my feeling that religion today is "too far" for many main stream publishers right now. (I didn't ask about politics, but suspect that is tricky too as it is so related to religion in this country.) I appreciated those here who suggested various recent titles, but how about some brand new and forthcoming recommendations? What of new/forthcoming YA books centering around young people grappling with these issues that so seem to be driving a lot of things in the US today, young people in the majority culture, in the majority religion, and part of families and communities who support a different political agenda from many of us? Can't say they were jumping out at me as I wandered the exhibits at ALA. How about a book, just to be provocative, about kids involved in advocating for prayer and/or religious organizations in public schools? (And I have to say I don't blame at all the main stream publishers for being skittish. I sure would be too in the current political climate.)
It seems much easier to address politics in works of historical fiction, nonfiction, fantasy. Two especially intriguing new/forthcoming books dealing with politics historically are Ellen Levine's work of historical fiction, CATCH A TIGER BY THE TOE (about the McCarthy hearings) and Betsy Partridge's biography JOHN LENNON: ALL I WANT IS THE TRUTH. Both clearly raise issues that are front and center for us today. As for fantasy, Catherine Fisher and Jonathan Stroud's trilogies come to mind. Haven't read Tamara Pierce's latest, but I'm guessing it too offers a more liberal viewpoint. This reinforces my sense that anything else, say a book in these genres with a more conservative point of view about religion and/or politics, is also too far. (Haven't read his latest, but one who does espouse a more conservative point of view, I seem to recall, is Orson Scott Card.)
Monica
Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at gmail.com
Received on Wed 29 Jun 2005 09:18:26 AM CDT
