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From: kidbooks_at_thegrid.net <kidbooks>
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2005 14:11:40 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
In my Alaska?sed adventure for middle grade readers, FROZEN STIFF (Delacorte Press/Yealing, 1998) my main character, Cody, is a girl. It's Cody who has the knowledge and experience to survive in the rugged Alaskan wilderness with little food and suppli es. However, I feared an adventure story with a female protagonist might not attract boy readers. I therefore gave Cody a male cousin, Derek. Since FROZEN STIFF has been on several state reading lists and remains in print I've had the opportunity to vi sit numerous schools with my AK slide show. Boys seem to be my primary fans. Because it's an adventure story? Or because they're more comfortable (assertive?) about coming up and talking to me. I don't know.
My new novel, DEATH MOUNTAIN (Peachtree, Fall '05) is also an adventure survival novel. However, this time both main characters are girls. Will boys read it? The title and cover will certainly draw them to the book. But will they continue to read when they realize it's about two "girls." I have a terrific dog in the story, admittedly to attract boy readers. Here's a dreadful thought: Does 1 dog make up for (or equal) 2 female characters?
What's an author to do?
Sherry Shahan DEATH MOUNTAIN (Peachtree, 2005) COOL CATS COUNTING (August House, 2005)
Received on Sat 23 Jul 2005 01:11:40 PM CDT
Date: Sat, 23 Jul 2005 14:11:40 -0400 (GMT-04:00)
In my Alaska?sed adventure for middle grade readers, FROZEN STIFF (Delacorte Press/Yealing, 1998) my main character, Cody, is a girl. It's Cody who has the knowledge and experience to survive in the rugged Alaskan wilderness with little food and suppli es. However, I feared an adventure story with a female protagonist might not attract boy readers. I therefore gave Cody a male cousin, Derek. Since FROZEN STIFF has been on several state reading lists and remains in print I've had the opportunity to vi sit numerous schools with my AK slide show. Boys seem to be my primary fans. Because it's an adventure story? Or because they're more comfortable (assertive?) about coming up and talking to me. I don't know.
My new novel, DEATH MOUNTAIN (Peachtree, Fall '05) is also an adventure survival novel. However, this time both main characters are girls. Will boys read it? The title and cover will certainly draw them to the book. But will they continue to read when they realize it's about two "girls." I have a terrific dog in the story, admittedly to attract boy readers. Here's a dreadful thought: Does 1 dog make up for (or equal) 2 female characters?
What's an author to do?
Sherry Shahan DEATH MOUNTAIN (Peachtree, 2005) COOL CATS COUNTING (August House, 2005)
Received on Sat 23 Jul 2005 01:11:40 PM CDT
