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NYT/BR + Two Books by Molly Bang
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From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:17:54 -0500
Yesterday Jill Davis wrote " ...Look at the contents page of the NYT Book Review--usually ten or more nonfiction books and maybe three or four novels... " That's something I've noticed, too. Long ago I decided that the NYT/BR is aimed at adult male readers. Surely I'm not the only NYT/BR reader to come to that conclusion. The new adult books selected for review and the [mostly] male reviewers chosen to write reviews seem to reflect Book Review's overall intention to maintain and/or attract the interest of male NYT readers. Adult males who apparently prefer to read nonfiction once were boys who apparently preferred to read nonfiction.
Today Monica Edinger referred to Molly Bang's book "My Light" (Blue Sky / Scholastic, 2004). Throughout this discussion I've been thinking about Molly Bang and two of her absolutely brilliant books. "Common Ground: The Water, Earth, and Air We Share" (Blue Sky / Scholastic, 1997) defies being put into a category. It's probably one of the extraordinary "lost" children's books, so parents like Chris Barton might not be able to find it even though this exquisite physically small book might be the springboard or touchstone for the equivalent of a semester or more of study and discussion. (What a book to remember at the time when the late Senator Gaylord Nelson is being remembered and eulogized for the "Earth Day" movement.)
It's no small surprise that Molly Bang went from creating "Common Ground" to developing "Nobody Particular: One Woman's Fight to Save the Bays" (Henry Holt, 2001). "Nobody Particular" is also an unusual book, quite different from "Common Ground" in its specificity, size, multiple texts and edgy content. Perhaps because of its provocative, easily controversial subject, or maybe because it was initially released too early and then had to be re-released, it's been missed by a wide range of prospective readers. (It was certainly confusing to anyone on an award or distinction committee, not to mention anyone trying to buy or see it when it was new.) This amazing book is probably also a "lost" book at this point. "Nobody Particular" should not be missed, regardless of how it's categorized or where it's shelved in a bookstore or library. Today adults understand that "Nobody Particular" can be labeled a "graphic novel." Perhaps if it's located with GNs in libraries & bookstores, kids will be able to give it their time and the attention it so deserves. Perhaps they already do. I hope so.
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu
Received on Thu 14 Jul 2005 10:17:54 AM CDT
Date: Thu, 14 Jul 2005 10:17:54 -0500
Yesterday Jill Davis wrote " ...Look at the contents page of the NYT Book Review--usually ten or more nonfiction books and maybe three or four novels... " That's something I've noticed, too. Long ago I decided that the NYT/BR is aimed at adult male readers. Surely I'm not the only NYT/BR reader to come to that conclusion. The new adult books selected for review and the [mostly] male reviewers chosen to write reviews seem to reflect Book Review's overall intention to maintain and/or attract the interest of male NYT readers. Adult males who apparently prefer to read nonfiction once were boys who apparently preferred to read nonfiction.
Today Monica Edinger referred to Molly Bang's book "My Light" (Blue Sky / Scholastic, 2004). Throughout this discussion I've been thinking about Molly Bang and two of her absolutely brilliant books. "Common Ground: The Water, Earth, and Air We Share" (Blue Sky / Scholastic, 1997) defies being put into a category. It's probably one of the extraordinary "lost" children's books, so parents like Chris Barton might not be able to find it even though this exquisite physically small book might be the springboard or touchstone for the equivalent of a semester or more of study and discussion. (What a book to remember at the time when the late Senator Gaylord Nelson is being remembered and eulogized for the "Earth Day" movement.)
It's no small surprise that Molly Bang went from creating "Common Ground" to developing "Nobody Particular: One Woman's Fight to Save the Bays" (Henry Holt, 2001). "Nobody Particular" is also an unusual book, quite different from "Common Ground" in its specificity, size, multiple texts and edgy content. Perhaps because of its provocative, easily controversial subject, or maybe because it was initially released too early and then had to be re-released, it's been missed by a wide range of prospective readers. (It was certainly confusing to anyone on an award or distinction committee, not to mention anyone trying to buy or see it when it was new.) This amazing book is probably also a "lost" book at this point. "Nobody Particular" should not be missed, regardless of how it's categorized or where it's shelved in a bookstore or library. Today adults understand that "Nobody Particular" can be labeled a "graphic novel." Perhaps if it's located with GNs in libraries & bookstores, kids will be able to give it their time and the attention it so deserves. Perhaps they already do. I hope so.
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu
Received on Thu 14 Jul 2005 10:17:54 AM CDT
