From: Jane Hertenstein <janeh>
Date: Thu, 7 Jul 2005 07:55:00 -0500

In response to the post:--Last summer I read Rape: A Love Story by Joyce Carol Oates, and this novella covered the issue from all angles. It was a captivating and compassionate read--don't be fooled by the title.

Related to what Steven says about good vs. evil, I just read Chris Lynch's new book
(out this fall) called Inexcusable. It's about a possible (probable) date rate from the ACCUSED'S point of view. I haven't heard much buzz about this book yet, but when I mentioned it to various non-writers, they've said that there is no "other side" to such an issue and that such a book shouldn't be written. (That kind of feeling always makes me nervous.) It's a very well-done book, and it shows a character (the boy) who is in deep denial in all areas of his life (and therefore, not taking responsibility for what he does...and he messes up in lots other ways, too). Notice I said "shows." It never preaches or feels didactic, a real feat for a book like this. I shouldn't have to say it, but I will just to be clear: In no way am I condoning rape and Chris (if I may be so bold as to speak for him) isn't either. I heard him speak and he talked about how he wanted to explore this character, that
"no one wakes up in the morning and says, 'I want to be a monster.'" Interestingly, too, Chris, a Printz-winner and popular with boy readers, has written scores of
"gritty" YA novels and says he thinks the climate for publishing them actually is tightening a bit. (Although no one told him to "tone down" this book.)

Jane Hertenstein 920 W. Wilson Chicago, Il 60640 773V1$50 ext 2089
Received on Thu 07 Jul 2005 07:55:00 AM CDT