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[CCBC-Net] My apologies...
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From: Giffard, Sue <SGiffard>
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:31:02 -0400
I took a look at the new titles being advertised in the children's section of the HC website in response to Julie's posting. While her statement may not have been entirely accurate, there is a strikingly long list of movie tie-ins, and a rather thin list of the kind of titles that we have historically come to expect from this publisher. I couldn't identify many celebrity titles, but that may have been due to my own ignorance of celebrities in general.
Sue Giffard Ethical Culture School New York, NY 10023 sgiffard at ecfs.org
(212)712-6292
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" ? Albert Einstein.
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu on behalf of Julie Kinney Sent: Tue 6/12/2007 9:31 PM To: CCBC-Net at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu Subject: [CCBC-Net] My apologies...
Sorry that I offended people...I know that HarperCollins still does other stuff...I was responding to Vicki Cobb's message, in which she states that HC wasn't interested in keeping her stuff in print and that they were more interested in buying movie tie ins and celebrity kinds of things rather than anything new she had to offer.
HC is a big publisher and it's a shame that they are more interested in things that will make immediate money, rather than working with the talent they already have.
My lament at the lack of interesting material was aimed more at the "adult" market, which is one of the reasons I read way more young adult literature than I do stuff that is marketed as "adult" literature. The fantasy alone is far more original and compelling than anything that is marketed to adults. If I didn't think that young adult material was worth reading or sharing with my students, I wouldn't subscribe to this list.
Every day I work with young adults who have incredibly low reading levels (I have ninth graders reading at second and third grade levels). These students, sadly, are not lured in by books, even by some of the authors that were mentioned and every day I have to sell the idea that reading is important and that books are full of great interesting characters, neat plots and important life lessons. There is a huge lack of books for these students to read proficiently that doesn't insult them. The problem is not just with trade books, but also with text books.
I'm sorry that you thought I was slamming them...I was responding to my percieved unfairness at the way they were treating Ms. Cobb. Perhaps I'm being a bit touchy, but I feel a bit unfairly attacked. I READ. ALOT. And it was not very polite to imply that I didn't read or was unaware of the fact that some of the authors published by HC could change the lives of children. I teach high school where I fight every day to put current fiction in the hands of all my students. I recently finished my thesis looking at the ways that reading young adult lit has an impact on the lives/identites of middle school girls. I have sold children's books for a living. When I joined this list, I assumed that everyone had an interest in the many facets of young adult literature. I felt like I was in the company of peers. I have followed many of the topics with interest, but never felt like posting. I remember reading the HarperTrophy books as a kid. As a teacher, former book seller and a
dult who enjoys children's literature, I get upset when deserving authors get dropped by thier publisher in favor of something more "profitable." So I find it rather rude to be scolded in such a fashion, especially when I was simply stating an opinion.
Julie
_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Tue 12 Jun 2007 10:31:02 PM CDT
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2007 23:31:02 -0400
I took a look at the new titles being advertised in the children's section of the HC website in response to Julie's posting. While her statement may not have been entirely accurate, there is a strikingly long list of movie tie-ins, and a rather thin list of the kind of titles that we have historically come to expect from this publisher. I couldn't identify many celebrity titles, but that may have been due to my own ignorance of celebrities in general.
Sue Giffard Ethical Culture School New York, NY 10023 sgiffard at ecfs.org
(212)712-6292
"If we knew what it was we were doing, it would not be called research, would it?" ? Albert Einstein.
-----Original Message----- From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu on behalf of Julie Kinney Sent: Tue 6/12/2007 9:31 PM To: CCBC-Net at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu Subject: [CCBC-Net] My apologies...
Sorry that I offended people...I know that HarperCollins still does other stuff...I was responding to Vicki Cobb's message, in which she states that HC wasn't interested in keeping her stuff in print and that they were more interested in buying movie tie ins and celebrity kinds of things rather than anything new she had to offer.
HC is a big publisher and it's a shame that they are more interested in things that will make immediate money, rather than working with the talent they already have.
My lament at the lack of interesting material was aimed more at the "adult" market, which is one of the reasons I read way more young adult literature than I do stuff that is marketed as "adult" literature. The fantasy alone is far more original and compelling than anything that is marketed to adults. If I didn't think that young adult material was worth reading or sharing with my students, I wouldn't subscribe to this list.
Every day I work with young adults who have incredibly low reading levels (I have ninth graders reading at second and third grade levels). These students, sadly, are not lured in by books, even by some of the authors that were mentioned and every day I have to sell the idea that reading is important and that books are full of great interesting characters, neat plots and important life lessons. There is a huge lack of books for these students to read proficiently that doesn't insult them. The problem is not just with trade books, but also with text books.
I'm sorry that you thought I was slamming them...I was responding to my percieved unfairness at the way they were treating Ms. Cobb. Perhaps I'm being a bit touchy, but I feel a bit unfairly attacked. I READ. ALOT. And it was not very polite to imply that I didn't read or was unaware of the fact that some of the authors published by HC could change the lives of children. I teach high school where I fight every day to put current fiction in the hands of all my students. I recently finished my thesis looking at the ways that reading young adult lit has an impact on the lives/identites of middle school girls. I have sold children's books for a living. When I joined this list, I assumed that everyone had an interest in the many facets of young adult literature. I felt like I was in the company of peers. I have followed many of the topics with interest, but never felt like posting. I remember reading the HarperTrophy books as a kid. As a teacher, former book seller and a
dult who enjoys children's literature, I get upset when deserving authors get dropped by thier publisher in favor of something more "profitable." So I find it rather rude to be scolded in such a fashion, especially when I was simply stating an opinion.
Julie
_______________________________________________ CCBC-Net mailing list CCBC-Net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu Visit this link to read archives or to unsubscribe... http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/mailman/listinfo/ccbc-net
Received on Tue 12 Jun 2007 10:31:02 PM CDT
