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[CCBC-Net] Absolutely True Diary
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From: Suzi Steffen <suzisteffen>
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:21:34 -0800
Elliott, I completely agree and was befuddled that FLIGHT was not called a YA book. As a matter of fact, when I reviewed it for my paper, I reviewed it as a YA book, and when people started writing things like "ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY is Alexie's first YA book," I was shocked (and I was so wrong--I had thought Flight WAS pubbed as a YA novel. Oops!)
Recently, I listened to Alexie on Nancy Pearl's podcast, and he said that he didn't think FLIGHT could be YA because it was too violent. (Apparently, it's on video too: http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/watchVideos.asp?program=bookLust)
My responses to that are lengthy, but basically, I disagree with the author about his book and his understanding of what YA lit means, not to mention about the violence of poverty depicted in DIARY. Best, Suzi
On Jan 21, 2008 8:37 AM, Elliott BatTzedek <ebattzedek at cliontheweb.org> wrote:
> One thing that fascinates me about the "The Absolutely True Diary" is
> that Alexie's book "Flight" came out the same year, which is also about
> a Native teenager, and is also clearly appropriate for a YA audience.
> Why one was marketed to YA and one to adults perplexes me. If anything,
> "Flight" has less of some of the difficult elements that have bothered
> some posters here, but is still a very powerful coming-of-age story.
>
> Has anyone else read Flight? What did you think?
>
> Elliott batTzedek
> Curriculum and Collections Developer
> Children's Literacy Initiative
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
> [mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Hendon,
> Alison
> Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 11:42 AM
> To: Deborah Hopkinson
> Cc: ccbc-net at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu
> Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] Absolutely True Diary
>
> Deborah wrote:
>
> Sherman Alexie is one of our most prominet national voices, and no doubt
> this book will find its way into the hands of many teen readers. Still,
> I was dismayed and very disappointed at the exclusion of this authentic,
> powerful, bittersweet, and tremendously funny book from Printz and
> Notables.
>
> and I add - Notables? Do you mean Children's Notables? I would think
> his book is for an older audience. It was a BBYA and indeed was a Top
> Ten BBYA (Best Books for Young Adults).
>
> Agreeing with everything else you said,
> Alison
> _______________________________________________
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Received on Mon 21 Jan 2008 02:21:34 PM CST
Date: Mon, 21 Jan 2008 12:21:34 -0800
Elliott, I completely agree and was befuddled that FLIGHT was not called a YA book. As a matter of fact, when I reviewed it for my paper, I reviewed it as a YA book, and when people started writing things like "ABSOLUTELY TRUE DIARY is Alexie's first YA book," I was shocked (and I was so wrong--I had thought Flight WAS pubbed as a YA novel. Oops!)
Recently, I listened to Alexie on Nancy Pearl's podcast, and he said that he didn't think FLIGHT could be YA because it was too violent. (Apparently, it's on video too: http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/watchVideos.asp?program=bookLust)
My responses to that are lengthy, but basically, I disagree with the author about his book and his understanding of what YA lit means, not to mention about the violence of poverty depicted in DIARY. Best, Suzi
On Jan 21, 2008 8:37 AM, Elliott BatTzedek <ebattzedek at cliontheweb.org> wrote:
> One thing that fascinates me about the "The Absolutely True Diary" is
> that Alexie's book "Flight" came out the same year, which is also about
> a Native teenager, and is also clearly appropriate for a YA audience.
> Why one was marketed to YA and one to adults perplexes me. If anything,
> "Flight" has less of some of the difficult elements that have bothered
> some posters here, but is still a very powerful coming-of-age story.
>
> Has anyone else read Flight? What did you think?
>
> Elliott batTzedek
> Curriculum and Collections Developer
> Children's Literacy Initiative
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu
> [mailto:ccbc-net-bounces at ccbc.education.wisc.edu] On Behalf Of Hendon,
> Alison
> Sent: Sunday, January 20, 2008 11:42 AM
> To: Deborah Hopkinson
> Cc: ccbc-net at ccbc.ad.education.wisc.edu
> Subject: Re: [CCBC-Net] Absolutely True Diary
>
> Deborah wrote:
>
> Sherman Alexie is one of our most prominet national voices, and no doubt
> this book will find its way into the hands of many teen readers. Still,
> I was dismayed and very disappointed at the exclusion of this authentic,
> powerful, bittersweet, and tremendously funny book from Printz and
> Notables.
>
> and I add - Notables? Do you mean Children's Notables? I would think
> his book is for an older audience. It was a BBYA and indeed was a Top
> Ten BBYA (Best Books for Young Adults).
>
> Agreeing with everything else you said,
> Alison
> _______________________________________________
> 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
> _______________________________________________
> 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 Mon 21 Jan 2008 02:21:34 PM CST
