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From: Marge Pellegrino <margepell_at_comcast.net>
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:36:10 -0700
From an author№s perspective: When I first wrote Journey of Dreams, it was a picture book, possibly an early chapter book. The encouraging rejections suggested it would miss its audience if it wasn't middle grade or higher. I had never written anything as long as a novel before (I publish mostly adul t nonfiction articles along with a few picture books and an early chapter book). I wasn't sure I had that many words in me‹nor was I sure I could conjure the threads that would do justice to the historic tornado in which it was set. As I dug further into the research, I began to hear the secondary characters' voices more clearly and pushed ahead. Not knowing which age I was writing for, I focused on trying to tell the story as best I could.
The story provides levels of meaning--one a story of a journey of a Guatemalan girl and her family from danger to safety, another the story of politics, power, persecution that wreck people's lives, both punctuated by the protagonist's dreams and indigenous folktales.
While the book was published for readers as young as ten, it will be awarde d the 2009 Judy Goddard young adult literature award (I read a review last week by a fifteen year old) and Wednesday evening, I'm visiting with an adult reading group. Barnes and Noble№s belief in Journey of Dreams crossover appeal has sent it into a second printing. While I had hoped adults would want to read the book, I№m thrilled they are.
I appreciate this list and constantly update my reading list based on your discussions...oh to live long enough to read them all.
Marge Pellegrino
Received on Tue 13 Oct 2009 03:36:10 PM CDT
Date: Tue, 13 Oct 2009 15:36:10 -0700
From an author№s perspective: When I first wrote Journey of Dreams, it was a picture book, possibly an early chapter book. The encouraging rejections suggested it would miss its audience if it wasn't middle grade or higher. I had never written anything as long as a novel before (I publish mostly adul t nonfiction articles along with a few picture books and an early chapter book). I wasn't sure I had that many words in me‹nor was I sure I could conjure the threads that would do justice to the historic tornado in which it was set. As I dug further into the research, I began to hear the secondary characters' voices more clearly and pushed ahead. Not knowing which age I was writing for, I focused on trying to tell the story as best I could.
The story provides levels of meaning--one a story of a journey of a Guatemalan girl and her family from danger to safety, another the story of politics, power, persecution that wreck people's lives, both punctuated by the protagonist's dreams and indigenous folktales.
While the book was published for readers as young as ten, it will be awarde d the 2009 Judy Goddard young adult literature award (I read a review last week by a fifteen year old) and Wednesday evening, I'm visiting with an adult reading group. Barnes and Noble№s belief in Journey of Dreams crossover appeal has sent it into a second printing. While I had hoped adults would want to read the book, I№m thrilled they are.
I appreciate this list and constantly update my reading list based on your discussions...oh to live long enough to read them all.
Marge Pellegrino
Received on Tue 13 Oct 2009 03:36:10 PM CDT
