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How Much Do We Tell the Children?
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From: DONNA BARKMAN <barkman1_at_verizon.net>
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:24:48 -0500
A fascinating and rich discussion to which I'd like to add a new topic that, as Megan mentioned, can overlap with intellectual freedom issues. Ellen Levine's new book, "In Trouble," published by Carolrhoda, deals with reproductive rights issues in the U.S. in the 1950s, 1956 - to be precise. Two 16-year-old best friends are pregnant, one having been pressured by her boyfriend ("if you really loved me") and the other seduced and then raped. Suspensefully told in fair-minded, even-handed short chapters, the book is probably the first novel to speak to young teen readers of adoption/abortion issues. When do we tell the children? In strongly positive reviews, SLJ recommends 14 and up; PW says 12. Do we tell them at all? Not if most publishers had their way. If you have the time, do access the link below, the audio of a panel at the October Boston Book Fest at which Levine details her difficulties (even as an established, award-winning author, known for dealing with tough, important subjects) in getting a publish er for what is historical, not contemporary, fiction, perhaps because history is attempting to repeat itself, requiring that writers and publishers be heroic in their efforts to tackle controversial issues.
Courage,
Donna
Donna Barkman barkman1_at_verizon.net 1 Reservoir Road Ossining NY 10562
Received on Tue 22 Nov 2011 03:24:48 PM CST
Date: Tue, 22 Nov 2011 15:24:48 -0500
A fascinating and rich discussion to which I'd like to add a new topic that, as Megan mentioned, can overlap with intellectual freedom issues. Ellen Levine's new book, "In Trouble," published by Carolrhoda, deals with reproductive rights issues in the U.S. in the 1950s, 1956 - to be precise. Two 16-year-old best friends are pregnant, one having been pressured by her boyfriend ("if you really loved me") and the other seduced and then raped. Suspensefully told in fair-minded, even-handed short chapters, the book is probably the first novel to speak to young teen readers of adoption/abortion issues. When do we tell the children? In strongly positive reviews, SLJ recommends 14 and up; PW says 12. Do we tell them at all? Not if most publishers had their way. If you have the time, do access the link below, the audio of a panel at the October Boston Book Fest at which Levine details her difficulties (even as an established, award-winning author, known for dealing with tough, important subjects) in getting a publish er for what is historical, not contemporary, fiction, perhaps because history is attempting to repeat itself, requiring that writers and publishers be heroic in their efforts to tackle controversial issues.
Courage,
Donna
Donna Barkman barkman1_at_verizon.net 1 Reservoir Road Ossining NY 10562
Received on Tue 22 Nov 2011 03:24:48 PM CST
