how do we dream the future?

0 Comments

1. 

   Edi

   15 Aug 2009 Reply

   The only interactive only format I can think of is a wiki, but with that people could change the original text. I'm not sure if that's what she's considering.

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  elliottzetta

  15 Aug 2009 Reply

  She did consider a wiki, but as you said, that wouldn't track changes--you'd only see the most current revised version, rather than the suggested change + the original...I think she put it up on her blog in the end.

2. 

   Doret

   15 Aug 2009 Reply

   The publishers where I worked sold primarily to the institutional markets—to teachers and librarians

   It would be nice if children's books featuring people of color could depend on schools to purchase these books or place them on reading list but if other cities are like Atlanta this is not happening enough.

   I've seen many reading list over the years and for the most part they lack diversity and favors girls. There are a few exceptions.

   Does My Head Look Big In This by Randa Abdel-Fattah
   and Skunkgirl by Sheba Karim on a reading list this year. There were few other titles, that made me take notice but this was early in the summer and I can't recall the names.

   Though for the most but the reading list lack diversity and new YA. There are alot of great YA titles out but instead seeking out these titles some teachers simply add books they're reading or are familiar with. Last summer #1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith was on a fifth grade reading list as an option for a book set in Africa. That made no sense. There many books MG/YA books set in Africa that the teacher could have put on the list instead. I love #1 Ladies Detective Agency series but I don't thinks it's right for 5th graders.

   Last week I helped a Black mother trying to find a book for her son off of an accelerated reading (AR) list from her county. It was about 8 pages. If I had to guess many of those titles were either out of print or hard to find. The mother said her son doesn't like to read much. So I was going to take my time and try to suggest something he might like.
   He likes sports - Lupica - not on the list. Feinstein - not on the list. Walter Dean Myers - not on the list. We finally found Manic Magee.

   I got to talking with the customer, I told her about the time I help another Black mother with a reading list that had 5 or 6 titles with Black characters that were either about slavery, civil war or a Slave narratives. Of the top of my head I remember The Glory Field by Myers, The Day of Tears by Lester and Letter from a Slave girl by Lyons. Why a teacher would think there is nothing wrong with this is beyond me. And yes parents can speak up about this but they shouldn't have to .

   The mother I was helping that day said her son never finds anything to read at the school library. Looking at that AR list I am not surprised. I told her about Smith wonderful YA novel Chameleon. When see said is it on the list? We both got a good laugh, we knew there was no point in checking. I wish I had remembered to tell her about 12 Brown Boys by Tyree

   And its not just Black boys who are forgotten when it comes to reading list. After this mother I helped a White mother who was looking for her son. Yes boys can and should read female protagonist but I am not suggesting Anne of Green Gables or a Sarah Dessen novel to a boy, and if that's wrong I don't want to be right.

   The lack of diversity or new YA on reading list makes me want to scream. Sadly, children's and YA authors of color can't always depend on educators to support or suggest their books. Hopefully its better in other cities if not then there is a serious problem.

• 

  elliottzetta

  15 Aug 2009 Reply

  Honestly, Doret--I hate to fault teachers (maybe b/c I am one, and my parents were, too) in large part b/c they simply DON'T have the time and energy to stay current on books the way we do...and once they find new books, there's a whole process of having it approved and adopted, and then they have to develop lessons that fit with the state-mandated curriculum...so I don't like the boring old lists either, but I understand why they go with what they know. Have you ever read Amy Bowllan's blog on SLJ? She's desperately trying to promote a conference for educators in DC that would promote teaching literature as a way to end racism...I wonder if starting local makes more sense, though it would be great to have ONE inclusive list of books read by ALL the kids in this country! Have you read Night Riders? She interviewed the author about this YA novel on a boy's induction into the KKK...

  No need to apologize! I know how passionate you are about this topic. YOU should be a consultant to the Atlanta school board...

3. 

   Doret

   15 Aug 2009 Reply

   If I had realized it was that long I would have edited it some. Hope you don't mind too much, Zetta

• 

  elliottzetta

  15 Aug 2009 Reply

  Here's the link to Amy's blog, if anyone's interested:

  http://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/blog/620000062/post/1010047701.html

4. 

   rhapsodyinbooks

   15 Aug 2009 Reply

   I think this should be two separate posts, because both points are so separately interesting! That first part reflects such a quintessentially dismissive attitude toward Africa, and what a wonderful way to highlight it, through scifi. You just get an instant picture of the absurdity of the whole thing.

   The second point brings more welcome attention to white privilege in publishing (as opposed to say, everywhere else! ha ha) but you really have to stop linking to all these other great blogs in your posts because I have a very hard time keeping up!!!

   And by the way, I spent a lot of time in different out-of-town bookstores this weekend, and in each one I looked for your books and for the books Susan has been reviewing and came up empty-handed. But I could have got me a whole bunch of books on vampires!!! And that's a reflection of.... well... alas, no adequate words...

5. 

   elliottzetta

   16 Aug 2009 Reply

   I know, Rhapsody, but there's been so much going on lately! I should clarify that that comment about Africa was made by a Nigerian filmmaker; Nnedi insists there are some sci-fi stories emerging from Africa, but they tend more towards speculative fiction and are reality-based...

   The industry is something else...my distributor won't fill orders until they reach a certain amount, so any bookstore trying to stock my books will get the message: "title back-ordered" even though it's not...the distributor just wants to be sure there's steady demand for the book, but stores aren't likely to order a book that's not available...double sigh.