the grim reality

41 Comments

1. 

   Varian Johnson

   23 Sep 2010 Reply

   Here are a few more that quickly come to mind:

   TUTORED by Allison Whittenberg (Dec, Delacorte)

   ONE CRAZY SUMMER by Rita Williams-Garcia (Jan, Harper)

   OUT OF MY MIND by Sharon Draper (March, Antheneum)

• 

  elliottzetta

  23 Sep 2010 Reply

  Thanks, Varian!

2. 

   rifferaff

   23 Sep 2010 Reply

   wow, interesting to see the data. i'd be interested to see how many ya/mg books total were published this year so we could have a percentage.

3. 

   elliottzetta

   23 Sep 2010 Reply

   Hi, Rifferaff. The CCBC estimates about 5000 books for children are published each year, but that includes picture books. You can find their stats on multicultural authors here:

   http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/books/pcstats.asp

• 

  elliottzetta

  23 Sep 2010 Reply

  According to the ALA, "An estimated 3,000 YA titles are published annually"

  http://www.acrl.org/ala/mgrps/divs/yalsa/booklistsawards/morris/ALA_print_layout_1_444905_444905.cfm

4. 

   Vanessa

   23 Sep 2010 Reply

   Zetta, here are some authors I know of:

   1. Coe Booth, Kendra
   2. Ni-Ni Simone, Teen-Age Love Affair
   3. L. Divine, Drama High: Pushin'
   4. Earl Sewell, Myself and I
   5. Kia Dupree, Damaged

• 

  elliottzetta

  23 Sep 2010 Reply

  Hey, Vanessa! We're looking for 2010 releases only, so Kendra won't count but I'll check out the others--thanks!

5. 

   Edi

   23 Sep 2010 Reply

   there are also all the Kimanu Tru books; L. Divine had two books in the Drama High series
   Lyah LeFlore The World is Mine
   Nikki Grimes: A girl named mister
   Wench by Dolen Perkins Valdez
   Perfect Shot Debbie Rigaud
   Cruisers AND Lockdown by Walter Dean Myers
   Teenage Love Affair by NiNi Simone
   Boys should know how to tie a tie by Antione Fisher
   Can't hold me down by Lyah LeFlore
   Moonshine by Alaya Johnson
   The Baptism by Shelia Moses
   What momma left me by Renee Watson
   Miss You Mina, by Denene Millner
   Manifest by Artist Arther
   the Amiga Series by Veronica Chambers
   Not a good look by Nikki Carter
   Exorsistah X Returns by Claudia Mair Burney
   Two the hard way by Travis Hunter

6. 

   Edi

   23 Sep 2010 Reply

   Sorry! I forgot the publishers and dates. It's on the 2010 Booklist on my blog.

• 

  elliottzetta

  23 Sep 2010 Reply

  thanks, Edi! I've only got about a third of your titles...

7. 

   Doret

   24 Sep 2010 Reply

   Two that must be taken away

   Joesph by Moses was released in paperback this year. The hardcover came out in 2008 .

   Moonshine by Johnson is adult fantasy

   Here are 3 that can be added to the list.

   Dork Diaries by Rachel Renee Russell

   All the Wrong Moves by Nikki Carter - December.

   Sweet, Hereafter by Angela Johnson

   46 titles so far, and people wonder why, there are still race based awards.

8. 

   Doret

   24 Sep 2010 Reply

   And that's Dork Diaries 2.

9. 

   elliottzetta

   24 Sep 2010 Reply

   thanks, Doret! now I can proceed with the analysis...

10. 

    Ari Reading in Color

    24 Sep 2010 Reply

    do you still want titles?

    Shadow Walker by L.A. Banks. I think that's it though.

• 

  elliottzetta

  24 Sep 2010 Reply

  You sent me that one, Ari--it's with the November titles.

11. 

    Doret

    24 Sep 2010 Reply

    Zetta, I forgot - Good Fortune by Noni Carter - Simon&Schuster

• 

  elliottzetta

  24 Sep 2010 Reply

  Right! thanks, Doret.

12. 

    Doret

    26 Sep 2010 Reply

    President of the Whole Fifth Grade by Sherri Winston - Little Brown - October

13. 

    Andromeda Jazmon

    1 Oct 2010 Reply

    Many new to me books listed here; I am falling behind in my reading! I am going to look for many of these to blog about in the coming months. Thanks for doing this list!!

• 

  elliottzetta

  1 Oct 2010 Reply

  Thanks, Andromeda! We were trying to think of a grad student or retiree who'd take up the task of reviewing all of these books...but maybe we'll have to settle for each doing our small part.

14. 

    Monica S. Baker

    1 Nov 2010 Reply

    Hello all: I hope I'm not too late to this insightful conversation.

    I am the author of Freestyle, which is on the above middle grade list. While the author-company on the list is impressive, I should divulge that I myself am not a person of color. While my kids have always wanted to claim some speck of color in our lineage, we are Euro-white.

    I suspect that somehow, Freestyle was passed along because it is about a 21st century boy who is stalked in his dreams by Patty Cannon; 19th century slave kidnapper and murderess (I call her the Bad Girl of the Underground Railroad. She was wicked and probably a psychopath!)

    I came to write Freestyle after working on a few UGRR educational projects....and I volunteer on some Diversity and Inclusion initiatives. All of this to say....I think it's worth discussing why a book written on the topic of the UGRR is assumed to be written by a person of color. My perspective is that every color in our nation should own our history of slavery, to include the movements like the UGRR (which some say was the first Civil Rights movement), in order to move forward and civilly address racism.

    Thanks for the opportunity to chat. -- Monica

15. 

    elliottzetta

    1 Nov 2010 Reply

    Hi, Monica--thanks for clearing that up! It's definitely a BIG issue for me and the other black book bloggers I work with; we are actually quite vigilant when it comes to white authors writing about African Americans, b/c very often the books produced by "cultural outsiders" are riddled with inaccuracies (some, not all). So I'd have to say this is just a careless error on my part. I've written about outsider authors elsewhere; you can read my guest post at Justine Larbalestier's blog:

    http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2010/02/18/guest-post-zetta-elliott-on-race-reviews/

16. 

    Monica S. Baker

    3 Nov 2010 Reply

    Elliott: thanks for the reply, and I enjoyed your guest post on Justine L's blog. I love honest dialogue, especially when it comes to matter or race, and I don't think "the races" do enough of it.

    While I do agree with most of what you say, I understand that my particular white perspective is different from yours. That said, I did indeed spend years in historical research and ended writing Freestyle from the perspective of a 21st century white, 13 year-old boy. In essence, I wanted the reader to experience the "oh sh--" moment (much like mine) of discovering the horrors of slavery and the layering, nuances and terrors that stoked the Underground Railroad movement.

    Dr. Claude Mayberry, Chair of the Multicultural Literacy Committee for Reading Is Fundamental, recently told me he would like the book taught in schools as a launching board to discuss race. Keeping in mind that a goal is to have all colors of kids, parents and educators in a truely diverse and civil discussion. Long shot, maybe -- given that it is almost impossible to get a book reviewed and in to schools these days -- but worth the hope and prayer!

    Take great care, Monica

17. 

    elliottzetta

    3 Nov 2010 Reply

    It's Zetta, actually! My point is precisely that--your POV as a white author IS different--but it's also often privileged. Black authors are marginalized within the publishing industry, and so our particular POV has to compete with the values and preferences of the dominant culture; of course, we've been trying for hundreds of years to have a "civil discussion" about race. But all too often, we aren't given an equal opportunity to do so. I haven't read your book, and I'm not judging you as a person since I don't know you; I admire your goal of generating a conversation about race--I just feel that your ability to do that is, in some ways, informed by white privilege. That said, we do need allies and it's great that you've chosen to tackle the complexity of slavery in your writing for youth.

18. 

    Monica S. Baker

    3 Nov 2010 Reply

    Sorry about calling you Elliott, Zetta! And, thank you for allowing this discussion ... I don't intend to badger you for days on this topic, and don't feel the need to reply, BUT (the big but!)

    I think we agree about most things, but I have to add a personal antecdote: When I became co-chair of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee at my daughter's highschool, black and white friends asked me, "Why you, Monica? You're white." My response was and always will be, " Because I am white and to promote diversity is to promote black, white, purple, rich, poor, legless, speechless, downtown, suburban and all the in-betweens." I don't care what color you are, just bring your perspective to the table in a respectful and honest way.

    You might agree that an all black diversity committee is not a diversity committee. Similarly, a discussion about race with only black voices is not a discussion about race -- that's preaching to the choir. We have a huge problem in this country and that is WE DON'T TALK ABOUT RACE. To me, talking about race means bringing all colors to the table. I live in a very diverse area -- even the best intentioned white people I know don't a). know squat about slavery and b). know how to talk race and race relations.

    I also believe that we need to bury assumptions we have about individuals and the communities they come from in order to proceed in dialogue. And yes, I definitely believe in the marginalization of blacks (American Indians as well) in many, if not most, sectors of industry and society.

    My personal hope was that Mr. Obama would facilitate a national discussion on race. He set the tone for civility in his campaign and first months in office. I had hoped that he would launch a moderated discussion on race from that vantage point. Unfortunately, he left it up to us to have "kitchen table" discussions on race relations. The problem is, we don't know how to sit together and we need leadership to moderate us at the table. I know this sounds lofty, but I would still love to see some sort of dialogue leadership from the White House. How grand would that be?

    Monica

19. 

    elliottzetta

    4 Nov 2010 Reply

    All I'll say is, READ TIM WISE (if you haven't already). White supremacy does not permit people of color to speak out against their marginalization; President Obama got elected because most whites felt reassured that he would NOT make them talk about race, racism, or reparations. So we do need white allies like Tim Wise who will use their white privilege to start the conversation PoC aren't permitted to start...

20. 

    Monica S. Baker

    4 Nov 2010 Reply

    Excellent advice. I've read excerpts, and his recent letter to the "White Right," and will now order Color Blind.

21. 

    Ms S

    2 Jan 2011 Reply

    Great list, I hope it's okay for me to use this as a guide for my new MG and YA reading club book selections.

    Happy New Year!

• 

  elliottzetta

  2 Jan 2011 Reply

  Of course! Many of these titles were reviewed by Ari over at Reading in Color--she's a great source for books by PoC.