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  • Take Four! A New, Two-part “It’s Complicated” Conversation

    As part of CBC Diversity’s ongoing effort, we’re pleased to present the fourth dialogue in the “It’s Complicated!” blog series starting next week, and for the first time, it will run over two consecutive weeks, starting on Monday. This time we’ve invited five authors to share their thoughts about writing inside their cultural perspective, and five authors to discuss writing outside their cultural perspective.
     
    I think most would agree that in an ideal world, the diversity depicted in books and of their creators would match the diversity of our world. But I know some might disagree on the best way to get there—what if that’s not immediately possible? Is it better to have white/straight/able-bodied, etc. authors write books about non-white/LGBT/disabled, etc. characters? Can those characters truly be authentic? What if the only way authors of color can achieve commercial success is by writing books with non-diverse characters? And can those books be authentic, too? Are there any topics that should be “off-limits” to outsider writers? Do you trust an author you perceive to be an insider more than you would an outsider?

    As an editor, I’ve worked with authors writing both inside and outside of their cultural perspective, and don’t feel that one group of books is more authentic than the other. I’m more confident editing a book about, say, an Asian-American girl that’s also written by an Asian-American author, but perhaps I’m not as careful—in some cases, when the author is an “outsider”, I’m perhaps more strict about getting additional readers and fact-checkers to make sure depictions feel authentic to an “insider.” I am well aware that one reader can’t always represent their entire group, but it helps us “get it right” as best we can.
     
    imageIn my experience, even when an author is writing a book from an “inside” perspective, the book may still be criticized for somehow “getting it wrong.” Nothing But the Truth (and a few white lies) by Justina Chen is a book about a half Taiwanese, half white teen girl. Her mother is super strict, and has a very strong negative reaction when she finds out her daughter is dating a boy whose parents come from mainland China. Now, this is a very real, very true-to-life reaction of many Taiwanese parents Justina and I know personally. And yet she still had someone tell her that the depiction of the mother was unrealistic. 
     
    Isn’t “authentic” such a nebulous thing to recognize and define? What is authentic to one reader will ring false to another. (And for the record, Justina and I still maintain that the depiction is realistic—and our mothers would agree!) For me, this is all to say: if you’re writing as an outsider, don’t be overly paranoid about getting it wrong. As long as you do your research, are thoughtful about how and what you’re writing, and get appropriate readers, be confident that you’ve done what you need to do. Because no book can be right for all readers.
     
    There will always be some debate regarding who has the authority to write certain books. Cheryl Klein and Cynthia Leitich Smith covered much of this debate in their posts for our very first “It’s Complicated” series, as have many others here on this blog. Because this is such a layered topic, we decided to double the fun and spread this new series over two weeks. Week one will focus on the outsider perspective, and we’re excited to have authors Walter Dean Myers, A.S. King, Graham Salisbury, Elizabeth Kiem, and Patricia McCormick speak to their experiences of writing outside of their own cultural group.
     
    Week two will focus on the insider perspective with authors Sharon Flake, Diana Lopez, Bil Wright, Alex London, and Mitali Perkins.
     
    I look forward to reading what our esteemed panel of guest bloggers have to share with us, and I guarantee that whatever they write will be scintillating. Please join us!

  • Kids May Prefer the Kindle Fire Over the iPad

    Apple’s iPad tablet holds the second best spot. Among the participants of this study, 27% of children who use eReaders prefer the Kindle Fire and 20% favor the iPad. “This …

  • ‘The Fall of Five’ Is August’s Most-Discussed Book on Social Media

    “Speaking of The Fall of Five, which was published by HarperCollins on Aug. 27, Jeff Costello, v-p of CoverCake, said, ‘This book just kept picking up momentum all month as …

  • Dare to Dream…Change the World Contest Launches for 2013-2014

    View the contest flyer with guidelines▸▸ FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DARE TO DREAM…CHANGE THE WORLD CONTEST LAUNCHES FOR 2013-2014 Jill Corcoran, compiler and contributing poet to the award-winning Dare to Dream…Change …

  • ‘Oh, the Places You’ll Go!’, Digitally

    For Immediate Release  RANDOM HOUSE CHILDREN’S BOOKS TO PUBLISH DR. SEUSS’S CLASSICS AS EBOOKS FOR THE FIRST TIME 41 Dr. Seuss Ebooks to be released in September, October, November 2013, …

  • The Atlantic Avenue Children’s Literature Contest Seeks Entries

    “The (inaugural) Atlantic Avenue Children’s Literature Contest! Calling aspiring picture book authors from Brooklyn and beyond! The merchants of Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn’s favorite ‘main street’, are offering you the opportunity …

  • Ellen Oh Explains “Why It Is Okay to Tackle Diversity”

    “I want to talk to you about why it is okay to “tackle diversity.” If you are the type to say, “Yes, I want to include diversity! I just don’t …

  • This Week on Girls Scouts’ The Studio: ‘The Ever Afters’ Author Shelby Bach

    “I discovered that my favorite writers’ early drafts weren’t nearly as amazing as their finished books. Once they wrote something, they did everything they could to make their writing better. …

  • Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for Young Readers Hosts “Draw a Quarkbeast” Contest

    “A QUARKBEAST is a small hyena-shaped creature with shiny-leathery scales, often described as one-tenth Labrador, six-tenths velociraptor, and three-tenths kitchen food blender. But what does it look like, exactly? Now’s …

  • Lambda Literary Foundation Opens Award Submissions

    “The Lambda Literary Foundation announced the opening of book submissions and revised submission guidelines for the Lambda Literary Awards, which celebrates the best in lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender literature. …

  • Sara Zarr & Tara Altebrando Collaborate on a Young Adult Novel

    The story features “alternating perspectives to great effect as they portray a budding friendship between two young women on opposites sides of the country. Self-assured, with a boyfriend and an …

  • SCBWI Announces the Winners of the Annual SCBWI Work-in-Progress Grants

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators in conjunction with a generous grant from Amazon.com, congratulates the winners of the 2013 Work-In-Progress Grants in the following …

  • William Steig Goes Digital

    Young readers can now discover William Steig’s beloved work on their tablets, as FSG has released fourteen of his titles as e-books. The Steig picture books now available as e-books …

  • Why Audiobooks Should Be Included in Your Home Library

    Audiobooks are a great way to foster literacy and instill an appreciation for stories. This post at Scholastic Parent & Child outlines some of the many great reasons to include …

  • Two Actors Cast for the ‘Fallen’ Movie

    Two actors have been cast for the adaptation of Lauren Kate’s Fallen. Addison Timlin will play Lucinda “Luce” Price and Jeremy Irvine will play Daniel Grigori. The Fallen book was …

  • Entertainment Weekly Offers Exclusive Excerpt of Laurie Halse Anderson’s Latest Novel

    “The Impossible Knife of Memory, Laurie Halse Anderson’s latest YA novel, debuts Jan. 7, 2014. The book centers around high school senior Hayley whose single father, Andy, struggles to escape the …

  • 8th Annual Brooklyn Book Festival Honors Celebrated Youth Author Lois Lowry

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   BROOKLYN, NY, August 20, 2013: Today, Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz, the Brooklyn Literary Council and Brooklyn Tourism announced that the eighth annual Brooklyn Book Festival, …

  • Evan Ross, Son of Legendary Singer Diana, Lands Role in “Mockingjay”

    Evan Ross, 25-year-old son of legendary singer Diana Ross, will play Messala in the film adaptation of Hunger Games continuation Mockingjay, parts 1 and 2. In the book, Messala is …

  • Penguin to Publish Bestselling Swedish Children’s Mystery Series

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE The Whodunit Detective Agency by Martin Widmark scheduled for publication in August 2014 August 26, 2013 – Penguin Young Readers Group has acquired North American rights to the …

  • Learn More About Patricia Polacco, Author of ‘The Blessing Cup’

    Nearly three decades ago, Polacco’s mother financed a trip for her to go to Manhattan to try to get a publishing deal. Polacco set up 16 meetings in one week, …

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