Young Adult Lit

“One person asked me, ‘Wouldn’t you have rather won the National Book Award for an adult, serious work?’ I thought I’d been condescended to as an Indian — that was nothing compared to the condescension for writing Y.A.”

Sherman Alexie, as quoted by Margo Rabb in "I'm Y.A., and I'm Okay," New York Times Book Review, July 20th, 2008

Comments

[Mary Lee]

Yikes! Condescension has been taken to new (highs? lows?) LEVELS.

[Susan T.]

I know!

The publishing/marketing info in that essay was fascinating.

[Elaine Magliaro]

Susan,

Thanks for the link. That was an interesting article. BTW, I LOVED Sherman Alexie's "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian." I'm not sure I would have known about the book if it hadn't been classified as YA. It was everything I read about it in kidlit blogs that enticed me to read it.

[Susan T.]

Elaine, you're welcome. I loved that book, too. It was one of my favorite reads of the year in 2007.

[Linda Aksomitis]

Thanks - I also found the article through your blog. Surely winning an award for any type of writing should be valued, whether it's erotica or young adult or creative nonfiction? If we don't value the awards, then how can we value the writing.

[Susan T.]

Linda, you're welcome for the link.

I find that the various awards for children's books often serve as good shortcuts to good reading. Some of my favorite prizes are the ones that the National Science Teachers Association gives out; I've found fascinating books that way.