Established in 2006 by Dr. Debbie Reese of Nambé Pueblo, American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) provides critical analysis of Indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books. Dr. Jean Mendoza joined AICL as a co-editor in 2016.
Established in 2006 by Dr. Debbie Reese of Nambé Pueblo, American Indians in Children's Literature (AICL) provides critical analysis of Indigenous peoples in children's and young adult books. Dr. Jean Mendoza joined AICL as a co-editor in 2016.
"Durable Goods" wishes that the negative review of the young adult eugenics novel could have at least included a nod toward the (ostensible) public service of putting the horrible historical situation out there in a work of fiction.
ReplyDeleteAt one point I would have suggested the same kind of "slack" for authors, but realized eventually that as a teacher and parent, I just want the historical/cultural details to be accurate even in fiction, and ESPECIALLY when the author is writing about a situation that's unfamiliar to so many of us.
Both "Darkness Under the Water" and "I Am Apache" are from the same publisher. What's up with that?
ReplyDeleteNeither book is particularly well written. Both feel forced and overly dramatic. I think that teens would sense this right away and be turned off by it. Let's hope that neither book wins a big audience.
Are you ready for this? Candlewick Press rejected Joe Bruchac's manuscript for the awesome YA novel about the eugenics program, HIDDEN ROOTS and chose to publish instead DARKNESS UNDER THE WATER.
ReplyDeleteAlso, APACHE GIRL WARRIOR (which Candlewick published as I AM APACHE), was a big hit both with reviewers and with young readers in the UK; and was shortlisted for a major award there.
I cannot believe that you are criticizing this book without having read it.
ReplyDeleteAnonymous,
ReplyDeleteOn this particular thread, the discussion is about the remarks made by Durable Goods, not the book itself.
On the thread that starts with the review by Seale and Dow, my remarks there are also not about the book, but about the authors comments regarding the review.
It is still a big problem that you defend the reviewers and dismiss the author's response without having read the novel in question. In fact, even if you are absolutely right about the book, it is unethical for you recommend that libraries not buy it without your having read it.
ReplyDeleteI also find it worrying that you would potentially damage the sales of an author's book, by leaving a comment on Amazon that in effect leads people to material that suggests the book is not acceptable to native people, without having read it. Once you've read it, go for it! Is it that urgent to step in prior to waiting a week or so until you've got the book yourself? There's the Seale/Dow review for now, and I'm sure most of us will be very interested to read your own when it comes.
ReplyDeleteI think the Seale/Dow review is considered and has merit, but it is up to these authors to advance their ideas, based on their reading, publicly. As you're able to obtain the book, there's just a need to wait until you've read it to add strength to your comments and encouragement for people not to use the book in schools etc. Until then, the Seale/Dow comments need to speak for themselves.
It's not scholarly practice to denounce something you've not yet read, but it's fine to point to critique that already exists by those who have.