In contrast, Barnes and Noble uses the entire review. The reviewer, Angie Manfredi, pointed to Arnold's use of lipstick as "warpaint" and noted that the protagonist is "part Cherokee."
Today (January 26, 2015), David Arnold tweeted the photograph to the right as part of a hashtag started by Gayle Forman. I take it to be his way of showing us his protagonist in her "warpaint."
Mr. Arnold? Did you imagine a Native reader of your book? Did it occur to you that this "warpaint" would be problematic? I see that this is the person in the book trailer. In it, she is shown putting on this "warpaint." How did the particular "warpaint" design come about?!
The book trailer ends with "Mim Malone is not ok." What you have her doing is not ok either.
Update, 2:04 PM, January 26, 2015
A couple of people have written to tell me that the cover of the book shows the girl with the "warpaint." Here is a screen capture of the girl on the cover. Though the image is pixelated, you can see the "warpaint."
Someone else asked if I could elaborate on why this "warpaint" is problematic. The protagonist is, according to the review, part Cherokee. As a part Cherokee person, she applies "warpaint" to her face when she needs it to overcome something. It plays into stereotypical ideas of Indians "on the warpath." Frankly, I don't know any Native person--Cherokee or otherwise--who would use lipstick in this way, in this pattern, in this day and time, to overcome adversity.
It suggests to me, that the protagonist is clueless about her Native identity. Is that part of the storyline? That she is ignorant about her Cherokee heritage? Does she, along the way, learn that what she is doing is goofy? Inappropriate? Stereotypical?
Update, Tuesday Jan 27, 8:18 AM
Reaction to the "warpaint" from Cherokee librarians, writers, and parents:
- "Sigh. Just once I wish they would pick on someone else."
- "Part Cherokee? Which part?"
- "Slowly bangs head against desktop."
People who really are Cherokee are weary of their nation being used over and over and over and over and over, and misrepresented over and over and over and over...
Update, Sunday April, 2015
AICL's full review of Mosquitoland includes Mr. Arnold's response.
AICL's Open Letter to Mr. Arnold includes another response from Mr. Arnold.
