tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post812101687736584612..comments2024-03-25T13:09:43.054-05:00Comments on Charlotte's Library: A look at diversity in middle grade fantasy and science fiction so far this year Charlottehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comBlogger26125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-14356153632105689602013-06-25T10:49:45.704-05:002013-06-25T10:49:45.704-05:00As a writer I struggle a lot with your point about...As a writer I struggle a lot with your point about how to let a reader know that a character isn't default white, without making a Big Stinking Deal about it. I always feel like describing the skin color only of non-whites just reinforces the idea that white is default, yet not to mention skin color or ethnicity at all means no one realizes how wide a diversity the characters may represent. For example, in one of my books, "The Bad Advice of Grandma Hasenfuss," it didn't really fit in to describe anyone's appearance much (the narrator is a sixth grade boy and people's skin color is the least of his concerns), so even though in my mind there are characters of various ethnicities, the reader really doesn't know. On the other hand, in my current book I've made it quite explicit that one main character is adopted from China, but there's another character who's African-American, and I'm struggling with how to make that clear but not the Point. Any thoughts, comments, advice that you or any of your other readers want to add about what you like or dislike when you read would be really interesting!<br /><br />Also, as others have said, we're not going to get more diversity unless we keep on demanding it. So thanks for making it an issue and continuing to keep it at the forefront!Anne E.G. Nydamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02406524149458743460noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-29860657605380627272013-06-21T19:27:40.696-05:002013-06-21T19:27:40.696-05:00Thanks, Charlotte!
If the writer is strict with ...Thanks, Charlotte! <br /><br />If the writer is strict with him/herself about point-of-view, there's plenty of opportunity to describe other characters, but not much to describe the protagonist. You pretty much have to use the ol' "he saw his reflection" schtick or come up with some other device-- a Wanted poster, say, or Tiffany Aching's "See Me" spell.<br />Sage Blackwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10847897945969895906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-57131062819003775222013-06-21T15:27:00.415-05:002013-06-21T15:27:00.415-05:00Somedays I feel I should count Jewish characters, ...Somedays I feel I should count Jewish characters, and some days I feel I shouldn't, but in any event I haven't done so to date.<br /><br />I haven't read The Watcher yet, but I loved the first one!Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-61032450009019222152013-06-21T14:21:07.296-05:002013-06-21T14:21:07.296-05:00Are you counting Jewish characters as multicultura...Are you counting Jewish characters as multicultural? The Watcher in the Shadows by Chris Moriarty, the sequel to last year's Inquisitor's Apprentice, has a main character who is Jewish. <br /><br />One of the minor characters, the Inspector's assistant Philip Payton, is a character of color, and there are some plot points about his family moving to Harlem, and his former friendship with Irish gangster Paddy Doyle.Erinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11541482427056178933noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-57383952720071974652013-06-21T12:59:22.613-05:002013-06-21T12:59:22.613-05:00I have thrown Jinx into the mix, but am leaving hi...I have thrown Jinx into the mix, but am leaving him ambiguous...The problem with making lists is that things in real life are blurry around the edges.<br /><br />I am even more curious now to see the cover of Jinx's Magic!Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-91014389584962354492013-06-21T09:05:17.852-05:002013-06-21T09:05:17.852-05:00In my 2013 MG fantasy, JINX, the protagonist is a ...In my 2013 MG fantasy, JINX, the protagonist is a person of color...<br /><br />In the recent past there seemed to be some kind of taboo against showing dark-skinned characters on the cover (even if they *were* the protagonist) and against allowing writers to write protagonists of any color that didn't match the author's. <br /><br />I did not run into any of this with JINX, however. So this gives me hope that things are changing. I think that book bloggers have played a role in this change, eg with the uproar over whitewashed covers.<br />Sage Blackwoodhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10847897945969895906noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-47381397984217575132013-06-20T21:26:37.168-05:002013-06-20T21:26:37.168-05:00I was reading the post and the comments, and saw t...I was reading the post and the comments, and saw this! Yes, The Real Boy's characters are all basically Middle Eastern/North African. The idea is the island is in the Mediterranean and people have been coming there for centuries from all around the sea, and so people are pretty mixed. I wanted to err on the side of the eastern Mediterranean because, well, of the post above.... Anne Ursuhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09864047397813748310noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-2385022172761263992013-06-20T21:08:57.780-05:002013-06-20T21:08:57.780-05:00Oops! I read it this year, which is why I thought ...Oops! I read it this year, which is why I thought it was a 2013 book. Hmm, what else is there? I can think of YA titles, but not MG.Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03909788287364377406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-10378066612999624792013-06-20T20:04:06.380-05:002013-06-20T20:04:06.380-05:00That is indeed a good one, but it's 2012....That is indeed a good one, but it's 2012....Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-38979340318032402192013-06-20T19:11:34.374-05:002013-06-20T19:11:34.374-05:00Mike Jung's Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identitie...Mike Jung's <i>Geeks, Girls, and Secret Identities</i>. Trishahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03909788287364377406noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-12842457006494456182013-06-20T19:09:02.988-05:002013-06-20T19:09:02.988-05:00I've never read Smekday (hangs head).
And tha...I've never read Smekday (hangs head).<br /><br />And thanks for noticing and appreciating bibliocake. I thought it was rather clever, myself :)Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-72930255375547747542013-06-20T19:08:26.893-05:002013-06-20T19:08:26.893-05:00I hope you enjoy them--Savage Fortress was good.I hope you enjoy them--Savage Fortress was good.Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-84904561532024605132013-06-20T19:08:05.121-05:002013-06-20T19:08:05.121-05:00Oh yes--I'm looking forward to it! Thanks for...Oh yes--I'm looking forward to it! Thanks for the reminder.Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-14704006377562314482013-06-20T19:07:46.785-05:002013-06-20T19:07:46.785-05:00I need to read that one!I need to read that one!Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-81689682873197444512013-06-20T19:07:33.223-05:002013-06-20T19:07:33.223-05:00Thanks for Playing With Fire-I'll have to read...Thanks for Playing With Fire-I'll have to read it. I'm not trying to count YA, because of not knowing it as well, but Transcendence is striking, pretty darn unique in fact, in its cover showing a black teen boy front and center...Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-10981493331872998242013-06-20T19:04:29.239-05:002013-06-20T19:04:29.239-05:00I don't really know much about the YA side of ...I don't really know much about the YA side of things, but I have a feeling diversity is equally thin on the ground there...Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-73633599129736407162013-06-20T19:03:50.862-05:002013-06-20T19:03:50.862-05:00I have one son who is still primarily a graphic no...I have one son who is still primarily a graphic novel reader--but at least he's still excited about books! Good luck with yours.Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-13389407508046091852013-06-20T19:02:05.611-05:002013-06-20T19:02:05.611-05:00I don't think I want a spirit animal--it would...I don't think I want a spirit animal--it would probably demand attention.<br /><br />And I just peered at The Real Boy--he does indeed look like he's not necessarily of European descent...Charlottehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11835101886202235868noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-42143713969594296272013-06-20T18:39:20.085-05:002013-06-20T18:39:20.085-05:00This is a very good point, thank you for bringing ...This is a very good point, thank you for bringing it to my attention! I just read The True Meaning of Smekday recently and that doesn't have a white protagonist, but it was published in 2007. I'll have to keep an eye out!<br /><br />PS - I LOVE your term of bibliocake. I am going to find a way to use it...constantly!Scarletthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17051041804408030528noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-80406779524230299722013-06-20T16:23:35.072-05:002013-06-20T16:23:35.072-05:00All I can say is Yepeeeeeeeeee!!!!
I also second C...All I can say is Yepeeeeeeeeee!!!!<br />I also second Cindy Pon on: The Savage Fortress and The City of Death. Both are on my must read list.<br /><br />~AkossAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-66765309062082651362013-06-20T14:19:47.413-05:002013-06-20T14:19:47.413-05:00Graphics are awesome, and can often be a great pla...Graphics are awesome, and can often be a great place to find multicultural work...<br /><br />I'm kind of dreading the dearth for the Cybils this year. I'm hopeful that people keep digging up names and titles so I can pitch some to be considered.tanita✿davishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01671822274852087499noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-45136036984993171162013-06-20T12:50:17.655-05:002013-06-20T12:50:17.655-05:00I read Jasons article too and I'm glad he and ...I read Jasons article too and I'm glad he and several other people contributed to it. Power cedes nothing w/o a demand so I think the more folks demand it, the more we'll have. And also I think its important to highlight those independent creators who don't wait for the majors to move. Thanks for blogging about these books. I have a 8 yr old who is reading Alot and I am trying to get him into YA/Middle grade ..as he has tons of graphic novels under his belt.Robert Trujillo/Treshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02691505380589347455noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-38066956410452129702013-06-20T11:08:33.976-05:002013-06-20T11:08:33.976-05:00don't forget sarwat chadda's The City of D...don't forget sarwat chadda's The City of Death.<br />it's a follow up to The Savage Fortress!cindyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12175698109176599954noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-27158896215433730802013-06-20T09:18:11.769-05:002013-06-20T09:18:11.769-05:00Another for your upper MG list:
Paradox by A.J. Pa...Another for your upper MG list:<br />Paradox by A.J. Paquette (hispanic protag)<br /><br />But that list is sad. We can do better.Livianiahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10479932701589363306noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1265120169320473011.post-46745389684504590702013-06-20T09:13:37.471-05:002013-06-20T09:13:37.471-05:00Oh my, I want a spirit animal. I'm also paying...Oh my, I want a spirit animal. I'm also paying more attention to this issue--thanks for the year-to-date summary, somewhat sad as it is.<br /><br />And, could that be a kid of color on the cover of Anne Ursu's forthcoming The Real Boy?Anamaria (bookstogether)https://www.blogger.com/profile/10361389598002568007noreply@blogger.com