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The
author of Monsoon Summer, The Not-So-Star-Spangled Life of Sunita Sen, Rickshaw Girl, Secret Keeper, and the
First Daughter books, keeps an eye on reading, writing, and life between cultures.
Statistics for Mitali's Fire Escape
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Please come celebrate authors Anna Boll and Kathy Quimby, winners of this year's
PEN New England Susan P. Bloom Discovery Award. The event starts at 6:30 pm on Sunday, May, 19 at University Hall at Lesley University in Cambridge. It's free and parking is available.
Both authors will read from their winning submissions and refreshments will be served afterwards. Come mingle with other authors, members of the PEN NE Children's Book Committee, and the winners. (I'll have the privilege to introduce Anna and her work during the event.) Hope to see you there!
Today marked my last all-day author visit before our big move to California. I met with four classes of seventh graders at Boston Collegiate Charter School (BCCS) in Dorchester, one of my favorite destinations thanks to the Foundation of Children's Books (find out more about this organization, please--they have an incredible vision to bring authors into underserved schools).
BCCS has this to say about itself:
Boston Collegiate Charter School serves over 600 students in grades 5 through 12. Our goal is to instill in our students the expectation of college from the moment they walk through our doors. Boston Collegiate has consistently brought its mission to life: 100% of our graduates have been accepted into college! The majority of them will be the first in their families to graduate from college. In 2012, 100% of BCCS 10th grade students scored Advanced on the Math MCAS exam, ranking BCCS as first in the state on this exam.
Wow. Each year during my author visit to BCCS, I see this mission in action. These kids are focused. They ask great questions. Today one was taking careful notes while I spoke. I asked if I could see them and she gave me a copy:
Here are a few phrases that caught her attention as I was speaking:
- "challenge: find a book you'll read again"
- "rejected a lot"
- "7th grade was her least favorite year"
- "books widen hearts more than movies"
- "no shoes in the house in India"
- "stories are everywhere ... find your own"
Yep. That about sums up my presentation.
Thanks, New England, for seven great years of hospitality to me as an author. Since 2006, I've visited scores of schools and libraries in all of your states, explored your lovely small towns and dynamic cities, met your dedicated, passionate educators, and discovered your great restaurants and coffeeshops. Check out the Cape Verdean lunch I had today in Dorchester, for example:
I'll be back for a week in the spring and a week in the fall to make the rounds. In the meantime, keep up your good work of connecting books with young readers. I'm going to miss being a part of it all year around.
Maybe it's because I recently hit (ahem) a big birthday myself (your cue to coo in kindly disbelief, thank you very much), but this announcement that just zinged into my in-box was exciting:
The SCBWI is proud to announce the immediate launch of the Karen and Philip Cushman Late Bloomer Award
for authors over the age of fifty who have not been traditionally published in
the children’s literature field. The
grant was established by Newbery Award winner and Newbery Honor Book recipient Karen
Cushman and her husband, Philip Cushman, in conjunction with the Society of
Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators. Karen published her first children’s book,
The Midwife’s Apprentice (winner
of the 1996 Newbery Medal), at the age of fifty-three and has gone on to become
one of the field’s most acclaimed novelists.
“This award was established to encourage and celebrate late bloomers
like me, who didn't start to write until age fifty. But then I bloomed, and I'd love to see
others do so as well,” said Karen.
SCBWI Executive Director Lin Oliver agreed, “One of the great aspects of
writing children’s books is that it’s not age-restrictive. The SCBWI hopes an
individual’s creative expression can make a valuable contribution, no matter
what his or her age.”
The award is open to both unpublished children’s book authors or
author/illustrators over the age of fifty, and one winner will be chosen from the
pool of those who have submitted material for the SCBWI Work-In-Progress Grants.
The winner will receive $500 in cash, and free tuition to any worldwide SCBWI
conference. The first winner will be
selected this year and announced along with the other Work-in-Progress Grant
recipients.
About
Karen Cushman
Karen Cushman is the author of The
Midwife’s Apprentice (winner of the 1996 Newbery Medal), Catherine, Called Birdy (a Newbery Honor
book), The Ballad of Lucy Whipple
(winner of the John and Patricia Beatty Award), and her latest book, Will Sparrow's Road (Clarion 2012).
Karen lives and writes on Vashon Island in Washington. To learn more about Karen visit www.karencushman.com.
General
Information
Founded in 1971, the Society of Children’s Book Writers and Illustrators
is one of the largest existing writers’ and illustrators’ organizations, with
over 22,000 members worldwide. It is the only organization specifically for
those working in the fields of children’s literature, magazines, film,
television, and multimedia. The organization was founded by Stephen Mooser (President) and Lin Oliver (Executive
Director).
Charlesbridge and the Children's Book Council's Diversity Committee Present
Diversity on the Page, Behind the Pencil, and in the Office:
A Discussion with Children’s Book Creators and Editors
Thursday, May 16, 2013 | 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Moderated by Ayanna Coleman, CBC Diversity Committee
Panelists:
Mitali Perkins, author
London Ladd, illustrator
Katie Cunningham, Editor, Candlewick Press
Alyssa Mito Pusey, Senior Editor, Charlesbridge Publishing
Monica Perez, Executive Editor, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt
Location: Charlesbridge Illustration Gallery
First Floor, 85 Main Street, Watertown, MA 02472
Seating is limited for this free event, so please register here.
Believe me, if I were in New York City on May 6th, I'd be at this event. The Asian American Writer's Workshop is inviting us to honor Salman Rushdie at Tribeca Cinemas, and to sweeten the deal, they've added a fabulous lineup of other guests: Zadie Smith, Jonathan Safran Foer, Téa Obreht, Amitava Kumar, Himanshu Suri (formerly of Das Racist) and Top Chef competitor Dale Talde. Get tickets and/or find out more
here.
JANE ADDAMS CHILDREN’S BOOK AWARDS ANNOUNCED
APRIL 27, 2013…
Recipients of the 2013 Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards were announced today
by the Jane Addams Peace Association. Since 1953, the Jane Addams Children’s Book Award annually acknowledges books published in the U.S. during the previous year. Books commended by the Award address themes or topics that engage children in thinking about peace, justice, world community and/or equality of the sexes and all races. The books also must meet conventional standards of literacy and artistic excellence.
Each Kindness, written by Jacqueline Woodson, illustrated by E.B.
Lewis and published by Nancy Paulsen Books, an imprint of Penguin, is the
winner in the Books for Younger Children Category. We’ve Got a Job: The 1963
Birmingham Children’s March, written by Cynthia Levinson and published
by Peachtree Publishers, is the winner in the Books for Older Children
category.
Each Kindness Small actions, or the lack of them, can be haunting
as is the case for Maya and for Chloe in their rural elementary school. This
open-ended, profound tale created in free verse and sober watercolors glimpses
interactions between Chloe and Maya, the new girl arriving midyear in broken
sandals, before the teacher invites students to ponder their kindnesses.
We’ve Got a Job In 1963, four thousand young African American
students, from elementary through high school, voluntarily went to jail in one
of the most racially violent cities in America. Focusing on four of these
students, this photo essay recounts the riveting events throughout the
Children’s March.
Two books were named Honor
Books in the Books for Younger Children category.
Dolores Huerta: A Hero to Migrant
Workers, written by
Sarah Warren and illustrated by Robert Casilla, published by Marshall Cavendish
Children, has been named an Honor Book for Younger Children. In California in
the 1950s, teacher Dolores Huerta was concerned for her students. Learning the
conditions of the migrant families, Dolores became a determined activist who
fought for labor rights through her words and actions.
We March, written and illustrated by Shane W. Evans, and
published by Roaring Brook Press, a Neal Porter imprint of Macmillan, has been
named an Honor Book for Younger Children. Simple and powerful illustrations
capture the excitement and hope for even the youngest reader of the 1963 March
on Washington for Jobs and Freedom. The colorful crowd of 250,000 demonstrates
their strength and unity in marching to Martin Luther King’s historical speech
for racial equality.
Two
books were named Honor Books in the Books for Older Children category.
Marching to the Mountaintop: How
Poverty, Labor Fights and Civil Rights Set the Stage for Martin Luther King
Jr’s Final Hours, written by Ann
Bausum and published by National Geographic, is named an Honor Book for Older
Children. A long sanitation worker strike began in 1968 following the deaths of
two sanitation workers on the job sanitation workers in Tennessee. The strike
became part of the larger civil rights movement and brought Martin Luther King,
Jr. to Nashville to support the workers in their fight for for integration,
safety, better pay and union protection.
Temple Grandin: How the Girl Who Loved
Cows Embraced Autism and Changed the World by Sy
Montgomery, published by Houghton Mifflin Books for Children, is named an Honor
Book for Older Children. This biography
with much first person input from Ms. Grandin herself explains how her autistic
mind works, how her peers and family perceive her, and her relentless efforts
as an activist.
A national committee chooses winners and honor books
for younger and older children. Members of the 2012 Jane Addams Children’s Book
Award Committee are Marianne Baker (Chair, Barboursville, VA), Ann Carpenter (Harwich,
MA), Julie Olsen Edwards (Soquel, CA), Lauren Mayer (Seattle, WA), Beth McGowan
(DeKalb, IL), Sonja Cherry-Paul (Yonkers, NY), Tracy Randolph (Sewanee, TN),
Lani Gerson (Watertown, MA), Susan Freiss (Madison, WI), and Jacqui Kolar
(Chicago, IL). Regional reading and discussion groups of all ages participated
with many of the committee members throughout the jury’s evaluation and
selection process.
The authors and illustrators of the
2013 Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards will be honored on Friday, October 18, 2013 in New York City. Details about the award event and
about securing winner and honor book seals are available from the Jane Addams
Peace Association (JAPA.) Contact JAPA Executive Director Linda B. Belle,
777 United Nations Plaza, 6th Floor, NY, NY 10017-3521; by phone
212.682.8830; and by email japa@igc.org.
For
additional information about the Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards and a
complete list of books honored since 1953, see www.janeaddamspeace.org.
The South Asia Book Award, administered by the South Asia National Outreach Consortium, is given annually for up to two outstanding works of literature, from early childhood to secondary reading levels, which accurately and skillfully portrays South Asia or South Asians in the diasporas, that is the experience of individuals living in South Asia, or of South Asians living in other parts of the world. Up to five Honor Books and Highly Commended Books will also be recognized by the award committee for their contribution to this body of literature on the region.
The Rumor by Anushka Ravishankar, illustrations by Kanyika Kini (Tundra Books, 2012). In the village of Baddbaddpur, the people like to tell tales. Pandurang is so dour that he can make milk turn sour. One day he coughs up a feather. As the story of Pandurang’s feather is passed from one person to another it grows and grows and grows until it can hardly be recognized. (Grades PreK-4).
Kids of Kabul: Living Bravely Through a Never-Ending War by Deborah Ellis (Groundwood Books, House of Anansi Press, 2012). Deborah Ellis went to Kabul to find out what happened to Afghanistan’s children since the fall of the Taliban in 2001. She interviewed children who spoke about their lives. They are still living in a country torn apart by war, violence and oppression still exist, particularly affecting the lives of girls, but the kids are weathering their lives with courage and optimism. (Grades 5 – 12).
Chained by Lynne Kelly (Farrar Straus Giroux, Margaret Ferguson Books, 2012). To work off a family debt, ten-year-old Hastin leaves his desert village in India to work as a circus elephant keeper but many challenges await him, including trying to keep Nadita, a sweet elephant, safe from the cruel circus owner. (Grades 4-7).
The Elephant’s Friend and Other Tales from Ancient India by Marcia Williams (Candlewick Press, 2012). Drawing from three books of best-loved Indian folktales —
Hitopadesha Tales, Jataka Tales, and Panchantra Tales — this graphic storybook collection, alive with kid-friendly illustrations, is infused with humor and warmth. (Grades K-4).
The Wooden Sword by Ann Redisch Stampler, illustrated by Carol Liddiment (Albert Whitman & Company, 2012). Disguised in servant’s clothes, an Afghani shah slips out of his palace to learn more about his people. When he encounters a poor Jewish shoemaker faithful that everything will turn out just as it should, the shah grows curious. Vowing that no harm will befall the poor man, he decides to test that faith. (Grades K-5).
Same Sun Here by Silas House and Neela Vaswani (Candlewick Press, 2012). A twelve-year-old Indian immigrant in New York City and a Kentucky coal miner’s son become pen pals, and eventually best friends, through a series of revealing letters exploring such topics as environmental activism, immigration, and racism. (Grades 4-7).
Ganesha’s Sweet Tooth by Sanjay Patel and Emily Haynes (Chronicle Books, 2012). The bold, bright colors of India leap right off the page in this fresh and funny picture book adaptation of how Ganesha came to write the epic poem of Hindu literature, the
Mahabarata. (Grades Prek-3)
Shadow by Michael Morpurgo (Feiwel and Friends Book, an imprint of Macmillan, 2012). 14 year old Aman and his mother flee the horrors of war in Afghanistan and escape to England. But just as they are getting settled in their new home, Aman and his mother find themselves in a detention center. Their only hope is Aman’s friend Matt, Matt’s grandfather, and the dream of finding Shadow, Aman’s trusted and loyal canine companion. (Grades 5-8).
The Sweetest Mango by Malavika Shetty, illustrations by Ajanta Guhathakurta (Tulika Publishers, 2012). The sweet, simple story and luscious pictures evoke delicious flavors of hot days, warm friendships and the smell of mango in the air. (Grades PreK-3)
Tina’s Mouth: an Existential Comic Diary by Keshni Kashyap, illustrations by Mari Araki (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2012). Tina Malhotra, a sophomore at the Yarborough Academy in Southern California, creates an existential diary for an assignment in which she tries to determine who she is and where she fits in. (Grades 9-12).
The Whole Story of Half a Girl by Veera Hiranandani (Delacorte Press, 2012). When Sonia’s father loses his job, she must move from her small, supportive private school to a public middle school. The new school, her father’s diagnosis of clinical depression, and her half- Jewish and half- Indian heritage leave Sonia feeling more confused about herself, her friends, and her family. Grades 5-8).
Congratulations to the winners!
One of my favorite literary involvements in New England is serving on the Pen New England Susan P. Bloom Children's Book Discovery Award Committee. This year, I was delighted that two of my writing buddies, Katherine T. Quimby and Anna J. Boll, won the award.
The best entries were all about voice, and these two accomplished Vermont College graduates absolutely nailed their main characters' respective voices. If you're in the area, join us at Lesley University in Cambridge, MA on May 19 at 6:30 p.m. to hear the authors read their work, snack, schmooze, and celebrate children's books.
Maybe you've noticed that I haven't been as active on the Fire Escape or on social media lately. Here's why: after 12+ years in beautiful Boston, my husband was offered a new job and we're moving back to the San Francisco Bay Area this summer. We'll be living in the East Bay, close to my parents and near Saint Mary's College of California, where our sons attend and where I've taught a course on children's books for the past two January terms.
It's been a sweet season: we raised our sons here from second grade until the college launch. Our church is my home away from home. As for my writing vocation, the children's literature community here in Boston is nonpareil. I will miss the schools, colleges, and libraries I visit every year. Charlesbridge and Candlewick, two of my publishers, are here. My work has been enriched by New England organizations like the New England Booksellers Association, the Foundation of Children's Books, Primary Source, the New England Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Grub Street, MSLA, MLA, Boston Author's Club, Associates of the Boston Public Library, and others. My books have launched at excellent independent bookstores like Newtonville Books, Porter Square Books, and Wellesley Bookstore, and supported by stellar libraries, including my very own Newton Free Library. Last but not least, my writing buddies have made this vocation ten times as fun and significantly less lonely. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I am sad to lose you all.
For those in the Boston area, my friend Karen Day is hosting a farewell party for me in Newton on May 11 from 3-5. If you're interested in stopping by, drop me an email RSVP and we'll send you the address: mitaliperk-at-yahoo-dot-com. Peace be with you, New England. San Francisco Bay Area, here I come.
I'm still marveling over our 11 days in India—my first visit in 18 years. Some things had changed: mobile phones are ubiquitous and signs of economic growth everywhere, but the heart and hospitality of the place is the same.
My trip included an International Women's Day writing workshop with students in Kolkata at the U.S. Consulate's American Center Library, reunions with a myriad of extended family members and friends, a trip to the Sunderbans, site of my novel TIGER BOY (Charlesbridge 2014), and visits to two homes where young girls rescued from trafficking are given hope for a renewed future. For children's book aficionados, it also featured an unexpected encounter with Almanzo Wilder's uncle. If I had to sum it up, I'd say that two themes of the trip were conversations with girls and research for my novel.
Conversations with Girls
 |
| A favorite pasttime was strolling and chatting through several villages. |
 |
| "Who was that strange auntie?" |
 |
| I offered a writing workshop at the U.S. Consulate's American
Center Library in Kolkata. Each student author was appropriately
applauded. |
 |
| Also in
Kolkata, I talked with girls rescued from trafficking. Their stories are
beyond heartbreaking. Mahima Care Home provides hope and
restoration -- you can help or find out more. |
 |
| It was a joy to connect with the kids of my cousins. Those in classes 6, 8, 10, and 12 were in the throes of intensely competitive exams, but still took time to meet and honor their faraway relatives. |
TIGER BOY Research
 |
| The U.S. Consulate allowed me to join the Consul General on a wonderful boat trip into the Sunderbans, an archipelago in a muddy, salty delta. This is the setting for TIGER BOY, a novel coming from Charlesbridge in 2014. The book is written, but I needed to verify details and add the grace notes for a sense of place. The Consulate's trip provided access to an array of experts, like the director and rangers who work for the Sunderbans Tiger Reserve, a visit to a small village hit hard by the cyclone, and a Q and A session with environmentalists from N.E.W.S., who are striving to replant and protect the mangrove forests. I was so grateful for these opportunities! |
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| Dozens of different kinds of boats traverse the waterways. As it was before the rains, the hues were green, brown, and grey. |
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| We discovered true beauty and resiliency in a Sunderbans village. |
  |
| Women shared about replanting the mangrove forests to protect
their villages, and remembered the effects of Cyclone Alia, which
devastated the Sunderbans in 2009. |
 |
| Hospitality abounded, even in homes hastily constructed after the cyclone. |
 |
| Next, we headed to the Tiger Reserve, which is made up of over 40 small islands. The Sunderbans are home to the only man-eating tigers in the world, and they can swim. |
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| The only tiger we saw was a malnourished, injured creature caught by the rangers for treatment. The biggest danger faced by this beautiful creature is not the poacher, but the loss of the mangrove forest. |
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| We did see fresh pug marks on the creek banks. |
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| Mangrove roots seeking oxygen poke up through the mud, providing a vivid metaphor of how important our roots are to survival. |
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| View from the tiger watchtower in the Reserve. |
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| Jayant Basu, head ranger. Mr. Basu was so helpful in discussing the details of my book. By the end of our time, he was proposing intricate plot twists. |
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| Serving as a ranger is a prestigious, dangerous position. |
An Unexpected Encounter with Laura Ingalls Wilder
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| We visited a church in Maharashtra, and to my amazement, it was founded by Royal Wilder, uncle of Almanzo Wilder. |
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| They proudly took us to visit the graves of Eliza Wilder, Royal Wilder's wife, and Grace Wilder, their daughter. |
An amazing journey indeed. And what a difference to know the language! Thanks to my parents, I was able to speak in Bangla during many of the conversations and understand more of the nuances and non-verbals than I had anticipated. Thanks to one and all who made this homecoming such a wondrous memory.
I've just finished a month of teaching "Race, Culture, and Power in Children's and YA Books" during Jan Term at
Saint Mary's College of California. As the college-wide theme this year was
Inspired (see above), I asked students to create picture books by fulfilling two requirements: (1) they were required to write fiction featuring a "hero's journey," and (2) they needed to explore an aspect of race, culture, or power.
I was delighted by their books, as well as their ability to debate issues around authenticity, banning, bowdlerization, ethnic awards, and multicultural representation on book covers. We also enjoyed eye-opening skype visits from Yolanda Leroy Scott of
Charlesbridge, Renee Ting of
Shen's Books, Debbie Reese of
American Indians in Children's Literature, and Stacy L. Whitman of
Tu Books. Thanks to all of these experts for their time and thoughtful input.
When asked about their takeaways from the class, here are a few student responses:
"I've developed a keen eye for exclusion."
"Never thought about white default before."
"Children's stories are powerful."
"Kids notice race at an early age."
"Stories featuring multicultural kids doing 'regular stuff' are empowering."
"There's power in being bicultural."
"It's hard to write a children’s story!"
Amen, right? Enjoy these photos of my beautiful students showing off their picture books:
Most of you know I'm teaching a Jan Term course called "Race, Culture, and Power in Children's/YA Stories" at Saint Mary's College in California. In class today students researched and compiled statistics about 12 children's/YA book awards (13 books) NOT restricted by the race of the author or illustrator. We included the National Book Award, Newbery, Caldecott, Printz, and other major awards.
GENDER: In 2012, 10 protagonists were male, while 4 were female (one book had two main characters). Meanwhile, 6 authors/illustrators were women (about half). So, to generalize, last year's award-winning books were mostly about boys, but created almost equally by men and women.
RACE: In 2012, 9 protagonists were white, while 4 protagonists were not (2 African American, 1 Middle Eastern, 1 Japanese). Meanwhile 10 authors/illustrators were white, while 3 were not (2 African American, 1 Middle Eastern). So, to generalize, last year's award-winning books were mostly about white people and created by white people.
Still, remember that according to the 2010 census, 63% of the US population is non-Hispanic white, 16% Latino/Hispanic, 12% Black, 6% Asian, and 3% more than one race.
Once again, we find a dearth of Latino/Hispanic main characters. Other thoughts?
I'm heading west to teach a Jan Term course at Saint Mary's College of California called "Race, Culture, and Power in Children's and Young Adult Books." Here's the first part of my syllabus:
Why are children’s stories so powerful? Who has the right to tell stories about marginalized communities? This course will explore the question of authenticity in storytelling and unmask explicit and implicit messages about race, power, and culture communicated through books for young readers. A secondary course goal is to help students improve their analytical writing.
- Part One: The Subversive Power of Children’s Stories
- Part Two: Race in Children’s Stories
- Part Three: Culture in Children’s Stories
- Part Four: Power in Children’s Books
Alison Lurie, author of D
on’t Tell The Grown-ups: The Subversive Power of Children’s Literature makes this argument about how children’s books can affect the common good:
The great subversive works of children's literature suggest that there are other views of human life besides those of the shopping mall and the corporation. They mock current assumptions and express the imaginative, unconventional, noncommercial view of the world in its simplest and purest form. They appeal to the imaginative, questioning, rebellious child within all of us, renew our instinctive energy, and act as a force for change. This is why such literature is worthy of our attention and will endure long after more conventional tales have been forgotten.
On the flip side, children’s literature has also been a key part of state propaganda used by totalitarian and oppressive governments to impose certain social and moral codes on child readers. As Bruno Bettelheim argued in
The Uses of Enchantment, stories told to children powerfully shape their moral world. Children with a well-developed sense of justice and compassionate hearts widened by stories can significantly serve the common good. Storytelling is a powerful act, especially when it involves young hearts and minds. From
Uncle Tom's Cabin to
Harry Potter, books can either repudiate or encourage stereotypes and injustice.
Students will explore and debate five questions:
(1)
BOOK COVERS: Should young adult and middle grade novels depict faces on covers?
(2)
BOOK AWARDS: Should ethnic book awards be based on the race/ethnicity of the author/illustrator?
(3)
BANNING: Should certain children’s books be banned in homes and classrooms because of racism or cultural stereotyping?
(4)
BOWDLERIZATION: Should we “bowdlerize” children’s classics that—seen with today’s eyes—are racist, or let them stand and be read as is?
(5)
AUTHENTICITY: Should a story be told only by a cultural “insider” to guarantee authenticity?
This year I'm privileged to introduce my 26 students to Debbie Reese, who blogs at
American Indians in Children's Literature, and Yolanda Leroy, editorial director of
Charlesbridge, via Skype. Renee Ting, publisher of
Shen's Books, will visit us in person. Since the theme of Jan Term 2013 is "inspiration," students will also be writing and creating picture books that explore a theme related to race, culture, or power.
My husband read this poem in church this morning, and it gave me great comfort in light of the recent events in Connecticut. I share it so that perhaps it may offer you, too, a ray of hope in the midst of this tragedy.
First Coming
By Madeleine L’Engle
He did not wait till the world was ready,
till men and nations were at peace
He came when the Heavens were unsteady
and prisoners cried out for release.
He did not wait for the perfect time.
He came when the need was deep and great.
He died with sinners in all their grime,
turned water into wine. He did not wait
till hearts were pure. In joy he came
to a tarnished world of sin and doubt.
To a world like ours, of anguished shame
He came, and his Light would not go out.
He came to a world which did not mesh,
to heal its tangles, shield its scorn.
In the mystery of the Word made Flesh
the Maker of the stars was born.
We cannot wait till the world is sane
to raise our songs with joyful voice,
for to share our grief, to touch our pain,
He came with Love: Rejoice! Rejoice!
From The Ordering of Love: The New and Collected Poems of Madeleine L'Engle
One of the consequences of being an immigrant kid is missing out on some staples of an American childhood. My classmates would head off to something called "Girl Scouts," for example, and I had no clue what they were experiencing—until I read about the organization in a library book, of course. In fact, I acquired most of my cultural knowledge and fluency in Americana via my library card, but even books couldn't completely erase that left-out feeling. Maybe that's why I'm so thrilled to be featured as a
Storyteller this month over at their
Studio (in excellent company, by the way—browse the list of other authors). Thanks,
Girl Scouts of the USA!
Today I'm delighted to host
Carol Antoinette Peacock, author of a new middle grade novel,
Red Thread Sisters (Viking / Penguin). A well-paced, satisfying hero's journey, this moving book tells the story of Wen, an eleven-year-old girl who leaves an orphanage in China for a new home in Boston. Tween readers will root for the protagonist in her quest to find a home in America for Shu Ling, her best friend in China.
Red Thread Sisters doesn't gloss over the grief of adoption. Even as Wen fiercely advocates for Shu Ling, she battles for herself as well, grieving for what she left behind in China and taking stock of what she might gain—and lose—as she accepts her new family and home. A new friend Hannah, proficient with American culture and popular at school, is also processing a familial loss, evening out the power between the two girls and making their friendship credible.
The author skillfully switches from the narrator's fluent and honest internal voice, which we assume is in Chinese, to displaying Wen's emerging proficiency in English through dialog. This simile worked perfectly, for example, using a memory from the orphanage to describe the irritating struggle of language acquisition: "Wen strained hard to pick up any English she knew. The words seemed to buzz, like flies swarming over the babies' heads on the hottest days."
By the end of the story, this novel accomplishes the purposes of good "between cultures" stories: it widens hearts and builds bridges. I read it in one sitting and got choked up at two scenes (read the book to guess which ones). I hope you enjoy this chat with Carol as much as I did.
Could you sum up for us the dream response of a reader who knows little or nothing about international adoption?
For a reader unfamiliar with international adoption, I hope
Red Thread Sisters will enlighten that reader about the challenges, but most important, the happiness of building a family through international adoption.
Although international adoption is far more common than years ago, some people still sense that these families are beset by racial prejudice and cultural differences. And of course, families created through international adoption do encounter these issues.
But what I wanted to convey to all readers was the joy of international adoption. Unexpectedly adopted, Wen must leave her best friend, Shu Ling, as close as sisters, behind. Wen promises she’ll find Shu Ling a family of her own, once she’s in America. But can Wen keep her promise? As the reader follows Wen’s valiant efforts to find Shu Ling a family, the power of Wen joining her own adoptive family emerges, too.
Later in the book, Shu Ling, begins to fear belonging to a family in America. Wen tells her, “Being with a family is better because if you get lost, they drive around in your car until they find you. If you feel sad, they try to cheer you up, even if they don’t really know what’s wrong. If you get sick, they sit by your bed and take care of you. And if things get hard, like maybe there’s less money, they still love you, no matter what, because they’re your family. That’s what’s better.”
I should add that I’m an adoptive mother of two Chinese daughters, so I have lived the joys and challenges of international adoption. As I wrote
Red Thread Sisters, I realized I was actually writing about the power of connection, through families and through friendship.
Now let's move to the journey of getting the novel published. What was a high point? A low point?
Oh, what a good question! The high point of getting published was the day Leila Sales at Viking/Penguin, my editor, got the go-ahead to buy my novel. I’d done seven years of research and revising
Red Thread Sisters. And now my book was going to be published! When I got that email from my agent, I screamed, I was so happy.
A low point? I wrote
Red Thread Sisters, based on my own experience working with older children at my own daughters’ orphanage. I got input from so many helpful adoptive parents. And when the book kept getting rejected, I felt very discouraged. I wrote
Red Thread Sisters from an inner passion. Each rejection felt like such a stab in the heart.
I'm glad you survived them. What was the biggest change you made in response to an editorial suggestion?
I gave the novel depth. My wonderful editor at Viking suggested I add more of Wen’s struggles to adjust to American culture. This was a very important change and improved my story enormously. Now I was writing not just a book about international adoption but a more nuanced novel, about cultural themes and a host of subplots. The scenes of American life broadened the book’s appeal and gave the book a much larger audience. Thank you, Leila!
Nothing like a good editor. Could you describe a fear you have about this novel that can or did keep you up at night?
I worried that no one will read my novel. I’m not kidding, even though
Red Thread Sisters is getting good reviews, I still sometimes worry it won’t sell. I brood that I won’t be able to share my message and tell my story. Anytime readers tell me they loved my book, I feel so relieved and deeply gratified.
Please add me to the growing list of people who loved the book. What's next for Carol Peacock in the realm of children's books?
Another good question. I’m a practicing psychologist and have used my dog to help emotionally disturbed kids for years. I am thinking of writing about this experience, maybe including the perspective of the dog. I need to go walk the beach with my black Lab, Pepper, and immerse myself in my next book.
We'll have to walk our dogs together! I have a black Lab named Zipper! Thanks for joining me on the Fire Escape, Carol. I'm looking forward to your next book and will become your Facebook fan HERE (hint to my Fire Escape visitors).
Trailer:
Reviews:
“…provides a moving and engaging experience for readers. A fine addition to both the coming-of-age genre and books sensitively dealing with cross-cultural adoption.” —
Kirkus Reviews
“….perfectly paced…heartwarming and joyous.” —
School Library Journal
“This…intimate novel focuses on Wen’s difficult emotional journey…Wen’s selflessness and determination are poignant but not overly sentimental and the story’s truths about children in need are sensitively expressed…..” —
Publishers Weekly
If you're the third person on the planet (the first two are my parents) to keep track of Mitali's Events, you'll remember the recent Literary Lights afternoon tea at the Boston Public Library with 400 or so Boston students, courtesy of the Associates of the Boston Public Library. Well, the encouragement from the Associates keeps coming. First, there was a beautiful engraved glass bowl.
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Talk about an unforgettable reminder of my vocational call. |
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John Singer Sargent's Triumph of Religion at the
Boston Public Library: Creation and Restoration,
edited by Narayan Khandekar, Gianfranco Pocobene, and Kate Smith. |
Next came a package and a letter from Vivian Spiro, the Chairman of the Board of the Directors. Here's an excerpt of the letter, a keepsake in itself, which illuminates why this was such a special memory for me:
Your description of what it was like to grow up in a multicultural household; to have spent your childhood living in many different countries, never being able to put down roots; to have felt you had little in common with your classmates in school; to have felt alienated, even after realizing that you were smart ... All of what you said clearly resonated with those members of our audience who grapple daily with the felling that they are outsiders, that the hopes and ambitions of others are beyond their grasp, that regardless of their gifts, their striving will come to naught.
The package contained a gorgeous book, obviously chosen for me by someone who took the time to learn what I value. Thank you so much, Associates, for the outpouring of encouragement.
In this fast-changing world of publishing, we hear about a future where writers will directly post content for digital downloading—no costly binding, no "middle-men," no meager 10-15% cut of a sale, no lengthy turnaround time until our next book is consumable.
Sounds great, right?
Not to me. Take TIGER BOY, for instance, coming in 2014 from Charlesbridge.
A year ago, I was in the doldrums of a newly-empty nest, wondering what to do now that I'd been fired as a Mommy. A mother-writer hyphenated vocation had been a good gig for years; how was I going to weather this transition? I had no creative spark, and when students asked the inevitable question during author visits—"Where do you get your ideas?"my honest answer should have been: "No clue. Got nothing here."
That's when the phone rang. Yes, I got an old-school call. Not a text, not an e-mail, but an actual call on our landline.
I picked it up and grunted into the receiver, expecting a marketing robo-voice. Who else called that number these days? "Mitali? This is Yo. How are you?"
It was Yolanda LeRoy Scott, my Harvard-educated, drop-dead gorgeous editor at Charlesbridge. "I want to take you to lunch and talk about your next book."
"Okay, Yo, I'd like that." How am I going to tell her about my creative constipation? Get ready for the shortest working lunch ever, Mrs. Scott.
We met at Not Your Average Joe's in Watertown, right near Charlesbridge's offices, a mile or so from my house.
"I'm stuck, Yo. I got nothing." I soaked up parmesan cheese and olive oil with freshly baked bread.
"Just throw out some topics for me. Is there anything you've always wanted to write about? Or a new genre you want to try?"
Yolanda passed me the bread bowl, and I helped myself to another chunk of carb comfort. "Well, there is something. I've always wanted to write a picture book, and I've been thinking about Bengal tigers—how beautiful they are." I didn't add that one of our sons' walls was covered with posters of the creatures, because that would imply I was mooning around his empty room.
Her face lit up. "That sounds lovely. I'll write up a contract and send it to your agent."
"Really? Sight unseen?"
"I know you can do this, Mitali. This is your story to tell. Now let's talk babies. Mine isn't sleeping all that well. Got any tips?"
I slipped easily into my role of seasoned veteran and we talked mothering for the rest of lunch.
The contract came. I signed it. Somehow I eked out a picture book manuscript and sent it off. Yo's editorial letter came quickly: "I love it, but as usual you've got the start of a short novel with great potential here, Mitali. It could be the perfect companion to RICKSHAW GIRL." The letter continued with a list of brilliant questions and suggestions.
I felt a sudden spark in my latent imagination. A character leaped to mind—a skinny brown boy, like hundreds I had seen in the villages of West Bengal. Years ago, my own father had been one of them. Immediately, I named him: Neil. He loved tigers.
Yesterday I sent Yolanda a second revision of TIGER BOY, the novel. Thanks to her insights, it's become a real story now, with plot, characters, theme, place. It's going to need another round or two of changes and honing to make it a satisfying story, but my imagination needs the breathing room of this back-and-forth collaboration.
Here's my question: will the future be a world without publishers like Charlesbridge who champion stories across borders, without editors like Yo who encourage and cheer for broken-down mid-career writers, without the time a story needs between revisions to improve?
If so, I'm never going to make it.
Can we be proactive and keep the best from the old publishing model as we explore new ways to deliver content to consumers? One non-negotiable is the input of an excellent editor who doesn't work for me, but with me.
Thanks, Yo. And thanks, Charlesbridge. Now on to the next story.
The Jane Addams Peace Association and
the Women’s International League for Peace and Freedom
invite you to the
Jane Addams
Children's Book Award
59th
Annual Award Ceremony
Friday, October 19th at 2:30 PM
New York City
777 United Nations Plaza (2nd Floor)
on the corner
of 44th St. and 1st Ave.
Join us for a memorable afternoon of award
presentation and responses by authors and illustrators. Come meet and talk with the honored guests,
including Award winners Winifred Conkling, Susan L. Roth, and Cindy Trumbore
and honorees Anna Grossnickle Hines, Calvin Alexander Ramsey, John Holyfield,
Bettye Stroud, Kadir Nelson, and Thannha Lai. Enjoy a reception, hosted by The
Hastings Peace and Justice Fund, and an opportunity for book signing after
formal presentation of the awards. All the award books will be available for
purchase.
This event is free and open to
all.
Reservations are not
needed. Please come and enjoy!
The Award Winners
Sylvia and Aki by Winifred Conkling, Tricycle Press, an imprint of Random House
is the winner in the Books for Older Children category. The
Mangrove Tree: Planting Trees to Feed Families written by Susan
L. Roth and Cindy Trumbore with collages by Susan L. Roth, published
by Lee & Low is the winner in the Books for
Younger Children category.
The Honor Books
Heart and Soul:
The Story of America and African Americans by Kadir Nelson,
published by Baltzer &
Bray, an imprint of HarperCollins, and Inside Out and Back Again
by Thanhha Lai, Harper, an imprint of HarperCollins are
honor books for Older Children. Belle, the Last Mule at Gee’s Bend by
Calvin Alexander Ramsey and Bettye Stroud and illustrated by John Holyfield,
published by Candlewick Press and Peaceful
Pieces: Poems and Quilts About Peace by Anna Grossnickle Hines, published
by Macmillan, an imprint of Henry Holt, are honor
books for Younger Children
For additional information about the Jane Addams Children’s Book Awards
and a complete list of books honored since 1953, see www.janeaddamspeace.org For more information about the
Award event, contact JAPA Executive Director Linda B. Belle, 777 United Nations
Plaza, 6th Floor, New York, NY 10017-3521; 212-682-8830; japa@igc.org.
Yesterday I was delighted to be one of four authors invited to attend the Associates of the Boston Public Library's 2012 Literary Lights For Children tea party. Each author (Kevin Hawkes, Christopher Paolini, Gary Schmidt, and myself) was introduced by a Boston middle schooler, and asked to speak about how we became readers and writers. My host was a dapper, delightful 8th-grader from Chelsea:
The Bates Reading Room in the Boston Public Library was packed (photo courtesy of Newton South High School's
Denebola newspaper staff):
Host and emcee Gregory Maguire (WICKED) and his daughter were there to cheer us on:
I spoke second, and here's my introduction and talk, again courtesy of the Newton South High School Denebola newspaper staff (my bit starts about halfway through):
What a marvelous event, encouraging and uplifting, and in such a beautiful venue—a must-see if you visit Boston. Thanks to the Associates, to Charlesbridge (my publisher) for donating books, and to all who attended.
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Malala Yousafzai
student, writer, freedom fighter |
When I got up I was very happy knowing that I will go to school today. At school some girls were wearing uniform whereas others were in casual clothes. During assembly girls looked extremely happy and were hugging each other.
After assembly the headmistress advised us to cover ourselves properly and wear the burqa because it is a condition put by the Taleban.
This entry is from the BBC
Diary of Pakistani Schoolgirl, written by Malala Yousafzai, a 14-year old living in Swat, Pakistan.
According to the BBC:
Private schools in Pakistan's troubled north-western Swat district have been ordered to close in a Taleban edict banning girls' education. Militants seeking to impose their austere interpretation of Sharia law have destroyed about 150 schools in the past year. Five more were blown up despite a government pledge to safeguard education, it was reported on Monday. A seventh grade schoolgirl from Swat chronicles how the ban has affected her and her classmates.
To my horror, I heard this morning that the
Taleban tried to execute this brave writer. Would you join me in praying for Malala? Don't miss this short video to catch a glimpse of her courage:
For ideas about how to support writers like Malala, fighting for freedom with the power of words, visit
Freedom to Write at PEN America.
I'm delighted to be a contributor to
DEAR TEEN ME, an anthology of letters to the younger versions of many young adult authors. The book is edited by Miranda Kenneally and E. Kristin Anderson and is available this month from Zest books. The
blog tour to spread the word begins today, and 138 bloggers will chime in with their opinions about the book. Check out one of three
trailers featuring the authors' words of wisdom (my Bollywood-esque head move is somewhere in there):
Last Saturday, I was honored to repeat a talk I gave on dialogue at the New England Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators Spring Conference. Jo Knowles, Cindy Faughnan, Karen Day, Mark Peter Hughes and I were invited to be part of Encore 2012, a one-day reprise of some of the workshops at the conference.
My job was to help us spruce up our dialogue, and I reviewed seven problems I see often in my own first drafts, giving examples of the opposite by reading aloud excerpts from some of my favorite books. Here's a summary of the "dialogue busters," as I call them (I promised I'd post them here on my blog), and writers who exemplify the better way:
- Annoying Ascriptions (Laura Ingalls Wilder's Farmer Boy).
- Abounding Adverbs (Sherman Alexie's Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian).
- Badly-placed Beats. (Edward Eager's Half-Magic).
- Random Reactions (L.M. Montgomery's Jane of Lantern Hill).
- Pesky Pauses (Laurie Halse Anderson's Prom).
- Disturbing Dialect (Maud Hart Lovelace's Emily of Deep Valley).
- Irritating Information (Louisa May Alcott's Eight Cousins).
I left inspired by the other presenters and eager participants to dig into my own revision of
Tiger Boy, coming in 2014 from Charlesbridge (revision due very, very soon).
P.S. For those who attended, here's my
list of Kid/YA agents on twitter.
I was delighted to be part of Primary Source's honorary committee at their annual Gala for Global Education, which took place at the Charles Hotel in Cambridge, Massachusetts last Friday evening. For those who don't know about this organization and their exciting work with teachers, here's their "about us" statement:
Primary Source promotes history and humanities education by connecting
educators to people and cultures throughout the world. In partnership
with teachers, scholars, and the broader community, Primary Source
provides learning opportunities and curriculum resources for K-12
educators. By introducing global content, Primary Source shapes the way
teachers and students learn, so that their knowledge is deeper and their
thinking is flexible and open to inquiry.
At the Gala, Director
Julia de la Torre gave an inspiring talk about the value of exposing educators to the world through travel and books. During a recent Primary Source trip to rural China, she was struck by the fact that teachers never travel alone, but "always bring their students along with them."
Librarian
Jennifer Hanson has pulled together an incredible collection of
resources and curriculum guides, coordinates
global reads of children's and YA literature, and spearheaded the
Asian American Author video series.
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| Long-time Brookline teacher Marcy Prager and her husband Robert are firm believers in global education. |
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| Power librarian couple Ryan (Assistant Director of the Newton Free Library) and Jennifer (Primary Source's Librarian) Hanson enjoyed the wonderful evening. |
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| My husband is always proud of me, and the feeling is mutual. |
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Mitali, I'm so glad you'll be coming back twice a year. It would be too sad to lose you permanently to the Other Coast.
I'm so glad I'll get to say good-bye in person, too.