Call me a cynic, Mr. Patterson.....

The New York Times writes about author James Patterson's attempts to reach a broader audience with his YA series, Maximum Ride. I don't care what he says in the interview: this is about selling more James Patterson books, not about successfully introducing adult readers to the joys of YA literature. Let's at least be honest, folks! Mr. Patterson isn't really so different from many adult authors (and actors) who think they have children books locked away inside of them. He is fortunate that he has the opportunity to get them published because of his track record in a different genre. But to throw his weight around like this, and then try to represent it as bringing great books to the masses, is nauseating.

Pigeonholeing--who needs it?

This recent article in the New York Times about what makes a book YA or adult (the short answer--an editor) touches upon two subjects that have recently irritated me: rating books by age and James Patterson. It's clear to see from this article how labeling a book as "suitable" for a specific age/audience limits is capacity to reach beyond that demographic. If adults are daft enough to ignore a book because it is YA (and, therefore, not adult,) then think about how they will ignore books for their little ones because the cover says it is for 8-12 or Gr: 1-3. And as for James Patterson, he is sooooo only about making as much money as possible! Otherwise he would be more than happy to let his Maximum Ride books sit on the YA shelves. Works for Sherman Alexie!

James Patterson strikes again

I had hoped the Maximum Ride books were flying off our YA shelves because they were being read by YA readers. I suppose, in the bigger picture, a circ is just a circ, and that's a good thing. But I still feel cheated by a nefarious marketing ploy. I've been irritated by this before.

You Read to Me, I'll Read to You

It's an even ten this week!

NMD read to me:
Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again by Dave Horowitz
No Bows! by Shirley Smith Duke, illus. by Jenny Matthson
Worst Best Friend by Alexis O'Neill, illus. by Laura Huliska-Beith

I read to NMD:
A Book by Mordeicai Gerstein
Busy Bea by Nancy Poyder
Library Mouse: a Friend's Tale by Daniel Kirk
Maybelle, Bunny of the North by Keith Patterson
Spoon by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illus. by Scott Magoon
Thank You Bear by Greg Foley

We Read Together:
Crocodile Blues by Coleman Polhemus

This week's list has already received a fair amount of coverage, with Humpty Dumpty Climbs Again as my book of the week, and a number of other titles highlighted as books in which I see elements of my daughter. So what of what's left? This week's "read together titles" Crocodile Blues, is an odd, wordless picture book which tells the story of a man and his parrot (and he's not even a pirate!) who get an egg out of a vending machine, take it home, and are then faced with the dilemma of "what to do" once the egg hatches and reveals a crocodile. Illustrations are rendered completely in contrasting inky black and electric blue. So while the story leaves both the characters and the readers scratching their heads, it is a striking book too look at .

A Book is a piece of meta fiction which doesn't work as well, for me, as Who is Melvin Bubble by Nick Bruel or the high-energy Ivan the Terrier by Peter Catalanatto. This latest offering by Mordecei Gerstein tells of a character in search of a story (wait--I'm getting flashes of Pierendello!) The little girl leads readers through numerous storybook scenarios, many of which will be familiar to readers, before finally finding her true story. Perhaps if the interplay between the character and the reader had been more engaging I would have enjoyed this book as much as I expected to. Still, kudos to Gerstein for playing with the picture book format-I always appreciate that.

Probably the most traditional book we read was Library Mouse: a Friend's Tale, which continues the adventures of Sam, the shy mouse who lives in a library and has literary aspirations. When a boy from the Writer's and Illustrator's Club, which Sam himself inspired, discovers Sam's true identity, the question of "Is Sam's identity safe" is posed. Well, what do you think? Beautiful illustrations and tributes to numerous children's literary classics, old and new, surface in this one, which makes for a fun "I Spy" experience on top of the more traditional buddy tale.

Make sure to check out what others are reading at the Well-Read Child Meme which inspired this post in the first place!

And then there were two: BoB reaches the final stage

The books have been read, the hands have been wrung, and the brackets have been tossed out in disgust. After more than a month of page-turning drama, the School Library Journal Battle of the Kids Book has reached its final stage. There will be the mix-it-up fun of the Undead contender, to be announced on Friday, then all eyes will be on National Ambassador for Young Persons Literature Katherine Patterson, and her final verdict on Monday.

I made a quick reconnaissance of the stacks at work and managed to snag our copies of both finalists. This was a blessing and a pain; a blessing for me, because I felt lucky to get them both in one go. But it hurt, too--why were such awesome books still on the shelves? Someone's not doing their job......Oops. Wait. That's me.

After last year's BoB I gave in and read the winning book, The Hunger Games. I say, "gave in" because the initial premise of the book was off-putting. A reality tv show, and all those dead kids--what could possibly appeal? Of course, I was an idiot. I read the book, was wowed, and gave it as a birthday present to two friends, and recommended it to my mom. My mom put it forward to her book group, which, it is fair to say, is not in the book's core age bracket. But great literature is great literature, and they are reading Catching Fire as their next selection.

My point being--all these new recruits to Suzanne Collins' dystopian epic because of Battle of the Books. As the 2010 edition draws to a close, I look forward to the opportunity to pass on the results with the same enthusiasm as last year. I often pass on recommendations with enthusiasm (hey, it's my job!) But when it comes about because of a bit of fun--and BoB is as much about fun as recognition--then all the better.

-----------------------------
2 April 2010

P.S. Bring out your dead! The Undead winner is revealed!