I am not Sally Fields

Hooray! book of a thousand days got the CYBILS award for YA fantasy. I see that Sarah Miller nominated it. See, didn't I suspect all along that she was cool?

And now, just because, let me quote the first paragraph of a New York Times article by DAVE ITZKOFF, their speculative fiction reviewer, from February 3, 2008. (bolds are mine, in case you don't want to wade through the whole rambling paragraph.)

"As someone whose subway rides tend to resemble scenes from an “Evil Dead” movie, in which I am Bruce Campbell dodging zombies who have had all traces of their humanity sucked out of them by a sinister book — not the “Necronomicon,” but “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows” — I sometimes wonder how any self-respecting author of speculative fiction can find fulfillment in writing novels for young readers. I suppose J. K. Rowling could give me 1.12 billion reasons in favor of it: get your formula just right and you can enjoy worldwide sales, film and television options, vibrating-toy-broom licensing fees, Chinese-language bootlegs of your work, a kind of limited immortality (L. Frank Baum who?) and — finally — genuine grown-up readers. But where’s the artistic satisfaction? Where’s the dignity?"

Seriously? I mean...seriously? I almost can't believe this guy is for real. He must just be speaking outrageously to garner attention--his attitude is so Victorian, so narrow-minded to the point of melodrama. But I have met this attitude so many times--the goal for any real, self-respecting writer must be to have "grown-up readers." Writing for children is less than. It's so weird. And I really hope this guy isn't a father, because if this is what he thinks about children's books, then what does he think about children? And teens? Are they lesser beings? Uninteresting? Unworthy of serious consideration? Are their problems and concerns and interests of no value? Is their taste vulgar? Are they a waste of space, just sub-humans whose only purpose is to grow up into adults, and be quick about it please? I mean...seriously?

Even weirder to me (or perhaps more understandable) is that he is a speculative fiction reviewer (science fiction and fantasy). I find that an interesting point--I've had this attitude before from those who write for and work in the adult side of fantasy, comic books, horror, chick lit, romance--all genres that have been ghettoized by the mainstream and literary fiction folk. In one way I'd expect the genre people to understand us, to be more conscious of the follies of trying to sub-humanize any other genre. I'd expect them to be slower to condemn, having been in the same boat since forever. But then again, maybe that's the root of why they lash out. It's a classic bully response--people have picked on me, so I'm going to pick on you.

No, I can't try to understand. It's the writer in me, trying to figure out the character behind the action in order to understand and not condemn. I can't pretend to understand, but I just think it's a shame.

But I don't lash out. No, I'm much too mature and grown-up to go post nasty comments on the article or make up clever insults that rhyme with the writer's last name (I didn't come up with any really good ones anyway). No, all I do, apparently, is blog about it. Ah the power of blogging! As I center myself, I remember the essence of what Linda Sue Park (I'm so happy she's on our team!) told me--we're part of a secret club. We know how awesome it is to be in children's books. We know how lucky we are to have young readers. We know how completely cool and fantastic those readers are, how universal and essential the stories are. Let the misguided fools miss the point while we party in the best field there is. Let those others wander around looking up, clinging to that awesome dignity of theirs, unaware of the fiesta going on right under their noses. No loss. That leaves more chips and salsa for us.

Comments

[Laura]

Yay! CYBILS celebration! Congrats, Shannon! Dashti deserves this. And Mucker would be very pleased.

Yeeesh. I can't make enough sense of Mr. Itzkoff's writing to be offended by what he says.

And I can think of several rhymes.

I should probably keep them to myself.

[kirsten]

(grr, typepad is being lame - hopefully this will post this time)

Wow. That's really interesting (and idiotic) that someone would say that.

I am realizing more and more that these days the really quality fiction is coming out of the JF and YA sections. I just don't see anything as innovating and meaningful coming out for adults, sadly.

[Liss]

I think some people don't know what to think of certain professions. I taught junior high for several years and you cannot believe the reaction I would get (same one each time!): you poor thing! You must be a saint! (And it's like "who would teach junior high in their right mind?") I was a nanny during my college years, it got the reaction of, "You do that for a JOB???" Same as a stay at home mom (which I now am): You LIKE to do that?
I was an English major, took a lot of classes on children's and young adult literature and how they have to appeal to more people than adult literature--parents, children, teachers, librarians. i'm in awe of a YA/children's lit writer, mostly because all I can churn out is stuff I write _to_ people or my journal (avid writer). But I regularly fall into a novel. Thanks for what you do. And to writers who think it's "fluff" (or whatever they call it): I dare them to try it!

[Miss Erin]

CONGRATULATIONS! The Cybils rule. As does Book of a Thousand Days. I'm so so happy for you!

And as for your response to that article - you rock. You rock hard.

[Celes]

Ugh. Ridiculous. Shouldn't writing for children be -the- most important? After all, we're always saying that "children are our future" and if we don't give them awesome books to read, what are they going to read? Or do they prefer the next generation to be illiterate.

Also, an author at the BYU LTUE conference mentioned The Goose Girl this morning, saying how he loved how you expanded your characters to make the tale more interesting. He said he liked it so much, he's thinking of writing a Sci-Fi version of The Goose Girl. Not kidding. With DNA change and everything in outer space.

I'll let you know as soon as I figure out who that guy was.

[myrna]

Dave Itzkoff is missing out. I'm an adult, and I would much rather read speculative fiction from the chilren's or YA section. There are so many adult novels out there with tired plots and/or stereotypical characters. The standard is lower for adult fantasy. As long as the author fills their 400-600 pages, it's okay for them to be redundant and skip a few re-writes. There are exceptional adult writers too, but I've noticed you can find books by most of them in the YA section too.

Children's writers aren't allowed enough pages to be redundant, but a lot of adult writers (especially fantasy series writers) have to fill a certain amount of pages. Redundancy makes me crazy; the authors are wasting my time and insulting my intelligence. It makes me wonder why anyone would choose that kind of reading experience when there is so much to choose from.

On a happier note--my husband read The Goose Girl and Enna Burning over the weekend and enjoyed them a lot! Thanks for being a great writer Shannon!

[Celes]

Using my sleuthing skills, the author that talked about you at LTUE (Life, the Univers and Everything) was Eric James Stone.

ALso, congrats on the CYBILS!

[Anidori-Isilee]

Congrats on the CYBIL win! It's so exciting.

Ick. It makes me so angry when people think that writing for children isn't as hard or whatever. There's a reason I write young adult (other than that I am one and that's what's interesting): it's because it's easy. I don't think I could write a good children's book because it would be so hard to write it without sounding condescending or whatever. And that's what people are missing: it's a totally different kind of writing. And because it's on a different level, it's more challenging. I mean, I'd love to see that guy write a children's book. Has he? He should and then write an article about how it's not such a piece of cake as it seems.

[shannon hale]

I agree, agree, agree to everything said. Liss--amen. This is something I talk to a lot with others in professions working with children and young adults. Kindergarten teachers get a bad rap, because the younger the child, surely the less value the profession. A literature teacher in high school is valued less than in college. The feminist in me wonders if part of the determined value is based in sexism--because teaching and nurturing roles are traditionally for women.

[calandria]

I agree that it may well be sexism on the part of Itzkoff. That was my first thought.

I recently heard a wise man say that the literature children read sets the stage for their entire lives--our future society is based on the dreams and values children gain from the books they read. And that's why they should be reading great books.

And there are wonderful children's books out there now. (Thanks for opening my eyes to that, Shannon.) What's so funny is that children's lit is so much better than adult lit, generally speaking, and this guy has no idea. If he only knew, he would feel so stupid.

Pass the chips and salsa.

[JJ]

Hello, I've never before commented on your blog but I will toss in my two bits:

First, I picked up Princess Academy off my roommate's bookshelves last night and I want to let you know that it was absolutely beautiful and lyrical and moving. And now I'm itching to devour your other books (alas, I am a Starving Young Professional who lives in New York City).

Second, your writing abilities (of which I am jealous!) prove that writing for children is NOT a lesser task as so many people seem to think. YA can be read and enjoyed by everyone because YA books tell a universal story: the story of growing and changing and maturing. To write that in a way that rings true and with grace is extraordinarily difficult.

There is a sort of elitism that accompanies any art: the more esoteric and pretentious the work is, the more it is highly prized while the opposite is true for anything tarnished by that dirty word: commercial. For example, Ulysses by James Joyce is only enjoyed (and read) by a handful of people yet it is considered one of the greatest works of literature. Stephen King, on the other hand, who is ridiculously prolific and a fine writer is not allowed into the ranks of literary greats because his books can be read and understood (and enjoyed!) by many. This concept that the masses are too dumb to understand "art" is ridiculous. This is one of the main reasons I chose not to pursue a higher degree in English Literature; I was sick of everyone IN my major for their pretentious, talking-out-the-ass ways. Well listen here, I read and understood and wrote a graduate course thesis on Ulysses (actually, I secretly adore Joyce because he comes across as the dorkiest, geekiest, most emo writer ever) but I CHOOSE to read young adult books because I ENJOY them. Just because something is easily understood does not mean it is less artistically sound.

[Rebekah Holladay]

If you want to know what his problem is--I think the bottom line is jealousy. J.k. Rowling got lucky and sold something that sold like hot cakes. That he mentions her specifically, means that he feels she is not more talented than he, or perhaps less deserving of the fame.

I think that's the bottom line. People get upset when they feel cheated so they insult the winners and try to find fault with them.

And I'd say there's a lot of dignity in being a child's author. Their imaginations are better, they are more impressionable--they ought to feel the support of the adult world, and they often don't.

[Andrea]

Wow, you know, that is so rude that anyone could possible say that about children's books. I mean I'm not that old (12), but I go between young-adult and children's books. But usually, I am reading a children's book, and when you think about it, is there really THAT much of a difference? I mean, SOME stuff is out there but the basic story part isn't. It's still just a story written by an author, who once DID, in fact read children's books!

Oh, and by the way Congratulations on the award and Happy Valentines Day! :)

[shannon hale]

I should have included the link to the full article, in case you can find something redeeming in the rest of it (I didn't)--http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/03/books/review/Itzkoff-t.html
Also a side note--the world at large usually lumps "young adult" in with "children's." E.g., a mature young adult book like Sherman Alexie's recent appears on the Children's best seller lists. This reviewer's criticisms of children's books include young adult books.

[Chelsea]

Rock on , Shannon! Way to stand up for us teenagers.
Can I just say that I love being a teenager. It's awesome! there is no age i would rather be.
and i'm not stupid and immature. I have opinions and insights just like anyboby. I know what's going on in politics, I can read shakespeare and understand it, i can read aristotle and understand it, i prefer mozart to bach, I like vincent van go better than picasso.
I don't get why people think were stupid or we can't have good opinions just because we're not adults.
One of my teachers the other day was explaining something and then stopped and said "your probably too young to understand it".aarrrrrgggggh!
And young adult writers are amazing and i want to be one someday.

[Jen]

"we're part of a secret club."

I like that. It reminds me of something Sherman Alexie said while on a children's lit panel. He was talking about how wonderful the YA author community ... much more encouraging and supportive than those who write solely for adults. I think it's really cool that your secret club is full of all these caring people.

And congrats on the SYBIL!!! I read Book of a Thousand Days without knowing anything about it. The more I read, the more familiar it sounded and I started wondering if you had drawn any of your story from Mongolia. I visited there a number of years ago and so was really excited to find out that it had been a source for the setting and customs in your book. So cool!

[Little Willow]

Congratulations! Sarah Miller _is_ cool, as are you.

I'd like to work with Sally Field in a film or show someday.

[Q]

Why does anyone think that writing for young adults is any less difficult than for adults? Is our intellectual society really that elitist?

If a book is written in a dialect so old that people today can hardly understand it, why should it be considered better than any books written today? Why should old books be championed over current novels?

And what will society in the distant future think of books written today? Will these books still be considered trash, or will they be considered the start of an innovative new branch of ficiton geared toward younger readers?

An example is Shakespeare. He wrote for the masses of Elizabethan England, in a time where plays were popular for even the most illiterate city worker. These great works of literature were performed on a stage where anyone could pay to go see them, and the words not closed under leather bindings. In fact, it was only after Shakespeare's death that the plays were published in written form.

Now, Shakespeare is considered one of the greatest writers of all time, and he was writing for the masses.

Could someone remind me why literature for the common man is considered low?

[Ellenboro]

Congrats on the award! Dashti was, like, beginning to become impatient for her turn at the spotlight! (Or I was. For her, I mean.)

And has that guy ever picked up what an Adult book really is? There's a lot of great books out there that are meant mostly for adults, but they always have some teenage like stuff in them. I should know; I've read many of them. But I've also read books that are what adults think of when they say "grown-up books" and let me tell you-- NOT FUN! The characters don't seem to have any emotions or minds that create and think or anything that a normal human being should have. It's like they're living, breathing walls with a very limited amount of thoughts and expressions. Thank heavens that there aren't many of those around.

[Shawn]

Speaking as a sub-human waste of space, I wonder whether the thoughtful reviewer from the New York Times would care to tell us what great miracle occurs on one's 18th or 21st birthday that suddenly turns one into a thinking individual worthy of a writer's time and effort. I had always assumed it was a gradual process, but apparently I stand corrected. Let me know when I, too, may enjoy good works of literature.

[Gaye]

We like you, we really like you! Congratulations!! You earned it! And I recall that lots of people are asked to nominate and suggest books for the awards, not just one! Consider your work appreciated by the real readers - the ones that count!! As a mere mortal, I mean reader, we're the ones buying the books, devouring the prose, and telling others about the terrific stories we've discovered. Enjoy your accolades and just don't double dip in the salsa!!

[Andrea]

Thank you Chelsea!!! I play the violin so I can say which composer I like best, and I want to know whose gonna win the democratic and republican election, too! And my teacher thinks I'm stupid (which I'm not!) and dumbs stuff down for my class and I, and THAT'S what makes me feel stupid.

*Sorry for the double post.*

[Calliope1of9]

Yay for B1000!

But that article... sheesh. I don't think I can stomach anymore. My english teacher condemns pretty much anything that's not an adult book, per se, and refers to *any* young adult book as a children's book. It's really irritating. I don't like this reviewer's attitude.

So... more for us!

[SJM]

In response to one of the comments above: Yes, our intellectual society really is that elitist, no question about it.

It's flat ignorance, in part. He clearly hasn't actually READ any of the many awesome "children's" books that are out there. I really can hardly respond to any of the rest of it, it's so ridiculous. As everyone has said: what does he think of children? Why wouldn't we want good books for them? Didn't HE read as a child? Doesn't he remember just being completely immersed in a book, BECOMING the story? And honestly, who wouldn't want to write for such a demanding AND completely devoted audience? Maybe that's the real fear there...

[Bohae]

Hmph. Shame on you, Mr. Whats-your-last-name. Bah Humbug. ;)

[Heather]

I remember in your writing workshop when you said we belonged to a secret club. I never forgot that. And the more I look the more true it really seems to be. There is some really good adult books out there (I am just finishing Gilead by Marilynne Robinson - amazing) but I have found that the quality of writing is much more universally higher in YA (and in many cases, Children's) literature.

Do you know why I write YA? Besides being awesome and having the greatest fans that could EVER exist (anyone who has written anything knows this is true) - I write YA because it has an enormous impact.

If an adult reads something profound, they consider it a nice or even powerful book and move on with their lives. They don't take it in. Children do. When they read something important, it changes them - how they think, how they feel, how they see others. I think writing for YA and Children is the most important thing we can do. I wouldn't switch genres for anything in the world. This is the best place to be, hands down.

And with that, please pass the Salsa, I'm running low over here.

[Kate]

Hey everyone,

I tried to click on the link to the article that Shannon posted and I couldn't get to it! Can someone post the title of the article so I can search the NYT that way (I'm such a librarian!). I really want to blast this article on my own blog but I have to read it first. The paragraph that was posted made me yell at my computer screen in the library and several patrons looked alarmed. Gotta calm down but it's so hard when you read that sort of attitude towards children's lit/YA lit....esp as I am a children's librarian!! AAHHHH! Please help!

[hwalk]

Wow. Has he read young adult books? They are so much better than adult books.

Congratulations on the award!

[shannon hale]

Elsewhere’s Children is the name of the article. I put an unnecessary period in the link. It should work now!

I'm still giddy about the CYBILS award. Yee-ha! Just ordered Smekday. Can't wait to read it.

[MAYday]

Wow, I can barely say anything in response to that article because it is so darn ridiculous! It's hard to believe that he doens't think children and teenagers are worth writing for! How can he even say that "genuine grown-up readers" are the only readers that "count", the only ones that make someone's writing worthwhile? Goodness, I can't even attempt to get into his head.

Chelsea and Andrea - I feel completely the same way you both do. I mean, I have a feeling I probably know more about the coming election than many people older than me, and I KNOW there are many adults who don't even recognize the names of Handel, Clementi, Chopin, etc.

Shawn, I loved your comment as well!

[shannon hale]

Neil Gaiman made a very apt response to this reviewer (his book and a China Meiville were reviewed in this column). His response is about halfway down: http://journal.neilgaiman.com/2008/02/102-pages-so-far.html

[Dr. Sallie N. Cheinsteen]

I sometimes wonder how any self-respecting writer can find fulfillment in writing novels for anyone but young adults.

After all, they are the future.

Who knows what an impact those books can have?

[Caryn]

By now I've read this same excerpt on several blogs, and it bothers me each time. The good thing is that many of the bloggers are not authors of young adult fiction, but are still supportive. As for anyone who disses it, it can be very difficult to develop realistic characters, complicated plots, great voice, and interesting word choice in a shorter format and in a way that readers of all ages can understand. If he thinks it's easy, he hasn't done it, or he at least hasn't done it right.

[Guin]

Lloyd Alexander, Lawrence Yep, Jane Yolen...our own Shannon Hale! Sheesh, you canNOT tell me these people lack craft OR self-respect OR dignity. Amen to Mr. Gaiman's response (go read Coraline - just go read it!). It does nobody good to start off a review by dumping on the subject matter. It wastes everyone's time.

[Laini Taylor]

Shannon -- YAY for the Cybil! I was so pleased you won. Don't think I mentioned this, but I read Book of a Thousand Days right after your Portland trip and LOVED it SO MUCH. It's wonderful! I can't quite decide yet if it's my favorite of yours. . . I think it might be now! Hard to choose, though! As for that article, I've seen it linked elsewhere, and I can't believe that tool either. WHATEVER!

[Aella Siofra]

Ugh. That he would say something like that is positively repulsive. *sings Time Warp* Ah, well. Many congratulations on the Cybil.

*Aella*

[Ellenboro]

Once again, I commented without reading the others and now that I finally did read them, I've found out that I seriously agree with Chelsea. Chelsea has such a great point. So many adults think that because we're not yet twenty-one we can't understand anything or truly appreciate anything either. That's wrong. It's untrue. We can understand things better in many cases because we still hold on to much of our "child-like" thinking and as a result are open to more ideas and such. And all the while we are also learning to think more like "adults" and be more serious about some things and all those other things our parents or teachers tell us.

And I prefer Beethoven to Mozart (though it's a very close one), Edgar Degas and Claude Monet to Vincent Van Gogh, and love Shakespeare. I also like reading things about Aristotle and Plato and other "old Greek dead people" as my friends have before put it. My peers cannot undertand why but I do. And I don't let their words affect me.

[Biel]

Shannon, I just have to say that you are simply fabulous.

[Terri B.]

Congratulations on the CYBIL!

I read the review you mentioned above and I was just floored (not in a good way either) by what he wrote. I have found more good writing in the YA section of the bookstore than I have in the "adult" section lately. Keep contributing your wonderful writing!

[jen]

Can I just say I love the word "ghettoized"? Great post. Word!

[Marcy]

He seems like the opposite of my favorite sort of adult, the sort that C.S. Lewis was the epitome of. Oxford professor, literary critic, loved to debate philosophy, spoke I forget how many languages... and children's book author. He could talk about John Milton and Beatrix Potter in the same breath, and in one of the Narnia books talked about Susan wanting to "rush on to the silliest time in her life as quickly as possible and stay there as long as possible" (may not be exact wording, I'm quoting from memory). Hooray for sane adults who love the "ghettoized" genres!

[Marcy]

On the other hand, now that I've read more of the review, it doesn't sound like the author he was reviewing would like C.S. Lewis very much himself. Not if he doesn't like Tolkien and complains about "tedious moralizing" in most children's lit.

[Marcy]

Ok, ok, I know there are already lots of comments on here, and you've already made another post responding to this whole discussion... but I just have to say more! Sorry!

First off, I *hate* it when people talk about huge sellers like J.K. Rowling's books as though all they have to do is tweak a "formula." What the heck?! Uh, no, writing is a bit more than discovering some secret formula! It's hard work, and you know what? The results show. Her books are freakin' GOOD. (As are yours, of course, but you weren't the one he mentioned.) But I'm sure he hasn't even tried reading them, since, horror of horrors, they're *children's* books! Aaaaah, run for the hills! I think they might even have some "moralizing" in them, gasp! Plus, they're interesting their readers so much that said readers resemble zombies! Oh no!

Okay. End sarcasm... I think the elitists forget, not only that Shakespeare was written to appeal to the masses, but that classics aren't classics because of how old they are. Over time, people have agreed certain works are very good/important/worth studying. The exact same thing is going to happen to the books written today. Some will be forgotten, some won't. But the ones that will be remembered won't magically become better after the decisions have been made and time has passed. The value was always there. In fact, the value was probably stronger initially because of current language and events.

Okay, I'm done. End rant.

[Shellie]

Some people are so lost. Children are our future and so writing to them is the most important of all! I happen to really love children and young adult literature even though I'm an adult.

[Josh]

AAAaaand since when did children's literature have a formula? Does he think all children are exactly the same? And even if there WERE a formula, how on earth could you use Harry Potter as an example?