Wiscon 33 - Writing to Recruit

[julieandrews]

We Want Your Children: Writing to Recruit

"Children's literature can be a powerful force for feminist ideas—and under some circumstances, can fly right under the radar and into the hands of the children of the Other Side. How do you write subversively for children without turning the books into (boring) propaganda? What books are successfully bringing feminist (or other progressive) ideas to an unsuspecting audience even as we speak? And what do we do (as parents, teachers, or librarians) about the books out there that are attempting to corrupt our children with their ideas?"

There seemed to be some disagreement amongst the panelists as to whether anyone should be writing to recruit. Sharyn November, editor, was moderating. She kept repeating that she just wanted good books. I think she was against the idea that anyone should be writing with an agenda.

From my notes:

Most offensive books - Left Behind kids, Rudyard Kipling, Oz books, well-behaved little white kids, Twilight

The panelists were generally more concerned about books they loved as kids, and the problems they see in them now. Clearly there was something about them that was captivating, and thus more likely to suck in more children? Sword in the Stone, Hobbit, Narnia, 12 Candles Club, Dr. Dolittle

On the list of good books: American Girl (something) - Great Depression and First Thanksgiving, Digger comics starring a wombat, Moomin, Tobe Josen(? Can't read my writing), Sculpture's Daughter, Harry Potter, Boxcar Children

Sharyn mentioned that a trend in books seems to be that girls are spunky until they're about 12, and then they're messed up (ie, cutting) (Or hanging out with creepy sparkly vampires?)

Teenage girl characters should be empowered and not screwed up.

Websites: unshelved.com and guyreads.com

Boys read books with facts or fiction in a nonfiction way.

Rapunzel's Revenge - graphic novel by Shannon Hale

And that's all I can remember and all of my notes. I really should write these things up when they're still fresh in my mind.

Comments

[sophy.livejournal.com]

I wanted to go to that one, so I'm glad to read some of the points made. And if I ever get around to finishing my panel notes - it'll be so un-fresh there might only be two confused points left!?

[elsmi.livejournal.com]

"Moomin, Tobe Josen" must be a reference to Tove Jansson, whose Moomin books are weird and wonderful.

[julieandrews.livejournal.com]

Thanks. Sometimes the panelists will spell things while I'm still taking notes about something else, so the letters go into my head in a blur. I managed to get some of them, just not in the right order. :)

[elsmi.livejournal.com]

No problem... I hate scribbling those kinds of notes, I always end up missing whatever was said next *and* don't get quite enough written down to find it later :-).

[tomomi.livejournal.com]

Not sure how Harry Potter ended up on the list of 'good'. I like them quite a bit but I would never describe them as feminist or progressive.

[julieandrews.livejournal.com]

The panel did seem to veer a bit away from 'feminist' and 'progressive' and more of right-wing versus left-wing, or religious versus non-religious.

So Harry Potter may've been on there as 'the religious people don't like this'. Or maybe it was on there as something boys and girls both like. I don't actually remember in what context it came up. Those are just guesses. Or maybe there was very little context and it was just thrown out there when the panelists were talking about good ones. Ie, someone just liked it and thought kids should read it.

I really do wish Wiscon would put something in place for recording every panel.