Editorial 188: May 2011
‘I don’t care what you say about me, just spell my name right,’ said the American showman P T Barnum and there may be quite a few children’s authors and illustrators whose books are rarely or not at all reviewed who wouldn’t mind terribly if their name were misspelt – just so long as their book is reviewed. And while bad reviews can cause anger or hurt, even negative column inches help to keep a book visible. Long gone are the days when almost every new children’s title could expect at least seven reviews. These days the tyranny of the bestseller lists can dominate consumer spending and get in the way of the diversity of recommendations and enthusiasms that BfK strives to provide.
In our March issue we reviewed 72 new titles and discussed 40 others (from new titles to old favourites to classics) in articles and features. In between issues of the magazine, the flexibility of our website Home page is now allowing for even more titles to be promoted whether in reviews, interviews, articles or news items. The shared conversation about children’s books needs to continue on as broad a front as possible.
In this issue we have canvassed views on a specific aspect of BfK’s editorial policy for reviews – whether we should continue to indicate the ethnicity or cultural background of characters (see p.3). Some commentators took the opportunity to point out other issues that can concern consumers.
‘In the current climate of public opinion,’ wrote David Bennett, ‘where we might be more overtly helpful to adults choosing to stock or buy books for children is in the blood count, foul language or sexual nature of content. A bit like the warning before some TV programmes. (We already do this! Ed.)
‘There might also be an argument for always mentioning religious content where it is relevant, but I reckon that is hardly likely to be missed in most reviews, and would you make a definite point of including animism, witchcraft and wizardry? Finally, I reckon in DaveNick’s new splendiferous era a signal of regionalisation might be useful. I know that here in Wales they like their reading material to reflect the kids’ backgrounds and seek books accordingly.’
Annabel Gibb reminded us that gender issues have not gone away. ‘Another aspect that I have become more aware of,’ she wrote, ‘especially in reviewing supernatural titles, is that of an inherent sexism, again shocking after all the years of trying to have both genders well represented in the arts. In these novels the girls (who may well be feisty and up for it) tend to be dominated by the vampire (or whatever) boys – a scenario which really does no favours to either and sometimes is used as a sublimation of a more sinister domination.’
Youth Adult Fiction
With the success of Suzanne Collins’ The Hunger Games, dystopian fiction is taking over from the paranormal in the Young Adult fiction market. Will we become similarly swamped with tales of authoritarian futures and post-apocalyptic doom as publishers rush to be on trend? In this issue of BfK Caroline Sanderson analyses the cultural shifts behind YS publishing while Geraldine Brennan selects her ‘Ten of the Best Dystopian Novels’.
