Blogger: Etta Wilson
Location: Books & Such Nashville Office
Weather: Cold and wet
Wow, what good news to start a new year—adult fiction had positive sales last year. That’s according to Nielsen’s BookScan, which reports on 75% of the market. And it warms my heart to know that children’s book, both fiction and nonfiction, did fairly well also.
Last week I participated in judging entries in the National Humanities contest “Letters to Authors” for the grades 6 – 8 category (one of three). Each state selects its best letters to an author, living or dead, about a book, poem, or speech by the author which student has read. These are then sent for national judging. The letters are not book reports, but more about the impact of the selected piece on the student in his or her own words.
Reading those letters was absolutely astounding in several regards. First, I had forgotten how strongly young people at that age feel things, how reading a really good book can move them to new insights and actions.
Second, the reading levels were across the board–from Charlotte’s Web to Shakespeare’s Midsummer’s Night’s Dream. However, the majority of these kids, ages 12 – 14, were reading big books from writers usually considered adult authors such as Jane Austen, Stephanie Meyer, A. Conan Doyle, Francine Rivers, Michael Crichton, and John Boyne (The Boy in the Striped Pajamas). I don’t think teachers were directing them to read most of these. At least their comments didn’t indicate that. Of course, some are reading Kate DiCamillo, J.K. Rowling, Madelyn L’Engle, and authors we’d consider “age-appropriate.”
It’s no wonder that adult fiction is selling better than anything else. The market is broad. I perceived quickly that I need to go back and reread a lot of these authors.
If you entered such a contest, which author or book/poem/speech would you write about?
Sounds like a terrific contest, Etta.
When I worked at a branch library each year I hosted a “Valentines to Authors” program for the children in the community. I was always amazed at the time and effort the children put into their valentines. Many of them wrote long personal letters to the authors telling of the impact of the author’s books on their lives.
The children brought SASEs to the program. I enclosed these with the valentine letters and sent them to the authors’ publishers. When the children heard back from the authors, they brought the notes into the library. I compiled the authors’ responses in a scrapbook. Among the many memorable notes from authors is a autographed message from Dr. Seuss written on Cat in the Hat stationery.
This is a wonderful story, Judy. You enabled children to make the loop from book to author and then to hear back from him or her. Hope some other librarian is doing the same this Valentine’s Day.
Etta
Definitely Madelyn L’Engle.
Wrinkle in Time is one of my all time favorites, on so many levels. And last summer a friend in MT suggested The Summer of the Great-Grandmother. What a treasure!
Sounds like you thoroughly enjoyed the judging too! What a blessing!
Glad about those numbers too. The business side is something I’m still working on so, heartening news!
If my 10-year-old self were entering the contest, it would be Beverly Cleary, hands down. I saw myself in her books and she helped me make sense of my world. The much older me would have a much tougher time choosing! Too many possibilities.