Mitali Perkins's Blog, page 32

Books That Smell Good And My IRA 2011 Schedule

The Indian version of SECRET KEEPER just arrived. The book's design and texture are gorgeous, and it smells like India (confession: I love sniffing new books.)





The copyright page includes a statement we don't see here in the States: "Mitali Perkins asserts the moral right to be identified as the author of this work." Wonder where that originated?



I'm heading off to Orlando for the International Reading Association Convention , where I'll be presenting at one of the pre-conference Institutes on Sunday (right after Jacqueline Woodson, yikes). On Monday, I'm signing copies of Bamboo People from 11-12 at Charlesbridge, Booth 542, and then signing copies of Secret Keeper from 1-2 at Random House Children's Books, Booth #1413. Hope to see some of you there!

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Share Your Process Of Creating Characters Across Cultures Or Class

Crossing boundaries of culture, race, and class to create characters can be tricky, but as fantasy/romance author Mary Anne Mohanraj thoughtfully points out, " You will get it wrong. This is what you should do ."



Children's book author A.C.E. Bauer makes the case that we can't include a character of a different race without seeing that " it's not like choosing the color of her hair ."



It always helps to learn from one another's mistakes and processes, so I'm seeking input from my fellow writers. Here are my questions, and they apply to historical, contemporary, dystopian, and fantasy novels:

When you crossed boundaries of power (cultural, racial, economic) to create characters, what behind-the-scenes homework did you do (research, interviews, etc.)?


Did your editor ask for more research or tweaks when it came to issues of race, culture, or class? If so, when and why?
There are no right or wrong answers — basically, I'm looking for tips that we might all find useful. I'd love to compile comments, so share titles, release dates, and publishers of published works, and working titles of books-in-progress. Thanks!

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2011 Jane Addams Children's Book Awards

Since 1953, the Jane Addams Children's Book Award honors books published in the U.S. during the previous year that engage children in thinking about peace, justice, world community, and/or equality of the sexes and all races. The books also must meet conventional standards of literary and artistic excellence.



Congratulations to the 58th Jane Addams Children's Book Awardees: Linda Glaser, Claire A. Nivola, Linda Sue Park, Calvin Alexander Ramsey, Gwen Strauss, Floyd Cooper, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Brian Pinkney, Jewell Parker Rhodes, and Larry Dane Brimner.



Winner of Books for Younger Children

Emma's Poem: The Voice of the Statue of Liberty

by Linda Glaser with paintings by Claire A. Nivola

Houghton Mifflin Harcourt



Emma Lazarus wrote a sonnet in 1883 that became one of our nation's most familiar sonnets and one that accompanied the Statue of Liberty as well. Emma also helped to shape the heart of the nation in her urgent message to declare the statue as a welcome to all immigrants.
Winner of Books for

Older Children

A Long Walk to Water: Based on a True Story by Linda Sue Park

Clarion Books | Houghton Mifflin Harcourt



This dual narrative features young Nya and young Salva in Sudan. Nya walks eight hours every day so her family has water. Salva is in school when shots are fired and he flees into the bush to begin his every day walking. How does their future impact the future of war-torn Sudan?


Honors for Books for Younger Children

Ruth and the Green Book

by Calvin Alexander Ramsey with Gwen Strauss

illustrated by Floyd Cooper

Carolrhoda Books | Lerner



In the 1950s, young Ruth and her parents travel south in their new car when she discovers her African American family is not always welcome along the way. An Esso attendant shows the family a Green Book as a way to safety in the Jim Crow era, enabling Ruth to relish the kindness of strangers.


Sit-In: How Four Friends Stood Up by Sitting Down

by Andrea Davis Pinkney

illustrated by Brian Pinkney

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | Hachette



Four young black men stood up for civil rights in 1960 by sitting down at a Woolworth lunch counter with the sign WHITES ONLY and came up with the perfect recipe for a peaceful protest.


Honors for Books for

Older Children

The Ninth Ward

by Jewell Parker Rhodes

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers | Hachette



Twelve-year-old Lanesha has only Mama Ya-Ya, and that's just fine by her. Mama Ya-Ya's visions of the arrival of hurricane Katrina busy the two in preparation, but Lanesha can't imagine what she's being prepared for.




Birmingham Sunday

by Larry Dane Brimner

Calkins Creek | Boyds Mills Press



In Alabama in the 1960s frequent racial bombings had been terrifying but not yet deadly before September 15, 1963, when six children lost their lives in the attack. Larry Dane Brimner highlights FBI files, police records, and multiple additional primary sources to tell the story of the church bombing on Birmingham Sunday, placing it in the historical context of the Civil Rights movement.

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Librarians Between Cultures: A Call To Celebrate and Cultivate

I was honored to present the  keynote at the Massachusetts Library Association's Teen Summit on Monday. I introduced myself as a survivor of life between cultures, and then invited the 100+ librarians in the audience to see themselves along the border as well. You won't get to see the powerpoint or hear my bad jokes, but here's the gist of my speech:



Librarians Between Cultures: A Call To Celebrate and Cultivate



What does it mean to be "between cultures"? You're ...

Trapped on the margins between an old world and a fast-changing new one.
Stifled by old world customs and overwhelmed by new world expectations.
Worried we might be losing more than we're gaining.
But you learn to fuse—to celebrate the best of the new world and cultivate the best of the old.



How can teen librarians celebrate the best of the new world when it comes to stories?

teens still need and want stories—in songs, video games, movies, television, books, online
teens expect and demand diversity in stories
new technology engages a generation that thrives on connections

facebook
formspring
vYou
youtube
skype

How can teen librarians cultivate the best of the old world when it comes to stories?

books make better sense (all five, in fact)
authors of books share collaborative power with readers
the magic of the re-read
How can teen librarians celebrate the best of the new world when it comes to writing? Teens are ...

finding a voice through new media
building community and justice with words
showcasing humor and storytelling via video
contributing to collaborative fiction (www.figment.com)
How can teen librarians cultivate the best of the old world when it comes to writing?

writers still need silence and solitude to create beautiful poetry and meaningful prose
the depth and shared power of traditional-length books can change the world—and our lives
the brain needs time to rest from multi-tasking,
In the film clip below, count the catches made by the white team. Then keep watching to see how our brains like to focus on one task at a time.





How can teen librarians celebrate the best of the new world when it comes to research?

teens feel confident about finding information
the internet is fast and user-friendly
flattening of access to information
How can teen librarians cultivate the best of the old world when it comes to learning and thinking?

serve as trusted curator in a chaotic world of information overload
serve as champion of teens without digital access
What's the secret to a successful vocation between cultures?

Master "new world" innovations and language and stay fluent in "old world" customs and values to serve teens with the best of both worlds.

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Celebrating Spring at the Massachusetts Librarians' Teen Summit

Tomorrow I have the honor of addressing librarians serving teens across our great state at the third annual Teen Summit sponsored by the Massachusetts Library Association and the Massachusetts Library System.



I'm nervous—there's something about the word "keynote" even though I won't be addressing a huge crowd. To counter the fear, however, there's the reassurance that I already know many of these dear librarians. Also, we're jointly sharing the wonder of spring in New England, so everybody's bound to be in a good mood, right?



Giddy with the demise of winter, I've been re-reading some of my favorite books of the season. These include the Melendy books by Elizabeth Enright; here's a lovely description of this time of year from The Four Story Mistake, for example:

The world seemed to expand with spring. It was larger, newer. The woods became thick and deep; and familiar vistas were hidden, made secret by thousands and thousands of opening leaves. Grass rose up tall and soft on the fields like fur on the back of a cat. Everything had to be explored all over again, for suddenly all had been created anew.

Think of me tomorrow morning, and enjoy the beauty that is the end of April.

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For You: A Good Friday Poem

For You

by Mitali Perkins



for you,

whose Hand made salty water swell

and burst upon the sand, shaping mountains into shells,

here is the hand that slapped you.



how dusty, clumsy, weak

this hand, twisting thorns into a crown for you,

whose Head imagined panther, peacock, pomegranate,

here is the head that screamed with rage

when Pilate brought you forth.



how frail and dull

this skull, these eyes, this mouth of spit for you,

whose Face set like flint to see

my fist

my sneer

the crooked iron sharpness of this heart

for you.





Photo courtesy of Andy Coan

via Creative Commons

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Girls Who Ignite Change in Boston

Last Tuesday, I was thrilled to be a guest at the IGNITE Change Awards Banquet hosted by Boston GLOW , a girl-power organization founded by several dynamic twenty-somethings, including my friend A.C. Gaughen, a YA author.



Along with Deb Sloan , Sarah Aronson , Anna Staniszewski and Angie Frazier , I served as a panelist to judge the essay contest. It was delightful to be in attendance as Boston Glow distributed $5000 in scholarship prizes to the winners, a group of gorgeous, strong, smart young women. Enjoy the videos created by Nacie Carson, founder of The Life Uncommon , to get a taste of the event.





The IGNITE Change Essay Contest Awards Banquet was held on April 12, 2011,

and awarded $5000 in scholarship prizes to Boston-area teen girls.





Meet the finalists and glimpse a bit of their vision to improve life in their communities.

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Rock The Drop 2011!

Are you Rocking the Drop ? Thanks to readergirlz and Figment Fiction , here's what many of us are doing all around the planet today to support Teen Lit Day :

Download the banner above, created by David Ostow (who blogs hilarious cartoons here ), and add it to your website or blog, linking back to this post on readergirlz , and proclaiming that you will indeed ROCK THE DROP!


Print a copy of the bookplate below and insert it into a book (or 10!) that you'll drop today in a public spot (park bench, bus seat, restaurant counter?).


Take a photo of your drop and email it to readergirlz AT gmail DOT com — pictures of drops happening all over the world will be posted at the readergirlz blog , and the amazing folks at Figment will also be featuring the event.
Can you imagine people around the globe finding copies of amazing books in unexpected places, given in honor of great stories for teens?

 

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Just For Fun: The Weasleys

This three-minute clip made me want us to be just like Molly and Arthur, keeping an eye out for any Harrys in our life (sorry for the 15 second ad, but it's unavoidable):

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Made From Awesome YA/MG Lit Mega-Chat 4/13-14

If you're on Twitter, don't miss this week's Mega-Chats hosted by YALITCHAT . I'll be there on Wednesday night. Won't you join us? Here's the full scoop from their blog:

That's right, YALITCHATTERS, mark your calendars because April 13th AND 14th we're having a party and it's MADE FROM AWESOME! This year our giveaways include books, beauty products, promotional bags and other swag! YES! We are excited! Notice all the exclamation points! And did we mention this year's line-up? New this year–we've invited middle grade writers to hang with us too! See drool-worthy line up below.



Night I April 13 @ 8:30 - 9 PM EDT: Pre-Show squee-chat!



9-11 PM EDT: Nancy Holder, Jason Henderson, Coe Booth, Malinda Lo, Mitali Perkins, Melissa de la Cruz, Karen Healey, Jaclyn Dolamore, Kierstin White



Giveaways: signed copy of The Guardian of the Dead from Karen Healey, goodie bags and copies of Bloody Valentine from Melissa da la Cruz, signed copy of Bamboo People from Mitali Perkins, signed hardcover of Huntress from Malina Lo, ARC of Huntress from Malinda Lo, signed copy of Crusade from Nancy Holder, signed copy of Alex VanHelsing from Jason Henderson.



11 PM - midnight EDT: Afterparty on Mundie Moms! Post-chat mayhem, fun and giveaways. Join us with special guest authors and more fun at a literary virtual afterparty than you can imagine.



Night II April 14 @ 9-11 PM EDT: Julia DeVillers, Beth Revis, Claudia Gabel, Helene Boudreau, Cyn Balog, Brenna Yavonoff, Sarwat Chadda, Andrea Cremer



Giveaways: signed copies of books from Julia DeVillers, signed copies of Romeo and Juliet and Vampires from Claudia Gabel, signed copy of Real Mermaids Don't Wear Toe Rings from Helene Boudreau, signed copy of Fairytale or Sleepless from Cyn Balog, copy of The Replacement from Brenna Yavonoff, signed copy of Dark Goddess from Sarwat Chadda, goodie bag from Melissa de la Cruz.



11 PM - midnight EDT: Afterparty on Mundie Moms! Post-chat mayhem, fun and giveaways. Join us with special guest authors and more fun at a literary virtual afterparty than you can imagine.

Come visit me on the Fire Escape!