Gayle Forman
asked
Laurie Halse Anderson:
Hi Laurie: You change the face of YA with SPEAK. The book is a classic now. But it's still controversial. I'm curious to know how people reacted when they first read it, given there was no precedent to it in modern YA. Because you set the precedent.
Laurie Halse Anderson
Nobody made much of a big deal about it when it came out, other than it was a National Book Award finalist. No publicity, no advertising, no book tour.
The first group of teachers and librarians who read it started to share it with teen readers and were stunned by the feedback they got. Kids who hated reading finished it in one night and asked for another book like it. Incredible powerful conversations grew out of the book and within a few years it started to be placed in curriculum.
The censorship controversies that arose really helped frame the national discussion; what do we want our kids to be reading and why? I'm incredibly proud to have written a story that has played a part in giving our kids an entire world of literature that they love.
The first group of teachers and librarians who read it started to share it with teen readers and were stunned by the feedback they got. Kids who hated reading finished it in one night and asked for another book like it. Incredible powerful conversations grew out of the book and within a few years it started to be placed in curriculum.
The censorship controversies that arose really helped frame the national discussion; what do we want our kids to be reading and why? I'm incredibly proud to have written a story that has played a part in giving our kids an entire world of literature that they love.
More Answered Questions
Katelyn
asked
Laurie Halse Anderson:
Hi Laurie! I've read your book Chains, and I love how you can connect a person from this time to someone from long ago, and connect them through obstacles they've overcome! Do you feel as if it's hard to write books in different times with people with different problems?
Elisabeth
asked
Laurie Halse Anderson:
Dear Laurie, (love wintergirls!) Hello. I'm about to graduate from college and I'm 21. It took me a lot longer to get my associates because I had to take remedial classes, switched my curriculum etc. I wanted to transfer to receive my BA but I might have to take a year off because of financial reasons. I'm worried that by the time I get my BA I will be too old. I keep thinking negatively about my future. Any advice?
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