Comments on: The Missing Side of YA NF http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2011/02/23/the-missing-side-of-ya-nf/ A School Library Journal Blog Sun, 05 Aug 2012 22:26:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Christine Williamson http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2011/02/23/the-missing-side-of-ya-nf/comment-page-1/#comment-65848 Christine Williamson Thu, 14 Jun 2012 19:44:00 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=931#comment-65848 I love the idea of tying a NF book more directly with the fiction that is so popular. For instance, Neal Shusterma'n's Unwind and Unwholly would be great NF explorations of transplant trechnology, stem cell technology, growing organs, and the social, policical and moral dilemnas they pose. Hunger Games has a cookbook. What about a book that explores the perils of reality TV and child combatants. I know there are books already on these topics, but not tied in directly to fiction works that address these topics. It really is about marketing the same information in a different way. I love the idea of tying a NF book more directly with the fiction that is so popular. For instance, Neal Shusterma’n's Unwind and Unwholly would be great NF explorations of transplant trechnology, stem cell technology, growing organs, and the social, policical and moral dilemnas they pose. Hunger Games has a cookbook. What about a book that explores the perils of reality TV and child combatants. I know there are books already on these topics, but not tied in directly to fiction works that address these topics. It really is about marketing the same information in a different way.

]]> By: Marc Aronson http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2011/02/23/the-missing-side-of-ya-nf/comment-page-1/#comment-33838 Marc Aronson Fri, 30 Sep 2011 20:02:09 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=931#comment-33838 I would love to see writers like you writing science for our readers, but I am not entirely sure where you should start. HMH, though, is not a bad place. You might ask your adult editor if s/he has had contact with the YA or kids staff. There are some agents within kids books who are strong on nonfiction, but I'm not sure if you want to split your books. I would love to see writers like you writing science for our readers, but I am not entirely sure where you should start. HMH, though, is not a bad place. You might ask your adult editor if s/he has had contact with the YA or kids staff. There are some agents within kids books who are strong on nonfiction, but I’m not sure if you want to split your books.

]]> By: Mark Pendergrast http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2011/02/23/the-missing-side-of-ya-nf/comment-page-1/#comment-33835 Mark Pendergrast Fri, 30 Sep 2011 19:14:43 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=931#comment-33835 This is a fascinating discussion for me, and something I had never considered. I write science books for adults (thus far), and it occurs to me that I could and should turn them into YA (jr high and high school levels) titles. The writing is already easy enough for that level, but the books are too long and involved. I would love some input on how I might go about contacting an appropriate publisher. I don't think my literary agent would do something like this, though I could ask her. As an example of what I have in mind, I published INSIDE THE OUTBREAKS: THE ELITE DISEASE DETECTIVES OF THE EPIDEMIC INTELLIGENCE SERVICE in 2010 with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. See www.markpendergrast.com for a good deal of information on it. I should think that this would make an excellent introduction to epidemiology and infectious diseases as a YA title. But I have no idea how to go about finding a publisher. This is a fascinating discussion for me, and something I had never considered. I write science books for adults (thus far), and it occurs to me that I could and should turn them into YA (jr high and high school levels) titles. The writing is already easy enough for that level, but the books are too long and involved. I would love some input on how I might go about contacting an appropriate publisher. I don’t think my literary agent would do something like this, though I could ask her. As an example of what I have in mind, I published INSIDE THE OUTBREAKS: THE ELITE DISEASE DETECTIVES OF THE EPIDEMIC INTELLIGENCE SERVICE in 2010 with Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. See http://www.markpendergrast.com for a good deal of information on it. I should think that this would make an excellent introduction to epidemiology and infectious diseases as a YA title. But I have no idea how to go about finding a publisher.

]]> By: Tanya Lee Stone http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2011/02/23/the-missing-side-of-ya-nf/comment-page-1/#comment-21899 Tanya Lee Stone Wed, 02 Mar 2011 21:13:54 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=931#comment-21899 An excellent conversation and seeds have been planted. Pointing out another YA book with a strong science component--Deborah Heiligman's Charles and Emma. An excellent conversation and seeds have been planted. Pointing out another YA book with a strong science component–Deborah Heiligman’s Charles and Emma.

]]> By: Marc Aronson http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2011/02/23/the-missing-side-of-ya-nf/comment-page-1/#comment-21706 Marc Aronson Mon, 28 Feb 2011 12:11:45 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=931#comment-21706 Speaking as an author, not a publisher, I disagree. It is up to us to blaze trails, to build bridges to readers not to wait to walk across paths spelled out by others. When J.K. Rowling started out, many said fantasy would not sell. Her books opened a path for others. We need to see what would engage young people -- and as our books make space and build readerships, librarians and teachers can join in. Speaking as an author, not a publisher, I disagree. It is up to us to blaze trails, to build bridges to readers not to wait to walk across paths spelled out by others. When J.K. Rowling started out, many said fantasy would not sell. Her books opened a path for others. We need to see what would engage young people — and as our books make space and build readerships, librarians and teachers can join in.

]]> By: Marc Aronson http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2011/02/23/the-missing-side-of-ya-nf/comment-page-1/#comment-21703 Marc Aronson Mon, 28 Feb 2011 11:45:50 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=931#comment-21703 I did not know about all of these -- though three examples (one, admittedly that I thought was needed) of adult best-sellers turned YA does not seem like "quite a few" to me. Still, glad to hear that at least this much cross-fertilization is taking place. I did not know about all of these — though three examples (one, admittedly that I thought was needed) of adult best-sellers turned YA does not seem like “quite a few” to me. Still, glad to hear that at least this much cross-fertilization is taking place.

]]> By: Linda Zajac http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2011/02/23/the-missing-side-of-ya-nf/comment-page-1/#comment-21498 Linda Zajac Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:36:20 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=931#comment-21498 Ironically, it is the high school students set to embark upon college and careers that need YA NF science books the most. They are the scientists of tomorrow. As one scientist I spoke with said, "They are going to inherit a holy mess." It's also not helping science literacy to skimp on this age bracket. From what I heard at a science conference, science literacy is pretty darn low. YA is a relatively new genre and YA NF even newer, so I suspect the idea hasn't caught fire yet and a crummy economy hasn't been much of an accelerant. I agree wholeheartedly that the lack of YA science is no fault of the writers who know full well how to boost up the word count or bring it down. Ironically, it is the high school students set to embark upon college and careers that need YA NF science books the most. They are the scientists of tomorrow. As one scientist I spoke with said, “They are going to inherit a holy mess.” It’s also not helping science literacy to skimp on this age bracket. From what I heard at a science conference, science literacy is pretty darn low. YA is a relatively new genre and YA NF even newer, so I suspect the idea hasn’t caught fire yet and a crummy economy hasn’t been much of an accelerant. I agree wholeheartedly that the lack of YA science is no fault of the writers who know full well how to boost up the word count or bring it down.

]]> By: Carol Hinz http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2011/02/23/the-missing-side-of-ya-nf/comment-page-1/#comment-21495 Carol Hinz Fri, 25 Feb 2011 21:16:08 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=931#comment-21495 Similar to what Mary Ann said above, I've heard middle/high school librarians talk about the fact that they rarely interact with the science teachers in their buildings. When the science teachers never come into the library looking for books and never assign projects that require their students to turn to the library, how can the librarian justify spending part of her budget on science books? Publishers need to see science books selling well or connect those books to some sort of a trend (i.e. environmentalism, interest in CSI/forensic science) before they will take the risk to publish more science-themed YA nonfiction. Similar to what Mary Ann said above, I’ve heard middle/high school librarians talk about the fact that they rarely interact with the science teachers in their buildings. When the science teachers never come into the library looking for books and never assign projects that require their students to turn to the library, how can the librarian justify spending part of her budget on science books? Publishers need to see science books selling well or connect those books to some sort of a trend (i.e. environmentalism, interest in CSI/forensic science) before they will take the risk to publish more science-themed YA nonfiction.

]]> By: Amy Jackson http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2011/02/23/the-missing-side-of-ya-nf/comment-page-1/#comment-21443 Amy Jackson Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:44:35 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=931#comment-21443 As Pamela said, there have been quite a few good YA NF science books published. There are young reader editions of Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser and Omnivore's Dilemma by Michael Pollan. And it's been pretty widely publicized that the author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is currently adapting her book for young readers (though I imagine it isn't a "simple step" as you say above). It's mentioned on her website here: http://rebeccaskloot.com/about/bio where it says, "The Immortal Life is being translated into more than 25 languages and adapted into a young reader edition. It is also being made into an HBO movie produced by Oprah Winfrey and Alan Ball." As Pamela said, there have been quite a few good YA NF science books published. There are young reader editions of Fast Food Nation by Eric Schlosser and Omnivore’s Dilemma by Michael Pollan. And it’s been pretty widely publicized that the author of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks is currently adapting her book for young readers (though I imagine it isn’t a “simple step” as you say above). It’s mentioned on her website here: http://rebeccaskloot.com/about/bio where it says, “The Immortal Life is being translated into more than 25 languages and adapted into a young reader edition. It is also being made into an HBO movie produced by Oprah Winfrey and Alan Ball.”

]]> By: Mark Flowers http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2011/02/23/the-missing-side-of-ya-nf/comment-page-1/#comment-21426 Mark Flowers Thu, 24 Feb 2011 19:48:00 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=931#comment-21426 Mary Ann said: "I wonder, too, whether how we teach science in middle and high school impacts the ways in which teachers consider science texts. " I think this is true all along the spectrum of non-fiction books. Yes, Social Studies/History get a little bit of play, but in general, the great trade NF books are the ones that challenge assumptions and make kids think, while teachers are being pushed more and more to "teach to the test," etc, and act as if science, language, history, etc. are just a series of facts that can be memorized. In that context, look at a different example that's near to my heart: language and linguistics. As far as I can tell, all the grammar that kids are taught these days is centuries old falsehoods about not splitting infinitives or ending a sentence with a preposition. Meanwhile, I could list off at least a dozen (if not many more) adult books on the real world of language and linguistics that would be totally accessible to teens. But what is being imparting in those books is descriptive linguistics--the idea that language is a living breathing thing that can't be summed up in 10 or 15 pithy "rules"--which just isn't what teachers have time or incentive to teach. Mary Ann said: “I wonder, too, whether how we teach science in middle and high school impacts the ways in which teachers consider science texts. ”

I think this is true all along the spectrum of non-fiction books. Yes, Social Studies/History get a little bit of play, but in general, the great trade NF books are the ones that challenge assumptions and make kids think, while teachers are being pushed more and more to “teach to the test,” etc, and act as if science, language, history, etc. are just a series of facts that can be memorized.

In that context, look at a different example that’s near to my heart: language and linguistics.

As far as I can tell, all the grammar that kids are taught these days is centuries old falsehoods about not splitting infinitives or ending a sentence with a preposition. Meanwhile, I could list off at least a dozen (if not many more) adult books on the real world of language and linguistics that would be totally accessible to teens. But what is being imparting in those books is descriptive linguistics–the idea that language is a living breathing thing that can’t be summed up in 10 or 15 pithy “rules”–which just isn’t what teachers have time or incentive to teach.

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