Tears or Glitter?
April 25th, 2010 by Sara
This weekend I had the privilege of hearing Kate DiCamillo (Because of Winn-Dixie and The Tale of Despereaux) speak at the LA Times Festival of Books. She was one of those wonderful authors whose real-world presence is exactly the same as her writing presence. She speaks with the same quiet, humorous confidence that comes across in her books.
During the question and answer segment, a boy got up and asked her, “Why do your books always have sad endings?” Then he listed off the melancholy endings of book after book.
“Well, when you put it like that…” Kate laughed with the audience, looking a little sheepish. Then she took a minute to really think about the question. She went on to explain that she didn’t mean to write sad endings, but that life is full of the sad as well as the beautiful, and she tries to write what is in life.
This was a big difference from Meg Cabot (The Princess Diaries) who also talked about the sadness of life in her dynamic speech. But Meg Cabot’s answer to this uncomfortable truth about life, and especially childhood, is to write ‘pretty things.’ She said she wants strong girls and glitter and prettiness as an escape from what might be the bleakness of real life.
I
found these differing answers to the same truth fascinating. And cleary, judging by the popularity of both their books, both are needed in our world, often by the same readers. Sometimes I want to read a world that has beauty and sadness that reflects our own, but whose stories often make more sense than the seeming randomness of our own lives. But other times, I want to escape, with glitter or dirigibles or princesses, to a world totally unrecognizable from mine.
What struck me the most in these two talks was that both writers, so different in their styles, their presentations, their books, knew why they wrote what they wrote. They were compelled by their subjects and it was this compulsion that led to the confidence in their speaking and in their writing.
Perhaps that is something it takes years to develop. Not just the courage to get your words down on the page or to stand up in front of readers, but a certainty in what you choose to write. Perhaps it is this, more than tears or glitter, that invites us into these authors’ stories. That, word-by-word, builds their worlds around us. And it’s this confidence that makes us want to stay.
Posted in Authors, I heart this book, Nifty happenings, Writing
April 26th, 2010 at 10:51 am
A nice, thoughtful look at two successful children’s authors and some of the reasons for their popularity. Somebody was really taking what she heard to heart! Thanks for sharing, Sara.
April 26th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Thank you for your thoughts. I had to miss both of those speakers, so this is invaluable!
April 26th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Great post and a great day at the Festival of Books! Also interesting was knowing why they loved to read. Meg said she read as a child to escape some heaviness at home.
And Kate, as a sickly child, also read to escape.
So knowing why you write what you write has a strong connection to why you read what you read as a kid.
Pretty cool stuff. ; )
April 26th, 2010 at 11:27 am
Suzanne, that is totally true. I’ve heard so many people say that they write the books they would have loved to have read as a child, but couldn’t find. I take comfort in knowing that a lot more stories are out there for kids to read now. I also like the idea that being certain in what you write is the same as being certain in what you read. And also knowing that both of those can surprise you:)
April 27th, 2010 at 6:37 am
Wow. This post lines up a lot with my thinking lately. Thanks, Sara!
Summer (conference) Reading
July 22nd, 2009 by Sara
When I was a kid, my library, like many others, had a summer reading program. Every book I read racked up points towards stickers or McDonalds french fries or, my most coveted prize of all, the knotted pencil. How did they even do that??
It was the highlight of my summer and I always read a ton of Newberys cause they were worth more points. It’s also how I discovered one of my favorite all-time books, Journey Outside by Mary Q. Steele, which, tragically, pretty much no one else has ever heard of. Luckily, I read it enough times for all of you.
Sigh. Those were the days.
Well, there’s no prizes for this list, but if you’re going to the SCBWI Summer Conference or you just want a good summer read, these books might come in handy. 
These are some of my favorite books written by authors coming to this year’s conference. It’s YA biased and I’m only including books I’ve read, so some great ones are probably left out. I apologize in advance!
Skin Hunger by Kathleen Duey -Awesomely dark fantasy, compellingly told in both first and third person.
King Dork by Frank Portman -Best made-up band names in the history of the world.
Catherine Called Birdy by Karen Cushman -Cause medieval humor is the wackiest!
Tithe by Holly Black- Creepy fairies and teen angst…what better combination is there?
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie – You will literally laugh and cry at the same time.
A Single Shard by Linda Sue Park -Exquisitely written, need I say more?
Millicent Min, Girl Genius by Lisa Yee – It’s funny cause it’s true. Millicent’s humor is totally authentic.
And lets not forget picture books! A couple of my favorite illustrator/authors are going to be speaking at the conference this year.
Every Friday by Dan Yaccarino – I can’t say enough good things about this simple, perfect father/son story.
Tuesday by David Wiesner – Flying frogs. Let me just be clear about this. Flying. Frogs.
Whether you’re a writer or a reader, summer is a time for sitting on the porch, munching on an Otter Pop, and falling into a book. And each one of these is a perfect place to spend your summer vacation.
Posted in Authors, Books, Conference, I heart this book, Illustration, Nifty happenings, Picture books, SCBWI
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:34 pm
Woo hoo! I’ve read all these awesome books, too! These are (some of) my favorites, too!!
To this I would add that the chapter book/young middle grade According to Humphrey series is outstanding.
But what’s this about a Newbery no one’s heard of?? Now I’ve got to track that down!
July 22nd, 2009 at 1:46 pm
Thanks for the recommendation! Anyone else have books we should add to the list?
And I totally have a copy of Journey Outside that you can borrow and the story really holds up over time.
July 22nd, 2009 at 4:55 pm
Excellent suggestions. I’ve been meaning to get to King Dork for a while, and now I have to look into Journey Outside.
July 23rd, 2009 at 10:44 am
Totally into Skin Hunger now. Stopped for five seconds to check my email, but I am glued!! Thanks for lending. U the best friend eva!!
July 23rd, 2009 at 11:06 pm
I’m so glad! I just saw Holly Black speak today and she was really great. I can’t wait to hear her whole talk at the conference.
Our Roots…
February 14th, 2008 by Sara
Posted in Authors, Books, I heart this book, Valentines
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Happy Valentine’s Day, Paul Fleischman
February 3rd, 2008 by Sara
Posted in Authors, Books, Haiku review, I heart this book, Valentines
February 15th, 2008 at 12:08 am
Here’s Paul Fleischman’s response!
http://www.sarawilsonetienne.com/paul-fleischman-responds.htm
A Month of L<3VE
February 1st, 2008 by SaraInstead of candy hearts and flowers, I’m celebrating Valentine’s Day with books! I hereby declare the month of February as one humongous Valentine’s card to my favorite authors and stories. Yes, even writers and illustrators need to feel the love. So lets give it to them!
I’m going to be dedicating each day of February to a different great artist. 
A St. Valentine’s card of bookwormy wonder. Feel free to add your own praises and throw out suggestions. So lets start handing out some…
<3
<3
<3
<3
Posted in Books, I heart this book, Nifty happenings, Writing
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Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key
January 17th, 2008 by Sara
Wow.
Really wow.
I just listened to the amazing audiobook of Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key, read by the author Jack Gantos. I found myself laughing and tearing up at the same time. Joey Pigza, a kid with extreme behavior issues, is so friendly, so dynamic, and so exuberant that I fell in love with him, even while I saw how he disrupted the world around him. The way he tried and the way the world often misjudged him, or didn’t have the time or patience or understanding to give him, broke my heart. But Joey is unstoppable, and infinitely embraceable.
This first-person trip into the mind of Joey, filled with uncontrollable impulses, extreme fears and desires, and a very funny narrative, opened my mind and heart* to kid’s in Joey’s shoes. It gave me a window into attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in the same way The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time by Mark Haddon opened a window into autism. Joey Pigza Swallowed The Key is a masterful book, written with a quality and candidness that you don’t always see in stories for this age group.
Plus, Jack Gantos did an amazing job reading this book. He’ll always be Joey Pigza to me.
HaikuReview: Joey Pigza Swallowed the Key by Jack Gantos
Just sit. Just listen.
Just do the impossible.
Just wishes he could.
*I do realize that I’ve used the word ‘heart’ twice and ‘love’ once in this review. Because I heart heart heart Joey.
Posted in Books, Haiku review, I heart this book
January 19th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
Thanks sooo much for sharing this book!! It is next to read for sure!
Meg
A Company of Swans
January 15th, 2008 by Sara
HaikuReview: A Company of Swans by Eva Ibbotson
Defiant woman,
Pirouettes through the jungle.
Sweet, swirling story.
Posted in Books, Haiku review, I heart this book
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If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period
January 7th, 2008 by SaraHaikuReview: If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period by Gennifer Choldenko
Now that I’m done will the Great Picture Book Read of ‘07, I’ve been catching up with some middle grade and YA books. It turns out that If a Tree Falls at Lunch Period was a great place to start. Gennifer Choldenko won the Newbery Honor, as well as the Sid Fleishman Humor Award, for her earlier book, Al Capone Does My Shirts. So, of course, I was eager to read her latest book. Bonus points: she’s also a really nice person.
I’m glad to say that I was completely pulled into this story of outcasts and friends, told by two alternating main characters. Intriguingly, Gennifer Choldenko decided to tell one character in first person and the second main character in third person. I’m not sure I’ve seen that before, but it really worked in this book. I’d love to know why she chose to tell it like that.
Okay, enough chit-chat. On with the Haiku!
Flashbacks to 7th grade,
Feeling queasy as I read.
She gets it spot on.
Posted in Books, Haiku review, I heart this book
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Mr. Willoughby’s Christmas Tree
December 25th, 2007 by Sara
Haiku Review:
Mr. Willoughby’s Christmas Tree by Robert Barry
Christmas time machine,
This book is just the right size.
I am 5 again.
Merry Everything, Everyone!
Posted in Books, Haiku review, I heart this book, Nifty happenings, Picture books, The Great Picture Book Read
January 21st, 2008 at 4:57 pm
I just read this, thanks to you. I totally loved it.
What a great idea for a Christmas picture book!!
November 30th, 2008 at 10:06 pm
This was one of my favorite books as a kid. I used to (and still do) love how everyone in the book re-uses and re-uses again the christmas tree.
“I’ve got a golden ticket…”
December 20th, 2007 by Sara
So, I’m going to see The Golden Compass tomorrow. I’m pretty excited, and not just because Philip Pullman’s His Dark Materials trilogy is amazing.
Tony worked on the movie and his name’s in the credits. Hooray!
If you go see the movie, keep an eye out for the wolves in Bolvangar. And stay long enough to cheer for Tony (under Rhythm and Hues Studios, ‘Look Development’) and all the other ‘men (and women) behind the curtain.’
Posted in Books, I heart this book, Nifty happenings
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