tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post8001351332035759115..comments2024-03-28T04:26:30.557-05:00Comments on Boston 1775: Just Desserts in a New Children’s Book?Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-51048824566350858922015-02-24T13:40:40.645-05:002015-02-24T13:40:40.645-05:00I couldn't agree with you more, J. L.
This ...I couldn't agree with you more, J. L. <br /><br />This is one of those rare instances when I agree with Kirkus and not Publishers Weekly.Jaimehttp://www.sophistimom.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-22301154732231756242014-12-29T21:30:32.892-05:002014-12-29T21:30:32.892-05:00Here’s the Kirkus review of A Fine Dessert.Here’s the <a href="https://www.kirkusreviews.com/book-reviews/emily-jenkins/a-fine-dessert/" rel="nofollow"><i>Kirkus</i> review</a> of <i>A Fine Dessert</i>.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-57522585677978206382014-12-29T14:45:39.594-05:002014-12-29T14:45:39.594-05:00I suspect a big part of the reviewer's problem...I suspect a big part of the reviewer's problem is that the book doesn't address the problem that episode raises—chattel slavery—by either fixing it within the story or finding some reassurance and hope. There is a big school of thought in children's books that all stories need to end with a "sense of hope." They don't need to be exclusively happy, but even stories about poverty, oppression, and disabilities have to end on an up note. <br /><br />This one has that big, dangling loose end of race-based slavery, and the reviewer (perhaps projecting) felt that would be too much for readers to handle.J. L. Bellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15405157000473731801noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-28102666.post-27447058498887916052014-12-29T12:54:05.711-05:002014-12-29T12:54:05.711-05:00I am very disappointed in Publishers Weekly. I had...I am very disappointed in Publishers Weekly. I had had no idea that their editorial stance was that children should experience only happy moments. What an odd way to introduce children to life.<br /><br />Further, there is no need when reading this book to a little one to explain the entire history of the US Civil War and US race relations. I would probably just say, "This happened long ago, and long ago they had some silly ideas. Wouldn't it be strange if Aunt Sarah had to eat in the closet when she came to our house? Or if we had to eat in the closet at her house?" I think children are well able to realize that other families' rules might be different and maybe not what we want to do.Chauceriannoreply@blogger.com