Diversity (or the lack of) Explored

 On April 27,  author Laura Lacamara wrote a post called Will Latino Stories Sell? Over at Mommy Maestra.  Lacamara first picture book, Floating on Mama's Song is gorgeous.  In her article Lacamara gives hard numbers about under-representation.
  
The day before  Jen Doll wrote an article in the Atlantic Wire called The Ongoing Problem of Race in YA  She does not reveal anything new but its still good  for the lack of diversity in YA to be talked about.  What was more telling was a previous article by Doll called The Greatest Girl Characters  of YA literature.  It actually was not list itself which was exclusively White that had me shaking my head  but the comments. Though before I get to that, the first thing I noticed about the list is that there were a lot of older middle grade titles.  Overall it was not a great list and it was  founded on nostalgia.  Anyone familiar with children's literature knows characters of color do not have a chance when nostalgia comes into play.  There's always room for A Little House in the Prairie and Tree Grows in Brooklyn  but never  House on Mango Street,  Born Confused, The Bluest Eye or Huntress  All but Huntress (which I included because I was on roll) are classics but sadly these titles do not warrant the same amount of nostalgia pull.  So I was not surprised that they were all overlooked.   To be fair to Doll it looks like she did not work on this alone.

But in the Y.A. books of our youth, they are far more complex, and more thoroughly drawn. They have been for years, and they continue to be so. Here are a few of our favorites

Knowing that this diverse free list was a group effort and not the work of one person is a bit more troubling.  To Doll's credit, she admits to the oversight  in The Ongoing Problem of Race in YA.  However it should not have happened in the first place. If I created a list in which I neglected include any White authors or characters I would be called out with the quickness. And that's how it should be. Though that is not what happened here 

PaulaNash left the fifty four comment, and was first person to suggest a character of color, Cassie Logan from Roll of Thunder Hear Me Cry. Before that comment no one mentioned or even questioned why the list was all White. Some people probably raised their concerns  privately via email, hence the Ongoing Problem of Race in YA article.  Even so the fact that no one deemed it necessary make note of this in public comments is very telling.   People should want to comment freely about the  lack of fair representation at any time not only when the article, piece, entry what have you is on diversity.  When it is only the latter it proves to me a lot more still needs to change.  

If you have read this far down, I hope you are a little amped up to support   YA diversity. If that is the case, Guys Lit Wire is currently running their annual book fair. This year they have returned to Ballou H.S. in Washington D.C.   Head on over to GLW and find all you need to know,

Marisol McDonald no combina - Monica Brown, Sara Palacios

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/Marisol McDonald no combina by Monica Brown, illus. por Sara Palacios

Marisol comes from two cultures.When people tell Marisol she doesn't match, she's knows that their wrong and tells them so.

"I play soccer with my cousin Tato and he says, "Marisol your skin is brown like , but your hair is the color of carrots. You don't match!"

"Actually, my hair is the color of fine," I say and kick the ball over Tato's head and into the goal"

Marisol is not afraid to match by mixing. Though after a comment by a friend, Marisol decides no more mixing. When Marisol goes to school that's all the same color, Palacio's captures so much emotion in her eyes. its easy to imagine Marisol's broken spirit.

Brown's text is lyrical and endearing, I was easily drawn in by Marisol. Palacio beautiful and colorful illustration, fit Brown's text perfectly This is a fun story about a very imaginative and outspoken girl who loves to match by mixing


Sara Paracios received a 2012 Pura Belpre honor award for Marisol McDonald no combina.

2012 Pura Belpre Honorees Video Edition

The 2012 Youth Media Awards were handed out last month. I thought I'd share the videos by the Latino authors and illustrators who received a Pura Belpre award.

Diego Rivera: His World and Ours by Duncan Tonatiuth


The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha R. Vamos illus. by Rafael Lopez.


Under the Mesquite by Guadalupe Garcia Mccall


Maximilian & the Mystery of the Guardian Angel by Xavier Garza


Hurricane Dancers by Margarita Engle


I couldn't find a video for one honoree- Sara Palacios illustrator of Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match/Marisol McDonald no combina by Monica Brown - There's a used copy on sale at amazon for 1,068.77 + shipping, Over a $1,000 and seller can't cover shipping. Cuesto mucho mucho dinero no bueno. Es muy loco. I hope no one is foolish enough to buy that. Since its a used copy Brown and Palacios will not get any residuals.



A lot of these titles are on back order, the publishers have to print more (reprint) to meet the demand. This is a good thing, it means the Pura Belpre award is having the intended effect, people are seeking out the books and diversifying their library

So if there's a book on here that you want and it happens to be on back order, go ahead and place your order, that way publishers are aware of the demand and then wait for the reprint. More copies should be available in a few weeks. Whatever you do, do not buy the used copies. I love used books when they're like three or five bucks. But not when the used copies cost more than the retail price of the book. Sellers making a larger profit than the authors really pisses me off. So wait for the reprint to let authors, illustrators and their publishers can get the credit they deserve. And don't forget to check the your local biblioteca.

2012 The Pura Belpre Award (Un Poco de Amor)

On Jan. 23 the Youth Media Awards will be given out. I've already looked at the CSK award and to do that and not the Pura Belpre Award es no bueno.

The award is named after Pura Belpré, the first Latina librarian at the New York Public Library. The Pura Belpré Award, established in 1996, is presented annually to a Latino/Latina writer and illustrator whose work best portrays, affirms, and celebrates the Latino cultural experience in an outstanding work of literature for children and youth. It is co-sponsored by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), and REFORMA, the National Association to Promote Library and Information Services to Latinos and the Spanish-Speaking, an ALA affiliate.

1.A Bailer ! Lets Dance by Judith Ortiz Colfer illus. by Christina Ann Rodriquez
2.Adelita and the Veggie Cousins by Diane Gonzales illus. by Christina Rodriquez
3.Clara and the Curandera by Monica Brown illus. by Thelma Muraida
4.Waiting for the Biblioburro by Monica Brown illus. by John Parra
5.Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match by Monica Brown illus. by Sara Palacios
6 Diego Rivera: His World and Ours by Duncan Tonatiuh
7. Ladder to the Moon by Maya Soetoro Ng illus. by Yuyi Morales
8. The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred by Samantha R. Vamos illus. by Rafeal Lopez
9. Talking Eagle and the Lady Roses by Eugene Gollogly illus. by Amy Cordova
10. Tia Isa Wants a Car by Meg Medina illus. by Claudio Munoz

I think I've found all the eligible picture books for illustrator award but then I thought the same thing for the CSK award and missed three books. Lo siento if I do the same thing here. I've read four out of the nine. For the rest I had to make do with online excerpts and spreads.

A Bailer ! Lets Dance is one of the ones I didn't read. Since it didn't get a good kirkus review I will place this in the non contender pile.

Adelita and the Veggie Cousins - didn't read this either however the cover art isn't working for me.

Clara and the Curandera for this one I was able to look at a few spreads via Thelma Muraida, the illustrators site and really enjoyed what I saw. Especially when Clara smells the flowers.

Talking Eagle and the Lady Roses - Again I had to make do with spreads and I liked what I saw and Cordova was an honor recipient in 2009 for What Can You Do With A Rebozo?

Tia Isa Wants a Car - (I knew I'd forgot one) Only saw a little of this one as well but liked what I saw. The illus. have a clean straight forward look and Munoz color palette is very nice. I would not be surprised to see this one get an honor.

Marisol McDonald Doesn't Match this is the last one I haven't read promise. Though I love the spreads I saw via Sara Palacios, the illustrators site. Marisol is adorable with her little eye patch.


Diego Rivera: His World and Ours - Tonatiuh style is such that either you like it or you don't. I happen to like it a lot. Last years committee did as well, his debut Dear Primo was an illustrator honor recipient. The illus. of Diego Rivera are very much the same as his debut. Overall I like this one more.


Waiting for Biblioburro - Parra's illustrations are beautiful and each time I look at them I like them even more. They fit Brown's text perfectly


Ladder to the Moon - Morales illustrations are gorgeous, I could easily enjoy this story without reading a word. Though according to the rules of the award books must portray, affirm, and celebrate the Latino cultural experience and Ladder to the Moon doesn't do that. It does however encourage cultural unity and that should count for something. Since it's illlustrated by an artist who is a past winner, I believe the committee will at least look at it. If its eliagble or not, yo no se


The Cazuela That the Farm Maiden Stirred - Lopez loves color and knows how to use it. The bright and beautiful illustrations pop off the page.


In the end I believe who will win is between Parra, Morales and Lopez. Since Ladder to the Moon may or may not fit the criteria, it comes down to a two way push between Parra and Lopez (in my head I am picturing the two artist in a ring with a canvas and their medium of choice)

Who I think will win - Parra for Waiting on Bibliburro/Lopez for The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred

Who I want to win - Lopez The Cazuela that the Farm Maiden Stirred / John Parra for Waiting on Bibliburro

That was muy dificil and I totally chickened out, but it really is a coin toss.

Who I think will honor - Palacios for Marisol Mcdonald Doesn't Match, Muraida for Clara and the Curandera, Lopez or Parra,

Who I want to honor - Lopez or Parra, Tonatiuh for Diego Rivera, Palacios, Morales for Ladder to the Moon