Talking Books

Last night I had my first ever experience being in a book club. It was really fun— the group is a bunch of writers and editors who are all about MG and YA books, and everyone had great things to say. The book we’d chosen was CHAINS by Laurie Halse Anderson and it was meaty with lots of good things to discuss. Some of us (like me) pretty much just loved it but others had issues with certain things and those were interesting to hear. I felt like it deepened my reading experience to discuss and think about the book in new ways. Next up is THE SPECTACULAR NOW.

So here’s my question for you guys: those of you in book clubs, how do you run things? Do you structure discussions or have any kinds of rituals or questions you go around and everyone answers? Now that I’ve had my own experience book clubbing I’m really interested to hear other people’s!

*daphne grab*

Friday was a great day

On Friday, I traveled to Princeton, NJ for Bookazine's third annual Kids Spring Arrivals Event. First of all, Princeton is a beautiful place. I loved it. I want to go back and lucky for me I get to! I'm going back in September for the Princeton Children's Book Festival.

The Bookazine event was held in the lovely and quaint Nassau Inn. (Note to the Longstockings: we might want to go there for a retreat one day. It was gorgeous and Princeton also has some good shopping!)

Anyway, I got to chat with independent booksellers, eat a delicious lunch, talk about my book for fifteen minutes and sign copies too! I met the delightful Gayle Forman, author of If I Stay and the funny and charming author/illustrator Peter Brown.

At the end, I got a goody bag of galleys including Sarah Dessen's latest Along for the Ride. And I got a cute tote that says "Read Global. Buy Local." I love it!

The whipped cream on the sundae of this awesome day: Bookazine's Heather Doss had read my blog so she knew about my burning desire to read the Emma-Jean Lazarus sequel, Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell in Love. And guess what? She brought a galley for me! Heather remembered. In the midst of her very busy time organizing and getting ready for the event, she remembered to bring little me a galley! How nice is that? Seriously nice.

It was an awesome day. I love you, Bookazine and I love you, Independent bookstores and booksellers.

xoxoxo
Lisa GW

Help Me!!!

For an upcoming panel on teen violence that I'm doing with fellow authors Neesha Meminger and Heather Duffy-Stone, I want to give the teenagers in the audience a handout with a list of recommended books that deal with abusive and/or unhealthy teen relationships -- books that will help the teens think about the choices the characters make.

And I need your help!!!

Seriously, I'm desperate!

What are some really good books that deal with difficult teen relationships in a honest, non-preachy way?

Thanks!!!
:-)
~Coe~

OH MY GOSH!!!

I know there's been a lot of controversy and opinion about Spike Jones' adaptation of Where the Wild Things Are...but this trailer is freaking amazing!!!



Hurry up October!!!

-=siobhan=-

It's a sprint, not a marathon

So far 2009 has been pretty darn good to me. Summer I Turned Pretty comes out in May and it's been sold to France and Germany and the good news keeps on coming! I got a really nice stahhed review, which is a first for me. It's been three whole years since Shug came out, and suddenly, I am planning signings and festivals and a book party again. It's all really amazing, BUT there's always a but-- Book 2 of the trio is due May 1st. Book 1 comes out May 5th. I am NOT finished with Book 2 yet. I'd say that's a pretty big hurdle. And I am not athletic.

Caroline and Siobhan have been talking about trying on this different writing style of not writing in order and just writing whatever excites them first. This is how I've always done it, and it's great, I love it, I urge you to try it too-- BUT I've already written all that good fun stuff and now I have to go in and do that connective tissue, as Siobhan calls it. I think of it as sewing pieces together. I still have about 15,000 more words to write. For me, that's a whole lotta words. My friend Morgan can write that many words in an afternoon. Unfortunately, I cannot.

The good news is, I haven't done my favorite part of the process yet. I am saving it up until I absolutely need it. Which is, print out the entire thing and then go in with my red or blue pen. Whenever I do this, I come up with tons of stuff and I write it all in the margins and on the backs of the paper and then (this is the really satisfying part) I type it all up. So I am going to try and trust in my process and just let it unfold the way it always does for me. It's scary, but this is how I do it.

Now please excuse me while I go back up.

stressfully yours,
jenny

Talkin' about Girls & Books!

Yesterday, Lisa GW and I were invited to speak (along with the fabulously amazing Gabrielle Zevin) at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan, at a panel called "What's a Girl to Read?"

Well, what a great topic!

As you can imagine, when it comes to girls and books, there were questions about books like Gossip Girl and whether we thought they were the "right" kind of books for girls to read. We were asked if these books "reinforce the desire for wealth and consumption, power, and unrealistic portrayals of relationships and sexuality."

Well, they probably do, but we all seemed to agree that teens should read whatever they want (without censorship and without judgement!), that when we were young we read both quality books and books that didn't really have any redeeming social value whatsoever, and we still grew up appreciating great books. The important thing is teens are reading, and eventually they will read other books as well. The same goes for those Twilight-obsessed teens! The series is over now; they will read again! No need to worry!

We also discussed how we try to create unique, real female characters, and how we are (still!) able to connect with our teenage protagonists. And of course, we talked about Judy Blume!

It was a really fun evening!
:-)
~Coe~

Come visit a 110 year old independent pharmacy on Sunday...

...and I will read and sign books too! Check it out: I'm listed on NY1, thanks to the amazing publicity staff at Abrams!

xoxoxo
Lisa GW

Jump to the Middle

I'm trying something new(!).

After some discussions with Jenny and Siobhan about the progress I am and am not making with my WIP, they both suggested I stop writing sequentially and just pick a scene in the middle that I'm excited about it and write it.

WHAT? I said. How do I write a scene without knowing how my characters got there?

JUST TRY IT, they said. It frees you up. It shows you where you're going, and helps you figure out how to get there. And it keeps you from writing boring little scenes that only serve to get your characters from point A to point B.

So I'm trying it. I'm sitting here now writing a scene that's going to happen about 70% of the way through the book and, unbelievably, it's going okay. The writing feels fun and loose, like it does when you start a completely new project and aren't hampered by the hows and whys yet.

Anyone else write this way? I'm diggin' it!

*caroline hickey

New Blog

Like Jenny, Siobhan, Lisa GW and Coe I now have my own blog in addition to this one. Come by and visit!

*daphne grab*

Spring has sprung!

The new view from my study:



This is the view that sold me on this flat. A year ago, when I was running around seeing more options for places to live than I could keep straight in my head, I stood in the empty second bedroom and imagined how great it would be to sit at my desk or on my couch and look out at that tree. If I can't paint my study red--and since I don't ever plan to own a house, I am probably stuck with white wherever I go--I could at least have those lovely bright flowers to inspire me.

The unexpected benefit: when writing isn't going well, I notice that I really need to go out and scrub the patio. Then writing seems like an excellent way to procrastinate cleaning!

--Kathryne

In Libraries Across the City...

Yesterday I was one of many authors (and several Longstockings) to participate in the Five Borough Read, one of the events in the NYC Teen Author Festival where authors read in libraries across the (you guessed it) five boroughs. I got to read at the Countee Cullen branch library in Harlem with Matt de la Pena, Mary Hogan, Bill Konigsburg, Barry Lyga, and Carolyn MacCullough, all of whom were lovely and read beautifully. It was a super fun afternoon and I think the high point was when one kid raised his hand and asked about getting our books. We were at a library so there weren’t books for sale and this kid clearly wanted a book right then. So Matt stood up and handed the kid a copy of his book, MEXICAN WHITEBOY, the copy that Matt had brought and read from. Moments later we all followed suit, handing over the single copies of our books that we had taken from home and giving them to these kids who were so excited to get them. Afterwards they came up and got them signed. It was one of those perfect moments, and all and all a great event to be part of!

*daphne grab*

PS- I also want to add that the librarians who hosted us were awesome, Barry Lyga was a great emcee and the crowd who came to hear us (including author and friend Ebony Wilkins) was fantastic!

Spring Break Reading!

It's Spring Break for me and in addition to writing and organizing publicity for MLIP&G, I'm reading. It's delicious. Right now I am lounging on my couch, still in my pjs, sipping coffee, and reading! This is so rare for me.

I'm reading SAVVY and loooovvvviiiinnnngggg it.

Respond in the comments and tell me what you're reading.

xoxox
Lisa GW

Almost better than a great writing afternoon...

...is an afternoon spent with actual teenagers! Who read!

My volunteer gig took me on a careers day trip to Canary Wharf today. I spent all morning cursing myself for signing up for a field trip, which was always my least favorite part of teaching, but as soon as I got to the meeting place and started talking to the kids it was all worth it.

And THEN they asked me what my job was (since it was career day, after all), and I told them about writing a novel, and they promptly started telling me their favorite books and the cool projects they'd done for book reports and asking me had I read this or liked that (and thank heaven, I had). Our conversation broke up too early (there was an actual program, and I had to set a good example by not talking through it) but ever since I got home I've been energized and feeling more positive about my writing than I have in a long time.

It's like a booster shot of inspiration!

--Kathryne

The Best Present A Writer Could Ever Want

I had a signing at my hometown Barnes and Noble last week. It was an awesome crowd full of old friends, neighbors and former teachers...including my beloved 8th grade english teacher, Mrs. Hetzel. 

here we are!

Anyhow, Mrs. Hetzel has always been my biggest supporter. Even when I was a crazy student who had endless energy (aka: behavioral issues) and probably drove her, and countless other teachers, completely bonkers, Mrs. Hetzel never told me to quiet down or reign it in. She was nothing but completely encouraging of me. Which was NOT the norm. Mrs. Hetzel also put books in my hands. She always had me reading something. And she spoke passionately about the power of stories. I absolutely credit her for instilling in me the love of reading. 

And so, it came as no surprise that Mrs. Hetzel gave me the absolute best present a writer could ever dream for. After getting her copy of Same Difference signed, she passed me a white envelope. Sealed. And scribbled on the front were the words...

For Your Worst Writing Day

Mrs. Hetzel  had photocopied (with permission) an entry from a Reading Journal written by one of her students. It is (apparently) a very complimentary piece on my first book, A Little Friendly Advice, which this student had found in Mrs. Hetzel's library. This unnamed girl really responded to my book, and wrote an entry full of praise and personal connections.  

This, she said, was a parachute for when I feel like jumping out of a plane. A vote of confidence for when I don't think I've got it in me. For me, just knowing my old teacher Mrs. Hetzel would even think to do something like this for her former student makes me feel like I can write my way through the darkest days. I don't even have to open the letter to feel its preciousness. (though I am sure I will. My first draft is proving to be a doozy!)

I love you, Mrs. Hetzel. Thank you so very much for so very much.

(completely tearing up!)

-=siobhan=-

NYC Teen Author Festival!!!

Very exciting things will be going on here in New York City next week -- VERY EXCITING! Why? Well it's the First Annual NYC Teen Author Festival, that's why!!!

Beginning on Monday, there will be events around the city all week, and four of us Longstockings (Daphne, Siobhan, Jenny, and I) will be participating!

Here's the schedule of events:

Juvenalia Smackdown
Monday, 3/16, 4-6pm, Tompkins Square Park branch of the NYPL, 331 E. 10th Street
Join Holly Black, Alaya Johnson, Justine Larbalestier, David Levithan, Diana Peterfruend, Scott Westerfeld as they read some of their (ahem) less accomplished work from their middle school and high school years. Hosted by Libba Bray.

I Have Seen the Future…and It Sounds Like This
Wednesday, 3/18, Mulberry Street Branch of the NYPL
Teen authors are notoriously stingy about reading from their works-in-progress. But for Guest of Honor Joe Monti, authors
Libba Bray, Rachel Cohn, Eireann Corrigan, Justine Larbalestier, Barry Lyga, and Scott Westerfeld are willing to share a little bit from their future books. Hosted by David Levithan.

The Five-Borough Read
Thursday, 3/19

BROOKLYN: Central Library, Dweck Center, 10 Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn 10-11am
Gayle Forman, Jenny Han, Leslie Margolis, Abby Sher, Matthue Roth, Robin Wasserman

BRONX: Bronx Library Center, 310 E. Kingsbridge Road, Bronx 4-5pm
Coe Booth, Madeleine George, Paul Griffin, Brian Sloan, Melissa Walker

MANHATTAN: Countee Cullen Branch, 104 W. 136th St 4-5pm
Matt de la Pena, Daphne Grab, Mary Hogan, Bill Konigsburg, Barry Lyga, Carolyn MacCullough

MANHATTAN: Jefferson Market Branch, 425 Avenue of the Americas 4-5pm
David Levithan, Bennett Madison, Laura McLaughlin, Billy Merrell, Marie Rutkoski

MANHATTAN: Webster Branch, 1465 York Avenue 4-5pm
Lisa Ann Sandell, Courtney Sheinmel, Rachel Vail, Cecily Von Ziegesar, Martin Wilson

QUEENS: Far Rockaway Branch, 2002 Cornaga Ave, Queens 4-5pm
Tara Altebrando, Laura Dower, Heather Duffy-Stone, Aimee Friedman, Eliot Schrefer, Siobhan Vivian, Rita Williams-Garcia

STATEN ISLAND: St. George Library Center, 5 Central Avenue 4-5pm
Kate Brian, Judy Goldschmidt, Michael Northrop, Micol Ostow, Lynn Weingarten

Rock Out with TIGER BEAT!
Thursday, 3/19, 6pm at Books of Wonder
By day, Libba Bray, Daniel Ehrenhaft, Barney Miller, and Natalie Standiford are upstanding authors. But by night, they turn into … TIGER BEAT, the first ever YA author rock band. Tonight is their debut public performance … and it’s sure to go down in legend. With opening act The Infinite Playlists (Rachel Cohn and David Levithan reading a litany of musical references, but mercifully not singing).

I Love You, New York: Teen Lit in the City
Friday, 3/20, 6pm, NYPL, 42nd Street, Court Room
Join authors Coe Booth, Paul Griffin, Maureen Johnson, David Levithan, Cecily von Ziegesar, and Rita Williams-Garcia in a spirited reading and discussion about teen novels set in New York City – from the glamour of the gossip girls to the grit of the Bronx projects, from the everyday battles of the high school halls to the extraordinary events of 9/11.

Stuff for the Teen Age Ceremony
Saturday, 3/21, 1pm, NYPL, 42nd Street, Celeste Bartos Forum
This new list only has the best of the best, and includes books, music, movies, and video games. Featuring a keynote by Walter Dean Myers

Teen Authors Celebrate Teen Readers
Sunday, 3/22, NYPL, 42nd Street, Trustees Room, 1pm Over a dozen authors salute teen readers and teen advisory board members from around the city, including Blake Nelson, reading from his upcoming novel Destroy All Cars.

The Biggest Teen Author Signing EVER
Sunday, 3/22, Books of Wonder, 4pm Join over 40 authors for a signing extravaganza as they take over Books of Wonder, sign books, and converse with fans new and old. An incredible event that is sure to go down in book-signing history.

Authors include:
Nora Baskin
Jessica Blank
Judy Blundell
Coe Booth
Elise Broach
Susanne Colasanti
Sarah Darer-Littman
Matt de la Pena
Heather Duffy-Stone
Gayle Forman
Aimee Friedman
Madeleine George
Maureen Johnson
Kristen Kemp
Justine Larbalestier
David Levithan
E. Lockhart
Barry Lyga
Carolyn Mackler
Sarah MacLean
Megan McCafferty
Laura McLaughlin
Neesha Meminger
Billy Merrell
Blake Nelson
Micol Ostow
Matthue Roth
Marie Rutkoski
Lisa Ann Sandell
Courtney Sheinmel
Abby Sher
Brian Sloan
Rachel Vail
David Van Etten
Ned Vizzini
Adrienne Maria Vrettos
Cecily von Ziegesar
Melissa Walker
Robin Wasserman
Scott Westerfeld
Suzanne Weyn
Maryrose Wood
Lizabeth Zindel


All the events are open to all and FREE! So please come on out and get your fill of all things YA! It's going to be a lot of fun. I promise!!!
:-)
~Coe~

The Wisdom of Vizzini

I've seen and read The Princess Bride about a thousand times. When Inigo botches up killing the Man in Black, he remembers that his boss Vizzini always said that when a job goes wrong, you go back to the beginning (or, in the book, "Fool fool, back to the beginning is the rule!"). Is this good advice for a writer as well?

I'm about a quarter of the way through the second draft of my WIP and I've hit a major snafu. So I've decided to go back to the beginning AGAIN (this is actually the 4th beginning, not the 3rd) and change a few major details to make the drama/tension more intense and more immediate.

In some ways, I fear that is my way of procrastinating writing through the draft. In fact, I would likely advise a friend to just keep pushing through to the end and then go back to fix the intro. But I can't make myself do it!

Eek. What do you think? Am I procrastinating, or since this is such a major change would it be better to get the beginning right?


*caroline hickey

Cool and free event alert

Are you free on Saturday March 28th and in the NYC area?

Then come to Youth Voices Uncensored

Doesn't it sound great?

It says that high school students and media educators are encouraged to attend so tell all the high schoolers and media educators that you know.

Happy Friday,
Lisa GW

Talk of the ‘Times’: A ‘New York Times’ Reviewers Panel

I wanted to go to the panel at the new NYPL Children’s Center at 42nd Street last Saturday but there was a very important PITT vs. UCONN basketball game on and it was so hard to tear myself away, and think I was good luck because PITT won the game. Go PITT!

But anyway, the panel was on the hows and whys certain books are chosen to be reviewed by the New York Times.

You can read more about the panel and discussion here.

Happy March Madness!
Lisa GW

Fan Fiction

A few nights ago I saw Bridget Jones’s Diary with some girlfriends and it got me in the mood for fan fiction. I thought that book was such a fun modernization of Pride and Prejudice, capturing some of the best of P&P but having it’s own original voice and twists as well. I’ve seen some lesser fan fiction and then some great stuff, like Jane Smiley’s A Thousand Acres which blew me away. But for some reason I can’t think of any YA or MG fan fiction. Anyone out there have some favorites in this category? I want to add a few more good ones to my bookshelf.

*daphne grab*

Attention people in the NYC area!

Tomorrow at 7pm I will be reading and signing at B&N on East 86th Street and 2nd Avenue. Please come if you can! Click here for more information.

xoxoxo
Lisa GW

What do you all do for fun around here?

As Siobhan pointed out a week or so ago, writing is rarely a full-time job. The solitude and concentration it requires mean that most of us can only do it for a few hours a day. (I, for one, have found that I can get 2 1/2 hours in if I'm at home--more like four or five I go somewhere with music and people and no internet connection.)

This is a good thing, given that most writers need jobs to support themselves anyway. The trick then becomes finding a way to earn money that leaves two hours and enough energy somewhere in the day to sit and write. For those of us lucky enough to have dispensed with the day job, the lack of it leaves a bit of a quandary: how do you fill the other hours of the day?

Back in New York, choir practice was my favorite antidote to the writing hours. Singing in a choir is social where writing is solitary, and instead of staring at the blank page and trying to force words onto it, you get to sit back and read what someone else already wrestled onto his or her own blank page. Plus someone else (the conductor) is in charge of what's happening, and instead of looking at a year or more until your work is between covers, you know you have only about six weeks until the performance. Score!

I haven't found a choir yet in London, so I've had to hunt for ways to meet the same needs. Besides volunteering and having lunch with other expat wives, I have re-discovered a challenge I gave up when I was about nine: I've taken up cross-stitch.

Why did no one tell me about this before? It's fantastic! I can do it while chatting with my husband or watching TV or listening to an audiobook. Getting started was daunting--the blank piece of paper gets replaced by a blank width of cloth--but the satisfaction of watching the picture emerge is similar to the satisfaction of hearing the music for a concert come together. My favorite thing about it is, there will be no tinkering. Once the sampler is done, it's done, and time to move on to the next thing.

How about you? Now that writing is more than a hobby, what do you do for fun?

--Kathryne

My Prayers Have Been Answered!

HOORAY!!!

According to HollywoodReporter.com Nina Jacobson and Color Force have recently acquired the movie rights to a futuristic young adult novel, Hunger Games, written by Suzanne Collins! The first book came out last year and achieved critical acclaim about an "America where subjugated districts must pay tribute in the form of a boy and a girl who are forced to participate in a televised battle to the death."
(taken from IMDB.com)

For those who don't know, Nina Jacobson was the former VP of Buena Vista Motion Pictures Group, which is part of Disney. And she's also a producer on the film-adaptation of Diary of a Wimpy Kid.

Now...let the debate begin! WHO SHOULD BE CAST AS KATNISS?

I know this isn't possible, but I keep seeing Katniss as a younger Anna Paquin. I think it's because Anna's been kicking so much butt on True Blood, I know she'd be up for the physicality of the roll.

OOH! And this just occurred to me. I wonder what age range they are going to shoot for. I hope it's not aged down for a younger audience. It would be so so so awesome if they let it be a real teen-centric thriller, viloence and all.

Anyhow....YAY!

-=siobhan=-

How awesome does this sound?

From Publishers Marketplace:

Journalist Mason Currey's DAILY ROUTINES, a compendium of the daily rituals of famous writers, artists, musicians, and other creative thinkers, giving readers a glimpse into how great minds structure their days, from what time Haruki Murakami wakes up in the morning (4 a.m.), to the four beverages Truman Capote needed to write each day (coffee, mint tea, sherry, and martinis, in that order), to Victoria Wilson at Knopf, by Meg Thompson at LJK Literary Management, in her first deal as a full agent.

Happy weekend!
Lisa GW

Interesting

Just read this deal report in Publishers Marketplace:

CHILDREN'S: YOUNG ADULT
Author of the enduring bestseller ENDER'S GAME Orson
Scott Card's series, his first specifically written for younger readers,
combining elements of steam punk and fantasy, featuring teenaged Ligg and his
quest to save his world from destruction and uncover the truth behind a
prophecy, to Anica Rissi at Simon Pulse, for publication beginning in Spring
2011, by Barbara Bova Literary Agency at the Barbara Bova Literary Agency (world
English).

And now I'm wondering what "steam punk" is. Is that a thing I don't know about, or a totally made up term??? Anyway, sounds cool either way.

~lisa graff~

RAMONA QUIMBY, MOVIE STAR

Dudes! Ramona is gonna be a movie!

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Ginnifer Goodwin, John Corbett and Bridget Moynahan have joined the cast of "Ramona and Beezus," a film based on the classic children's book series.

Elizabeth Allen ("Aquamarine") is directing the Fox 2000/Walden Media film, based on the classic children's book series written by Beverly Cleary. Goodwin will play 10-year-old Ramona's favorite person, Aunt Bea, and Moynahan and Corbett will play the two girls' parents, Dorothy and Bob Quimby.

I love Ginnifer/Margene as Aunt Bea. But Bridget Moynahan/Natasha as Mrs. Quimby?? I dunno. Alls I can say is, she better cut her hair. And as much as I love John Corbett/Aidan, I don't see him as the dad. Maybe bc I always pictured him older? Or at least thinner? Not that John isn't perfectly healthy looking. But in the pictures, Mr. Quimby always looked really thin to me.

But you know what I used to LOVE? That Ramona Quimby tv show, starring Sarah Polley. I think it was on PBS. I was obsessed with it.

xoxo
jenny

Apps Wanted!

I love my iPhone and it's quickly become my desk-on-the-go. My home office is in our attic and since I spend most days in the family room or kitchen with Bridget (two floors down!) or out and about, I use my iPhone for email, calendar, surfing, etc.

I'd like to find some apps that might be helpful for my writing. Someone told me about a dictation app, so that if I get an idea for my WIP I can just make a voice memo to myself. Anyone know of that one? Or does anyone have any other apps they can recommend?

Since I'm writing in little fits and spurts these days, I need to make the most of the time I have!


*caroline hickey

Google's Tribute to Kid Lit

Today would have been Dr. Seuss' 105th Birthday! And to honor him, check out Google's logo:



C'mon, how cute is that?!?


Happy Birthday, Theodore Seuss Geisel!

:-)
~Coe~

True Stories

As an adoptive mom one of the things I love to find are books that deal with adoption in a way that feels true to my own experience. When I was growing up there were two general adoption story lines: the kind where adoption was some kind of shameful secret and the kind where kids went on a quest to find their “real” parents. In a lot of ways those books reflected the attitudes of the adoptive world at that time: the wisdom then was for kids to blend into their adoptive families in any way they could, distancing themselves from their past as though it never happened.

This was brought home to me in a personal way a few years ago. I was in Central Park with the kids and a 40ish woman came over and started telling me about her adoption experience. Korea was the first country to open to international adoption and she and her sister were adopted into a family in the mid West where they were the only Asians in the entire town. They were pressured to stop speaking Korean and never once did the family discuss how the girls were treated differently at times because of their race. She said adoption was an amazing thing but that for her it had left out something really crucial.

Here’s what’s cool about being an adoptive parent in 2009: people like the woman I met in Central Park are the ones who are informing the adoptive world now, telling new parents like me how to do it better. Now instead of a focus on making our kids blend in, we are encouraged to embrace the country they are from. We can’t recreate the culture they lost but we can all learn about it together, since it’s now a part of all our lives. We’re encouraged to be open about adoption, treating in a matter of fact way because really that is what it is: a matter of fact. Adoptees are encouraged to make their stories their own, asking questions about birth parents, birth countries and race. Part of why my husband and I chose to be adoptive parents was that this dialogue appealed to us. This new way to be a family, that included another culture, another race and other parents, birth parents, these people who gave us the most incredible gift in the world. That’s all a part of my family and I love it.

So it gives me a real thrill when I find a book that reflects this experience of adoption, like the book I just finished last night, Justina Chen Headley’s NORTH OF BEAUTIFUL. Aside from being an absolutely terrific read, it was a great representation of what adoption is like these days. I don’t want to give away too much since everyone reading this blog should have the pleasure of experiencing this book free of spoilers. But I will say that one of the things I liked was that the adoption storyline wasn’t the main storyline nor was it a problem storyline. It was just a fact of this particular character’s existence, another layer of his identity that brought up issues the way any identity stuff brings up issues. Birth parents, his life before he was adopted, issues of being an interracial family were all a part of the picture in the natural way that any family issues are part of the picture. And as I read it I had that wonderful feeling of seeing my own experience reflected back to me in a way that was touching, honest and totally true.

*daphne grab*