When I saw that advice given initially, I expected it was directed at adults -- either parents buying books for their kids, or adult readers of YA. I didn't really even think it was directed at actual YA, YA readers themselves.
I definitely see how the statement is problematic, but the problem is that publishers do pay attention to what sells. This isn't just limited to books about oppressed minorities -- I think we've all had the experience of a beloved series being cut off unfinished because it didn't "sell well enough."
I wish I could believe that publishers would listen to what readers want, regardless if they can actually buy copies, and do what's right socially, but it doesn't work that way, unfortunately. So I unfortunately think it is necessary for people who can do so to buy the books, and I don't think that's a bad message to send.
But it sucks that that's where most suggestions end, is voting with your pocketbook. I also rarely see the suggestion of buying copies for friends, family, local youth groups, donating to libraries, etc. It's something that allies can do, and adult members of those minority groups. Just because I'm an adult now doesn't mean I don't have an interest in what happens with queer kids of today.
Aside from buying, just getting buzz going about books, so that other people are inspired to buy them, is really important. I mean, I can't afford to buy every single book I want to read, so I get a lot from the library, and while I then often buy the ones I loved enough that I want to re-read, I also try to pass on the word to friends. And that's something everyone can do.
But the thing you mention about focus is also important, because the YA community as I've found online mostly revolves around adult readers who are reading/writing YA. I very rarely see actual YA bloggers; sometimes I see reviews on places like Goodreads. I don't know if it's just that there are different spaces that kids participate in online, but it's stuck out to me that it's very often adults talking about what's appropriate and important for young adults to read, without actually considering what said young adults want.
This is especially egregious, imo, when it comes from a parental frame of reference. I'm an adult, but young enough to remember what was important to me when I was a teen, but a lot of people who are doing the talking seem to be coming at it from the parental role. The side effect that this has is often that what ends up being talked about are things that aren't actually impacting young adults, and instead focusing on things that adults (frequently parents) think are important.
(Random: I'm not sure if you set this up yourself or if this is a default to the theme, but the light blue font in this theme on the commenting window is giving me an awful headache typing this out.)
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Date: 2012-03-05 04:59 am (UTC)I definitely see how the statement is problematic, but the problem is that publishers do pay attention to what sells. This isn't just limited to books about oppressed minorities -- I think we've all had the experience of a beloved series being cut off unfinished because it didn't "sell well enough."
I wish I could believe that publishers would listen to what readers want, regardless if they can actually buy copies, and do what's right socially, but it doesn't work that way, unfortunately. So I unfortunately think it is necessary for people who can do so to buy the books, and I don't think that's a bad message to send.
But it sucks that that's where most suggestions end, is voting with your pocketbook. I also rarely see the suggestion of buying copies for friends, family, local youth groups, donating to libraries, etc. It's something that allies can do, and adult members of those minority groups. Just because I'm an adult now doesn't mean I don't have an interest in what happens with queer kids of today.
Aside from buying, just getting buzz going about books, so that other people are inspired to buy them, is really important. I mean, I can't afford to buy every single book I want to read, so I get a lot from the library, and while I then often buy the ones I loved enough that I want to re-read, I also try to pass on the word to friends. And that's something everyone can do.
But the thing you mention about focus is also important, because the YA community as I've found online mostly revolves around adult readers who are reading/writing YA. I very rarely see actual YA bloggers; sometimes I see reviews on places like Goodreads. I don't know if it's just that there are different spaces that kids participate in online, but it's stuck out to me that it's very often adults talking about what's appropriate and important for young adults to read, without actually considering what said young adults want.
This is especially egregious, imo, when it comes from a parental frame of reference. I'm an adult, but young enough to remember what was important to me when I was a teen, but a lot of people who are doing the talking seem to be coming at it from the parental role. The side effect that this has is often that what ends up being talked about are things that aren't actually impacting young adults, and instead focusing on things that adults (frequently parents) think are important.
(Random: I'm not sure if you set this up yourself or if this is a default to the theme, but the light blue font in this theme on the commenting window is giving me an awful headache typing this out.)