kat: Is there a host or is this a free for all?

janle: I've never been in a chat before and have no idea how it works

kat: It's easier with rules, but basically we're emailing in present tense.

DebbyG: well, we're supposed to chat up great, unsung YA books, right?

Susan: that's what I heard

Susan: just always before there has been a host

Susan: but maybe free for all mean no host

kat: hey Brent. has anyone told you your books are awesome today?

Susan: <--not up on chat rules

Susan: I just ordered Last Chance Texaco for my library system

Brent Hartinger: lol!

Brent Hartinger: thanks kat

DebbyG: Here's my pick: Though it's not completely unsung, Feeling Sorry for Celia

Brent Hartinger: That's ALWAYS nice to hear

DebbyG: I liked the book a lot, Brent

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I was tremendously impressed with LCT. I'm not exactly clear on the Native (or was I imagining it?) character, but found it quite well done.

Brent Hartinger: But I got an email from a 11 yr old fan this morning pointing out an inconsistency in TEXACO

DebbyG: I felt like I was really there-- you knew your subject matter

DebbyG: what inconsistency?

Brent Hartinger: She was convinced it was there for a reason, but I had to tell her, no, the copy editors and I just didn't catch it!

Brent Hartinger: Thanks, Cynthia

Cynthia Leitich Smith: By not clear, I mean was sure he was really Native or the other character just thought he was. But I thought he was Choctaw.

Brent Hartinger: No, he was Native

Cynthia Leitich Smith: That's "wasn't sure."

Brent Hartinger: Not Lummi (since they still exist)

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Was he Choctaw?

Brent Hartinger: but one of the San Juan tribes

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Ah. I'm going to list it on my recommended Native fic page.

Brent Hartinger: What is your heritage, Cynthia?

Cynthia Leitich Smith: :)

Susan: I have heard good things about Feeling Sorry for Celia but haven't read it

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I'm a Mvskoke tribal member. Southeastern--Oklahoma by way of Georgia.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Has anyone read Rush Hour?

DebbyG: I thought it was very funny, and loved the device of telling it all in notes and letters

DebbyG: no, have you?

Brent Hartinger: Yes, there are several upcoming books told all in emails. I'm wondering if I will find this annoying

Susan: Have you read the sort of sequel, The Year of Secret Assignments? I know several people liked it

Brent Hartinger: Even though I'm sure kids will love it

DebbyG: I liked the sequel, but liked the first one a lot better.

Susan: I need to remember to get rush hour for the library

DebbyG: I liked the sequel, but liked the first one a lot better.

janle: I just finished TT

DebbyG: TT?

janle: oops, hit the return key too fast; just read ttyl, all in chat room lingo; was fun and quick to read

Cynthia Leitich Smith: RUSH HOUR: A JOURNAL OF CONTEMPORARY VOICES (Vol. 1): Sin, edited by Michael Cart (Delacorte, 2004). Not just short stories, but a literary array that should satisfy thoughtful teens (with both long and short attention spans), the first installment of Cart's journal shows what can be accomplished by young adult literature at its best. Featuring short stories like Brock Cole's "A Life of Crime" and Alex Flinn's "Intrinsic Value," the volume seems as familiar as an anthology, but then by adding such features as Martin Matje's graphic exploration in "Sinphony," poetry by Nikki Grimes, and essays by Hazel Rochman (on the Holocaust) and Marc Aronson (on the Salem Witch trials), Cart has taken his collection to a new, more diverse and exciting level. Definitely proof that YA lit has come of age. Contributors also include Joan Bauer, Emma Donoghue, David Pabian, Mark Podwal, Tom Feelings, Terry Davis, Sonya Sones, Gary Miller, R. Gregory Christie, Elizabeth Lorde-Rollins, Chris Lynch, and Ron Koertge. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED (though we missed hearing voices from the "Bible Belt."). I liked it.

DebbyG: Sounds very interesting.

Brent Hartinger: Cynthia, have you submitted anything to RUSH HOUR?

Brent Hartinger: Michael Cart is a GOD

DebbyG: How often is that supposed to come out?

Brent Hartinger: such a booster of YA writers

Brent Hartinger: Is it twice a year?

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Nope, though I might in the future. I've done the occasional short story. Three Harper anthologies; one recent sale to Cicada.

DebbyG: I liked the Love and Sex anthology he did.

Susan: My vote for best YA no one has heard of--How Far Would You Have Gotten If I Hadn't Called You Back? by Valerie Hobbs

kat: Has anyone read Under the Mermaid Angel by Martha Moore? Also Angels on the Roof--Now she has Matchit but I haven't read it--JUST LOVE HER!! And Wow, CLS. You type fast.

Susan: I loved Under the Mermaid Angel

DebbyG: Great title. What's that about? The hobbs book.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I adore Martha Moore; she also had another book, Matchit (I think). Lovely in person. One of the great YA writers.

Susan: Hobbs==coming of age, first romance, set in the 50s or 60s I think
Susan: the characters seem real

Susan: Martha Moore lives one town over--she used to teach school here (Arlington, TX)

DebbyG: I liked Confessions of a Not It Girl a lot. But no one talks about it. Maybe because it's Not "serious."

Brent Hartinger: So, on our "theme," here's my question: Do you folks think that, generally speaking, cream rises to the top in YA fiction? In other words, do most good books get their due? Or is it more random than that, a lot of crappy books getting attention, and a lot of good books being ignored?

Brent Hartinger: My take is that generally good books DO find an audience

Brent Hartinger: But I can think of a few that have not

Susan: Brent--seems like some of both

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I think a lot of cream gets attention and a lot of good books without publisher support fall through the cracks. (Hate to say that, but there you go).

Susan: but sometimes I think books that are outside the box that can't be easily categorized get lost in the shuffle

Susan: although I can't think of any right now

Cynthia Leitich Smith: A book that caught my eye (b/c of the Austin tie) that is a don't miss is: MY ROAD TRIP TO THE PRETTY GIRL CAPITAL OF THE WORLD by Brian Yansky (Cricket, 2003). In this journey to the self (and from Iowa to Austin), Simon’s struggling to keep things together. He’s skating the law, recently dumped, and dealing with a dad who just doesn’t understand. Overwhelmed, he hits the road to find his biological parents and roadside wisdom about evil advertisers, scary giants, witches, ETs, friendship, nature/nurture, and, well, pretty girls. One part magic, two parts tall tale, this YA debut is one to read and remember. Ages 12-up.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: also some of the smaller press and/or multicult books like: WHITE BREAD COMPETITION by Jo Ann Yolanda Hernandez (Piñata Books, 1997). Set in San Antonio, this linked series of stories offers insights into Luz (and the women in her life) when she prepares for the state-wide spelling bee. Hernandez does not shy away from the ways in which communities often jeopardize themselves or the complex array of sometimes surprising influences that make people who they are. Ages 12-up.

DebbyG: There are so many out there, that I hardly ever read unsung books. Because I don't have enough time to read the talked about books.

Brent Hartinger: Cynthia, you are a FONT of knowledge! :-)

Cynthia Leitich Smith: All about the luv, sweetpea. ;-)

Brent Hartinger: Debby, I so agree! But I feel guilty about that

Susan: me too

Brent Hartinger: I'm not an "early adapter" to use the technology term. I wait until things are "proven," then I ride the wave

DebbyG: lol, Brent. Me too. I'm a me too person too.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I just read Son of the Mob this year(on Gail Giles recommendation) and loved it, though it had some real buzz and came out a few years ago. We do what we can.

DebbyG: often the award winning books don't interest my ten-year-old daughter. Sometimes it seems only adults like the kid books.

LindaJoy: I loved Son of the Mob

janle: I loved son of the mob too; it's never on our shelves--yay

DebbyG: I liked Julie Williams book a lot. I'm blanking on the title.

Blair: I think groups like BBYA (Best Books for YAs) from ALA help point out new titles from debut authors that I'd like to read.

DebbyG: Tornado Season.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Recent books I've really enjoyed have been Gary Sotos' THE AFTERLIFE, which I think was a BBYA, and I'm watching close on reception to Julie Anne Peters' Luna (there's an interview of her on my site).

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Any thoughts on LUNA?

Susan: I try to buy lots of first books

Susan: I have ordered Luna but have not read it

DebbyG: Yes, the ALA seems great for publicizing good books.

Brent Hartinger: what happened? Are you we all multi-tasking? :-)

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Great that you support new voices, Susan. Luna (may be) the first novel featuring a transgendered character: LUNA by Julie Anne Peters (Little Brown, 2004). It seems like forever that Regan has been keeping the secret that her brother Liam is really Luna, is really a girl instead. After years of struggle, Luna's ready to start taking steps--small then tremendous--to make her inside reality an outside reality. But will Regan lose herself in trying to be the best confidante, the best sibling she can? A breakthrough book about two siblings, one transgendered and one sacrificing much of herself out of love. Ages 12-up.

Brent Hartinger: I am reading Luna right now and LOVING it

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Cool! Specifically...?

Brent Hartinger: I love that it's dealing with the whole tran thing (ground-breaking), but I'm actually thinking what's even more interesting...

Brent Hartinger: is the main character, and how she has to deal with her feelings for this brother, who she loves, but who takes up so much mental energy

Brent Hartinger: that she feels she doesn't have much of a sense of self herself

Brent Hartinger: I haven't finished it, but I suspsect that by the end of hte book, she took will emerge from her cocoon and become a new person or sorts

Brent Hartinger: Cyn, what did you think? (Or anyone else who's read it?)

Brent Hartinger: Julie Anne Peters is clearly a pro. She knows how to tell a story, she knows the craft of writing

DebbyG: What about the books that get too much hype? Three books that i've only leafed through, not read, but I wasn't impressed with: Zoe Trope's book about the freshman, Eragon, and Doing it.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I really loved it, and I know it was hard for JAP to do all the research, which she was very meticulous about. You might want to drop Julie a note; I'm sure she'd love to hear from you. Wondering if the Holly who left is Holly Black--I keep meaning to write and tell her how much I enjoyed Tithe.

Brent Hartinger: Please Don't Kill the Freshmen

Brent Hartinger: grooooaaaaaaan

DebbyG: I think it's a different Holly.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I think Eragon had a good marketing hook b/c of the age of the author.

DebbyG: And Zoe Trope's book too.

Brent Hartinger: Yes, I actually know Julie Anne. She was a big booster of GEOGRAPHY CLUB

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Geography Club being another of my faves.

Brent Hartinger: I couldn't be happier that she's getting so much attention for LUNA because she really deserves it

DebbyG: Darn. Should have started writing a lot earlier!

Brent Hartinger: I dunno, I know you're joking Debby, but I think those kids are really in dangerous territory

DebbyG: like child actors?

Brent Hartinger: They sell books because of the novelty of their young ages.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I agree with Brent. I was first working with my editor in my twenties, which is significantly older, and I'm just now really feeling like I'm in a place with my craft that I should be sharing its fruits.

Nancy Werlin: I think it's dangerous to publish too young too, I have to admit.

Brent Hartinger: I don't think they understand that it wasn't necessarily talent that got them book deals

DebbyG: Though look at S.E. Hinton

Brent Hartinger: I'm not sure they paid their dues, and realize just what a golden opportunity they have received

Nancy Werlin: Too often, a teen writer is writing derivative, imitative stuff... how can they find their own voices later, after being rewarded for imitation?

Brent Hartinger: Yes, but S.E. went through some very hard hard times

Nancy Werlin: (S.E. Hinton basically stopped writing in her 20s, Debby.)

Brent Hartinger: In part brought on by that early success

DebbyG: really?

Brent Hartinger: Nancy, that is it exactly

Brent Hartinger: Eragon is extraordinary for a 17 year old

Brent Hartinger: But I’m Not sure it's extraordinary in general

Nancy Werlin: Really? I thought it quite bad, Brent. Warmed over Anne McCaffrey.

Brent Hartinger: (said the writer who has sold 1/50th of his total number of books!)

Brent Hartinger: lol

Cynthia Leitich Smith: The thing is, as much as I wouldn't trade what I do, the pressures of publication can greatly interfere with the actual creative process. Agreeing with Nancy on Eragon. I really tried to like it. I can say some nice things about Amelia Atwater-Rhodes.

Blair: I wonder that these young writer like Paolini are now locked in a tower guarded by their publishers to write the second and third books in two years.

Brent Hartinger: All I can say is that it was much better than I expected (and better than all the other books by kids!)

LindaJoy: My son enjoyed Eragon -- he's 20

Brent Hartinger: And I compare it to what I was writing at that age, and it's MUCH better! ;-)

Nancy Werlin: I wanted to ask if anyone has read a 'nobody knows' YA that I loved: Johnny Voodoo, by Dakota Lane.

DebbyG: Of course, in general, compared to adult fiction, almost all of YA stuff is unsung.

Blair: My 25 yr old son liked it as well and was reminded of the Tolkien books he loved so much.

DebbyG: Of course, in general, compared to adult fiction, almost all of YA stuff is unsung.

Susan: I read that Nancy

Nancy Werlin: I loved it! Very poignant and sexy... I keep looking for more by that author, but nada.

Nancy Werlin: Did you like it, Susan?

Brent Hartinger: We ARE sung, but by teenagers, who most adults don't consider "important"

Susan: I remember liking it and being surprised that it didn't get great reviews

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I didn't read it, but I will now. I'm really into Ruth Penenbaker. And I also really liked this: MYRTLE OF WILLENDORF by Rebecca O'Connell (Front Street, 2000). In her first year of college, artist Myrtle is distanced from her goddess-worshipping, high school best friend. Myrtle's roommate Jada is a unworthy replacement, and Jada's friends are even worse. But Myrtle's painting eventually leads her back to the goddess in more ways than one. Ages 14-up.

Brent Hartinger: But I'll take a passionate teenager over a pontificating adult any day

Susan: Yes, very much

Nancy Werlin: Oh, Myrtle! Yes! That was a fascinating read. Not perfect, maybe, but so real and so different.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: It was passionate. And I guess... For me that works. It was brave and revealing.

Susan: another great ya book from front street--Stone Water by Barbara Snow Gilbert--very gut wrenching about a boy whose Grandfather has asked him to help him die

Nancy Werlin: Has Rebecca O'Connell published more, Cyn? I think she might have... must check Amazon. Susan, I've been meaning for years to read Stone Water. Thanks for the reminder.

DebbyG: I wonder if maybe Front Street just doesn't market their books well?

Cynthia Leitich Smith: She's published a very young picture book, but not another novel.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I think it's really hard for houses like Front Street, Cricket to compete with the bigger ones.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: It doesn't mean that they're not putting out great quality work.

Nancy Werlin: Front Street is so small, there's only so much they can do. But face it, most publishers don't do very effective marketing. Don’t get me started. :>

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Just checked the new Rebecca O'Connell is a picture book: Baby Goes Beep (Roaring Brook, 03). Agree with Nancy on the marketing thing, but still think that majors have a heft advantage.

Brent Hartinger: I've been pleasantly surprised by HarperCollins' marketing

Brent Hartinger: maybe because everyone told me not to expect anything

DebbyG: I'd love to get you started, Nancy. But I guess this isn't the right place.

Blair: As a librarian, I really appreciate the advanced review copies. We pass them around to more than 50 librarians in a regional book discussion group I attend monthly.

Nancy Werlin: Another time, hehe. I'll just say that someone who's really good at marketing is earning a lot more money somewhere else.

DebbyG: lol

Nancy Werlin: Hey, Blair. Yes, I love ARCs too!

Brent Hartinger: The problem is the media are so not receptive to YA novels. It's "children's fiction," which they don't cover, except maybe in a brief review every three months, and then they just review Lois Lowry

Brent Hartinger: as if SHE needs the press! lol

Cynthia Leitich Smith: That's great, Blair. You librarians are basically the last line of defense for the literary trade.

kimmar: lol

Alia: (new here - hi!) How much of a difference do you think it makes to hyper market a book if the quality isn't there?

Brent Hartinger: Dunno, it seems to me that hype usually works, sorry to say

DebbyG: I'm on the YALSA list, and I'm so impressed by all the librarians so passionate about YA books.

Brent Hartinger: People buy what's front of them

DebbyG: It worked for Madonna.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I think if the marketing includes product placement, it can make a huge difference. If it's the book that's there and face out, that matters.

Alia: Oooh, yeah ARC's rock!

Susan: ARCs are cool

Nancy Werlin: Hey, Alia. I honestly think you never know. Sometimes a big marketing push can sell a book that's quite bad... but sometimes, it can't. Same for excellent books.

Susan: but I don't have much access to them anymore

Susan: right on Nancy

kimmar: don't you think that marketing can only carry a book so far?

Brent Hartinger: You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him read Proust

Blair: I think that is the problem--getting the ARCs

Brent Hartinger: You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him read Proust

Alia: But will the initial difference keep up if the insides just don't keep the promise of the hype? - being devil's advocate...

Nancy Werlin: Well, depends if the reader has gotten what they wanted. With books like -- oh, BERGDORF BLONDE, which I can tell you personally is JUST AWFUL -- people seem satisfied anyway. Shrug.

Brent Hartinger: Yeah, THE NANNY DIARIES... Oh man! But it's got a great marketing angle

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I think with the school/library market, there's a limit to hype because of the reviews, list serves, etc., but the unfortunate truth is that with budget cuts, the s/l market is less influential. And with the bookstore market, I think it's much more determinative. I wish this wore otherwise. It's the reason the celebrities rule.

DebbyG: We are passionate about books, probably read reviews, etc. But I imagine a lot of people just buy books that they hear are popular.

Brent Hartinger: But ever since I predicted that Madonna would be a flash-in-the-pan, I have accepted that I don't know beans about what Americans want or like

Susan: hey--too bad we can't gt more ya authors on talks hows etc.

Alia: I think it depends on lots of things like previous titles by an author that were good...

DebbyG: Nanny Diaries was awful.

Brent Hartinger: Cynthia, I kind of like that the "market" (ie actual teenagers!) is more influential

Brent Hartinger: When it came out, VOYA predicted that GEOGRAPHY CLUB would have a "3" in terms of appeal to teenagers

Susan: <--admits that she just wasn't interested enough to finish Dan Brown's Angels and Demons, much less start the Da Vinci Code

Alia: You keep reading telling yourself it's better than it is?

Brent Hartinger: And then teenagers started reading it, and everything went insane

Cynthia Leitich Smith: That's the advantage of YAs. YAs buy their own books as opposed to middle grade and pb readers. But I worry that they may not have access to the books that they would buy if they were just on the shelves.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: The 'net is a good equalizer though, and YAs are very net-savvy.\

Brent Hartinger: I'm not sure we adults are always aware of what's going on among actual teenagers

Nancy Werlin: Eh, teens buy what's in front of them too. That's life.

Susan: yes

Susan: hoping to add a place for teens to write and review books etc on our website

Nancy Werlin: That's a great idea, Susan.

Brent Hartinger: I dunno, Nancy, teenagers talk books too! I think word-of-mouth is more important to them than for adults, who often really do believe reviews

Susan: well, you can't buy what's not there

Brent Hartinger: True, Susan

DebbyG: A pet peeve is the boring PB's that are very beautiful and life affirming, blah blah blah, and probably make adult reviewers giddy, but my kids find a total bore.

Brent Hartinger: When Zachary Beaver Came to Town

Alia: And a real truth is also that teens - and all ages really judge a book by it's cover - the art can make a huge difference

Brent Hartinger: or as I like to say When Zachary Beaver Came to Town (and Nothing Much Really Happened)

Nancy Werlin: Yes, Alia is right about covers.

Susan: lol

Susan: never could make myself read zachary beaver

kimmar: someone recommended Target to me but I haven't gotten it yet. has anyone hear read it?

kat: What did that mean Brent? Loved that Zachery book!

Nancy Werlin: I've read Target. It's well worth reading, but be prepared to be twisted up inside, too.

Brent Hartinger: Well, we must agree to disagree ;-)

Alia: But teen's will drop some books if the cover is cool but the inside dull do you think?

Nancy Werlin: Target is another brave book. I didn't like the way the plot unfolded, it seemed contrived to me, but that wasn't the point of the book at all.

Alia: God, Target... that book was worth reading. It was *really* hard to read

Brent Hartinger: But then I thought Ocean's Eleven was slow too, so what do I know?

Nancy Werlin: I had to force myself onward, Alia, but yes, it was worth it.

kimmar: ooh, sounds intriguing

Alia: I had some trouble with the ending - it moved along fine until the final chapter when a leap was made that couldn't have been made realistically in that amount of time.

kat: True about the cover and the inside and that's why it takes all kinds of books and readers and my teens know that and drop them left and right-- In my class we read Surviving the Applewhites after reading outstanding reviews and drooling over the medal and we all hated it!

Nancy Werlin: Yes, what you said. And if his old friends were that wonderful now, why weren't they wonderful a year ago?

Brent Hartinger: It's so subjective, isn't it?

Susan: I think applewhites appeals to a certain kind of person

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I've read Target, too, and I think it went against the tide (which is a tough thing to do in this biz); also liked Zachary Beaver.

Alia: I had to stop a few times to cry - and psych myself up to start again. But it *was* worth it (still talking about Target)

Susan: reading is so much about the reader

Susan: as much or more than the book sometimes

Cynthia Leitich Smith: It's very subjective. That's one of the reasons the multicult thing is so hard, but I hate to dwell on that.

Nancy Werlin: (Also still on Target); Yes.

Brent Hartinger: What do you mean, Cyn?

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Which thing?

Brent Hartinger: (Not to make you dwell on it!)

Alia: With covers - I'm reading "Basilisk" right now and the cover had me really excited... but I'm not liking it at all.

kimmar: now I really want to read target, though although my friend recommended I read it, i didn't even ask what it was about

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Oh, that. One odd thing about being me is that I'm reviewed by the mainstream and the Indian press. Often what makes the book not work for one is absolutely necessary for the other.

Brent Hartinger: the relationship between subjectivity and multi-culturalism

Cynthia Leitich Smith: It's like being torn in half while both sides are commenting dispassionately on your muscle tone.

Brent Hartinger: Interesting (but frustrating, I'm sure)

Nancy Werlin: Kimmar, it's about a boy who's raped by a couple of men, and his slow agonizing path to emotional recovery.

Nancy Werlin: Cyn, your article in Horn Book about this was terrific.

erosnblm: I came in late. Which book are we talking about, Nancy?

kimmar: ah, thanks Nancy, my wip is about rape, which must be why she recommended it

Alia: Kimmar - it's good but be ready for the remembered rape scenes. They are graphic. But they're not gratuitously graphic just raw- no details held back.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Thanks, Nancy. Trying to light a candle.

Nancy Werlin: Target, erosnblm. But several conversations are ongoing simultaneously!

erosnblm: thanks, sounds heavy, but interesting.

Nancy Werlin: I think you opened a few eyes with that article, Cyn. That summer, I heard people at CLNE discussing it.

Alia: Cynthia - that's a brilliant way to put it "commenting dispassionately on your muscle tone" - so are 'both sides' missing the point do you think?

Nancy Werlin: (CLNE - Children's Literature New England)
kimmar: I sometimes wonder if it's a good thing or a bad thing to read novels similar in topic to a wip

Nancy Werlin: I think you have to decide that for yourself, Kim. some people it helps, some not.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: That's interesting--a little scary, but encouraging. I think the "point" is to tell a good story, and I have some responsibiltity to do so in keeping with the literary traditions of the world view. But I can't expect people to really have a way of responding to them if they've never been exposed before. And I can't expect progress on that front unless I'm willing to expose them (and in turn, expose myself). If that makes any sense at all.

Brent Hartinger: Cyn, do you have a target audience?

Alia: Kimmar - I think it can be both good and bad thing more one or the other depending on how you read it.

Brent Hartinger: or is it just about the story?

erosnblm: I find that even when they're similar, the plot points are often very different and, of course, the voice is different too

Alia: Kimmar - I think it can be both good and bad thing more one or the other depending on how you read it.

kimmar: all good points

Alia: It does Cynthia :)

Cynthia Leitich Smith: I'd like for all readers to come away feeling like they've read a good story, even if they don't get every reference. I figure continued exposure and faith is the way to increase awareness. But I also do write for Native people. I hate that there's so much tension between the Indian and children's literature community, especially since I'm a member of both. I always feel like I should be fixing it somehow. But it's bigger than just me.

Cynthia Leitich Smith: And not all of my work is Indian-related.

Alia: Cynthia - what do you think is the reason for the tension?

kat: A story is powerful and if well told it can transcend. Keep writing! goodnight all. Nice chat!

Cynthia Leitich Smith: Basically, Native children's lit is where African American children's lit was before Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry. That's hard for people to deal with. I think ultimately it's a function of small numbers. We're a small community.

Alia: Cynthia - do you think it's because there aren't enough first nations writers, or that other writers cannot relate to the reading needs of FN youth?

kimmar: Cynthia I love your books btw. And a mutual friend raves about you as a person