An interesting read on YA publishing

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

Based on your above description, would you still say the PC mindset is taking over YA publishing? Are you saying that the majority of YA books published in say, the last five years follow that pattern? Because I seriously doubt it.

I know there's the wrong-headed calling out of Black Witch and a few others by morons on Twitter. But I don't think that counts. We hear about those because they stand out. And even liberals like me think that behavior is a problem. And the fact that the book is selling well and currently has 71% 5 star ratings on Amazon tells me that the campaign failed.

I wouldn't say that extreme PC is taking over, but there are certainly a lot more of extreme PC books. I read mostly SF&F YA books (plus a few that I remember from when I was a kid, like Encyclopedia Brown). I've heard that some of the non SF&F books tend to be more extreme, but I haven't bothered to check for myself.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

I read mostly SF&F YA books (plus a few that I remember from when I was a kid, like Encyclopedia Brown).

I loved Encyclopedia Brown as a kid! I also read Donald Sobol's Two-Minute Mysteries, but Dr. Haledjian didn't have the same appeal to me as Leroy Brown.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

I loved Encyclopedia Brown as a kid! I also read Donald Sobol's Two-Minute Mysteries, but Dr. Haledjian didn't have the same appeal to me as Leroy Brown.

Consider if you will, the PC'ness of Encyclopedia Brown. Of course, when it was written, PC was different. There was a strong work ethic, being smart was good, and the bad guys were people who were trying to con people and take short cuts. As I said, YA does tend to be PC by it's very nature because it's intended to both entertain and instruct.

[ZodWallop]

Originally Posted by pwalker8

Consider if you will, the PC'ness of Encyclopedia Brown. Of course, when it was written, PC was different. There was a strong work ethic, being smart was good, and the bad guys were people who were trying to con people and take short cuts. As I said, YA does tend to be PC by it's very nature because it's intended to both entertain and instruct.

If that is how you are going to define political correctness, then YA fiction has always been overwhelmed by it. So the article author's point is meaningless.

[pwalker8]

Originally Posted by ZodWallop

If that is how you are going to define political correctness, then YA fiction has always been overwhelmed by it. So the article author's point is meaningless.

That's why I cite a difference between PC and extreme PC. The article talks about extreme PC. People seem to slip between talking about PC and extreme PC without considering the difference. I don't think it's been overwhelmed by extreme PC, but there is definitely an uptick.