Lucy, questioning her panel of Malorie and Melvin dove straight into the evening by asking both authors what is was that drew them to YA writing, why was it different she asked? Malorie began the discussion by explaining that she loved to write for all ages and tackle the subjects and themes close to her heart and the heart of her readers. She explained that as a writer she asks lots of questions, not necessarily having the answers, her books are therefore open to debate and challenge the reder - this is why she enjoys writing for Young Adults but also for all ages.
Melvin bagan writing when there was little for teens, he remembered the music, the books of his own teen years and so decided to write new things to entertain the modern teen - to him there is a gap because adults are traumatised by teens, they distrust them, show them as negative stereotypes yet it is a fascinating stage of life.
As you can probably tell the stage was now set for a fascinating discussion not only around the books written by both Malorie and Melvin but around the concept of teen literature what it involves, who it engages, why and how.
The audience were certainly hanging on every word and why not - here were two greats from teen fiction writing, they were thought provoking and entertaining, opinionated too and that is not bad thing! At times it seemed as though Lucy wouldn't have a chance to get her questions in for every question she asked there was so much to say ... but a good interviewer always knows a good time to drop into the discussion and Lucy did just this, letting both speak and then challenging them again ...
The discussion verged on radical at times with suggestions that writing for teens was an art which disturbed the comfortable and comforted the disturbed. It should not talk down to its readers but serve them well, raise debatem create strategies for dealing with situations and create an empathy. Melvin also felt it should be subversive, pushing, questioning and genuinely serve its audience.
The discussion turned to politics, not party politics but society politics - the have's and have not's. For Malorie is is abut balance not taking sides, make the book enticing but serious (the politics comes in here), have a breadth of subject matter and question.
MAlorie's latest book, Noble Conflict is politicaly inspired by the STI issues among blacks in America between 1932 and 1972. the appaling way in which they were treated but not treated inspired her to write yet her book has nothing to do with these issues, it was just inspired by them. The issues inspired her to ask on behalf of those who did not ...
The subject then changed to the inevitable questions about Malorie as Laureate, as rightly it should when she has taken on such a significant role. As Laureate she explained her aim is to engage children in stories, stimulate a creative response and drive an online storytelling initiative to ensure that no-one is embarrassed by their reading rather they are encouraged to continue - if they love Twilight give them Frankenstein for example, if they love the beano give them graphic novels and so on. Above all else make sure that no-one is just normal, all embrace difference and love who they are.
A thoughtful moment and a powerful message followed by a light-hearted consideration of what makes an author tick, what inspires them - apparently it is mostly listening in to the conversations of others and remembering who you were, your aims, ambitions and desires at the same age - so watch out for you never know who might be listening but at the same time try to remember who you are, in may come in useful in the future!
Finally the discussion opened to Q & A from the audience who wanted to know what was more accessible the film or the book - as you can imagine it is the book, in the minds of these great authors, but not because they see that as more educational or of greater value, no it is because a film is supplementary, it can never be the book, it is a different mindset for a different audience and if the author does not want that they should not sell the rights - simple! Books have their own life, they break new ground and innovate, they progress. Films and Hollywood like a sure thing, a definite if not always happy ending, they are a comfort zone whilst books challenge.
As for boys and reading? - give them anything was the message here.
School libraries and librarians? - essential for transferring curiosity and putting books into the hands of children.
The final message? - read to all children, whatever their age, hook them in and keep them there...
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