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August 2, 2006
David Levithan
I was lucky enough to attend an author visit by David Levithan to Queens College Graduate School of Library Science. He is one of my favorite young adult authors and has written, among others, Boy Meets Boy, Realm of Possibility, and his newest, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist. It was so exciting to meet him and hear what he had to say!
David Levithan is one of several authors whose novels include gay main characters. One of the comments from yesterday's class was that while the characters are gay, it isn't viewed as a "problem" within the story. Boy Meets Boy, for example is a beautiful, romantic love story that just so happens to occur between two boys. He writes in a recent School Library Journal article,
"I have met so many amazing librarians in the past few years, staunch and strong defenders of expression and representation. I can say without a single doubt that many young readers' lives have been helped and saved by their librarians' open-mindedness and courage... Many people consider librarians to be gatekeepers, usually in terms of keeping things out. I also think of librarians as gatekeepers in terms of the people they help through the gates... With books, courage comes on many levels. We authors have to find the courage to offer the words that will release the truth, in ways both small and large. We put our names on the cover of the book, offering those words out in the world with our lives attached. The publisher, too, offers its own reputation when it puts its name on the spine. Readers must take great courage in taking a book from a shelf, or being seen carrying it around. Librarians can - and often do - and always must find the courage to stand up to the fear that surrounds us. You are the gatekeepers of the representation. It's not just literature at stake; it's lives."
Thank you, David for your words and we accept the responsibility that comes with them. We will continue to take pride in offering well written young adult books (such as yours) on as wide a variety of subjects as we can, to reach as many teens as we can. It's not often that we stop to think of the day to day decisions we make in purchasing or recommending a book and the impact it can have on young lives.
David Levithan is excited about writing for and communicating with young adults -- he even has a myspace page! And, he has over 1500 friends!!
One of the things he talked about is the influence of music on his work. He listens to music as he writes. He is a self-admitted music/ipod addict. He is very particular about his phrasing, and he tries to find the beat in his writing. Green Day and Bright Eyes are particularly inspirational to him.
His new book, which is coming out in September is called Wide Awake. With this novel, David Levithan sets out to write a political novel for young adults. This one sounds very promising and will include a gay, Jewish president of the United States! I can't wait to read it!
Posted by Michele at August 2, 2006 10:29 AM
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