« more discussions

• 

  Liar

  Well, where the heck have _I_ been?

  I was flabbergasted to learn about the cover for Liar.

  
  

  To whom and how do I add to the complaints? (posted publicly because maybe others want to know).

  
  
  

  Frieda T started this discussion 4 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  MahoganyRain 

  I just learned about it to. I had read one review about the book and it did not mention that the main character was black. So, my assumption was that she was white.

  I think the publisher did this so that the book would gain a wider audience especially with adult readers of young adult books.

  This situation is kind of like the Kelly Clarkson Beyonce deal. Where they both were given the same music but Beyonce's song came out first. Kelly tried to get the record company to not release the song or put it on her album but since it was already recorded it was out of her hands. Maybe it is the same deal with Liar once the book was completed and accepted the author has no right to decides when or how the book is published. Much less what the cover looks like.

  But back to topic. I think that cover is the way it is because of market appeal. Just like with magazine like gossip. They don't put a lot of black celebrities because blacks don't sell as many magazines. And the author thought that they would make more money if they implied the main character was white.

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

  show 1 reply

  • 

    zawadi 

    Mahogany,

    This writer typically writes POC characters. She by no means meant to deceive the readers. In fact, she strongly disagreed with the publisher about the cover. Writers do not have much control on how their books are marketed.

    She made it perfectly clear her character was black.

    The publishing industry has conditioned the market and themselves that POC covers won't sell. That is not true. Sales are low because POC books received less support and promotion. And ask librarians if POC books are not wanted. Public and school librarians say they cannot get enough POC books on the shelves.

    posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Frieda T 

  [stomping around the room having a fit with my black hair swinging, having lived my life in the shadow of pale, golden haired girls]

  But it's not right!!! It's not right!!!

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  cpauley929 

  It is terribly misleading, and I would be highly offended as the author. It seems cheap. They could have not put a person on the cover at all.

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  MahoganyRain 

  I agree CPauley that the easiest thing would be to have not put a person on the cover. That would have been the proper thing to do.

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  mnnorthwoodsgal 

  Has anyone read the book?

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

  show 1 reply

  • 

    mnnorthwoodsgal 

    Is it the one by Justine Larbalestier?

    posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  Frieda T 

  Reminds me of Does My Head Look Big in This? The character is a blonde muslim teen, but the publisher put a dark girl on the cover because the public is obviously too stupid to accept that muslims might look different from the stereotype.

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  zawadi (edited)

  Friends,

  I was knee-deep in this controversy. There were multiple, engaged, extended discussions about the controversy in the blogsophere. I was writing daily.

  If you haven't heard, the publisher has issued a statement that they are changing the cover. If you'd like to read how this played out, read the author's blog here:

  http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/07/23/aint-that-a-shame/comment-page-7/#comment-83193

  A lot of good happened because of this. Our blog readership blew up. I connected with a lot of POC writers and literacy advocates, teachers, editors and readers.

  I disagree that they should have avoided a person. Images matter. They convey important social/cultural messages. We need more not fewer POC characters on books especially in children and YA literature. Many readers look for identification and they start with covers.

  Many readers do not read POC writers because they don't know where or who to read and I am not suggesting anyone read POC for the sake of reading POC. What I am saying is that there is a lot of good literature not being read because the reading public is not being made aware of these writers.

  mnn,

  The book doesn't release in the US till late September. Bloggers and other reviewers have read ARCs of the book. The writer has an established readership base. She's written 4-5 other books. She's a great person, by the way. We've chatted a lot since this mess blew up. I'm [50 shy of finishing my first read of her work. She's a solid, talented writer.

  There is a very good guest blog by writer, Neesha Meminger on why we need to promote and support POC characters in literature
  http://justinelarbalestier.com/blog/2009/08/10/guest-blogger-neesha-meminger/

  In the blogosphere, this controversy exploded. If you haven't before, I highly recommend bookmarking a few book review blogs including our own.

  I have not been absent doing nothing. Please come by.

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

• 

  zawadi 

  Recent response to Liar controversy written by a YA blogger

  http://stephsureads.blogspot.com/2009/08/discussion-is-new-liar-cover-not-enough.html

  posted 4 months ago. ( reply )

• To reply to this discussion, please sign in or join now.

Return to top