S250. Race in YA Lit: Writing Ourselves, Writing the Other
Saturday, April 11, 2015
3:00 pm to 4:15 pm
We all know the importance of seeing yourself in a book. But in children’s literature, where diversity is crucial, characters of color (CoCs) are few and far between. This panel will address common questions that arise when writing CoCs: Do I have the authority to tell this story? How do I avoid tokenism? Can I write outside my race authentically? Can I represent my own race? Four diverse authors will discuss the unique challenges and strategies for writing CoCs and navigating the market.
Participants
Moderator:
Swati Avasthi is the author of two novels: Split, which received multiple awards, and Chasing Shadows, which made numerous "best of the year" lists. She teaches at Hamline University in the Creative Writing Programs and is co-curator of the Loft Literary Center's Second Story Reading Series.
Justina Ireland is the author of Vengeance Bound and Promise of Shadows.
Matt de la Peña is the author of five critically-acclaimed young adult novels, including Mexican WhiteBoy and The Living.
Varian Johnson is the author of four novels for young people, including My Life As A Rhombus and The Great Greene Heist. He has taught at the Highlights Foundation Workshop and St. Edwards University.
