An experience that I can share about this aspect is from our recent
visiting author, Neal Shusterman (author of "Full Tilt," "The
Downsiders," "The Dark Side of Nowhere," etc.). When Neal visited in
September, we were excited because he was one of the "Lone Star Authors"
(a author whose book has made the list of recommended books for students
in grades 6-9--- this list is created by members of the Lone Star Book
committee from the Texas Library Association). On the day he visited,
he announced to our students that one of his novels, "The Schwaa" (newly
released) was at an auction in Hollywood (to be bid on for production by
a motion picture studio).
Throughout the day, Neal was taking phone calls, doing presentations to
our students, then running for "breaks" to check email, and basically
keeping all of us in suspense about the outcome of what was happening in
Hollywood. He explained to the students how his novel would be bid on
by various production studios and if one bought it, he would be in-line
to help with writing the screenplay. This process in itself was a whole
new dimension to our regular visiting author's visits--but one that we
enjoyed learning about--and the excitement was wonderful for both the
students and the teachers.
The kids kept asking all day if he knew anything---and since we were in
Texas, the time difference made it even more nerve-racking for all of
us. Finally, he announced that the book would be bid on later in the
week because someone from the studio needed to read it and have Neal
give his "take" on what made this novel different from anything else out
there. We have since learned that his book, "The Schwaa" was not picked
up--but that Disney is making a TV movie from his novel, "The
Downsiders." =20
The excitement of hosting an author from our state's YA booklist was
exciting enough (couldn't keep his book on the shelf), but the
additional novelty of having a different book picked up for production
as a TV movie, will make his works more popular than they have ever
been. =20
Although I'm not crazy about all of excess publicity that we sometimes
get wrapped up when a book becomes a movie, I do think that it provides
us, as teacher-librarians, with the opportunity to share with the
students the opportunity to critically evaluate the differences between
the book and the movies, television programs, adaptations, etc. When we
are allowed to expand the curriculum to include this aspect into our
presentations of children / YA literature, it becomes a great
opportunity to create a dialogue within the classroom and teach our
students how to evaluation information in the printed literary works, in
the modifications that are then presented to us (in multimedia
formats--video, movies, television, as well as in the online resources
that they find.
~Shonda Brisco
Trinity Valley MS / US Librarian
Fort Worth, TX
briscos@trinityvalleyschool.org
=20
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Beth Haraldsen
Sent: Tuesday, November 02, 2004 8:35 PM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Commercialization of Children/Young Adult books
LM Netters,
I am looking for opinions about the idea of commercialization of
children/young adult books. Any thoughts about books being made into
movies, characters into stuffed animals/action figures, or spin offs
(sequel books and movies) are greatly appreciated. I am also hoping to
find examples of good and bad adaptations of books into other formats.
I am writing a paper about the pros and cons of this phenomenon and
would like some "real world" ideas from those "in the trenches" to
compare and contrast with the business perspective I have been
researching. I have my opinions but I want to gather more. Thanks for
your time.
Beth Haraldsen
Library Media Specialist
New Hopewell Elementary School
Knoxville, TN 37920
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