Readers Respond
Last week, we published an editorial by former New York State assemblyman Nelson A. Denis under the headline “Dear Publishers: Latinos Read Books, Too.” In it, Denis wrote that “in libraries and bookstores and classrooms, on television and film, the Latino stereotypes abound—but Latino voices are absent.” Many of our readers agreed, arguing that U.S. publishers favor books that often present stereotypes of Latinos rather than works featuring original Latino voices. Here are a couple highlights from Web commenters.
“Latinos are avid readers and and their purchasing power is a force to be reckoned with. It is downright insulting that Latino writers don’t get the same investment and time. I am personally tired of seeing the same old Latino writers that Americans romanticize. I agree, some are truly great writers, but our choices as Latinos are limited, not by the lack of talent, but by the lack of attention to a vivid community that enjoys a good book, just like enyone else.” —Wil Santiago Viera
“U.S. Latino literature is narrowly constrained—ghetto wars, immigrant stories and chica lit. The vast experience of nearly 60 million U.S. residents is virtually untouched. There will be a ‘Walter Mosley’ or a ‘Terry McMillan’ moment, and then the publishers will see the enormity of this vibrant, untapped market.” —Alex Rodriguez
From the Newsletters
The most-anticipated books of spring 2017.
When they got the call: we talk with the 2017 Newbery and Caldecott winners, Kelly Barnhill and Javaka Steptoe.
Faith-focused self-publisher Tate Publishing closes down.
Two backlist titles find new lives abroad.
Meet T.J. Slee, whose novel The Vanirim won the inaugural BookLife Prize in Fiction.
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The most-read review on publishersweekly.com last week was Sticks Angelica, Folk Hero by Michael DeForge (Drawn & Quarterly).
Blogs
Bookseller Kenny Brechner on the growth of active nonfiction for young readers.
Podcasts
PW senior writer Andrew Albanese talks about the growing backlash against S&S for signing Milo Yiannopoulos, as well as how President Donald Trump loomed large over the recently concluded ALA Midwinter Meeting.
The More to Come crew discusses the implications of the discontinuation of the New York Times graphic novel bestseller list.
Alan Burdick discusses his new book, Why Time Flies: A Mostly Scientific Investigation (Simon & Schuster). Then PW children’s reviews editor John Sellers recaps the Newbery and Caldecott Awards.
