ameliabloomer+Panel


 * The Amelia Bloomer Project 2013 Author Panel: ** ** Celebrating Feminist Youth Literature and its Authors ** ** Elizabeth Andrejasich Gibes **

Since 2002, [|Amelia Bloomer Project] (ABP) has been publishing a yearly list of feminist children’s literature. This list of recommended works serves as a bibliographic resource for librarians, teachers, parents and the young reader. The project’s namesake, 19th Century suffragist and newspaper editor, was also the subject of one of the list’s first recommendations: //You Forgot Your Skirt, Amelia Bloomer// by Shana Corey. Project Co-Chair, Joy Worland, expanded on the Project’s mission and its continuing relevance in Children’s Literature: “In recent years it has become increasingly common for books to feature spunky girls and young women. There have been plenty of Young Adult dystopian novels with courageous heroines who can fight as well as males, or middle grade books about female friendship among girls who are smart, athletic and confident. In many venues, however, stereotypes persist of girls as less intelligent than boys, or less willing to take risks and act as leaders… it is in this context that the Amelia Bloomer Project celebrates and promotes books that purposefully portray characters and narratives of girls and women transforming gender imbalance and other social justice issues influenced by the intersection of gender, race class and culture.” Amelia Bloomer Project goes beyond the plucky protagonist and seeks out books that challenge convention. According Worland, the committee chooses books that can do so without pretension or didacticism. “The idea is to include books children and youth are drawn to, not books they read because they have to.”

[|This year’s list] includes nearly 50 books for youth in the categories of early readers, middle grades, nonfiction and young adult. The ALA Amelia Bloomer author panel in Chicago featured just two of those authors, Elizabeth Wein and Jessie Hartland.

Follow the Project’s wordpress for the full list of recommendations: [|http://ameliabloomer.wordpress.com/2013/01/28/the-2013-amelia-bloomer-project/]

**[[image:Elizabeth Wein.jpg width="193" height="196" align="right"]]Elizabeth Wein and //Code Name Verity//**
Elizabeth Wein wasn’t aware of the Amelia Bloomer Project when she first “googled” her work to see if her new book, //Code Name Verity// was receiving any press. The book wasn’t even available yet in the U.S. when she saw that it had already been nominated for the ABP’s list. Wein still credits ABP with providing her first bit of recognition. Much more was to follow. Code Name Verity has since won the Edgar Award, the Printz Honor, and has been nominated for countless others.

To explain any of the plot of this fast-paced incredible Y.A. novel would be to steal from the experience of future readers. What can be said is this book pays great homage to a history of women in wartime, and women in flight. (For those with an interest in women’s history of flying, [|Wein’s blog] provides readers with even more great historic figures, facts and stories.)

Wein didn’t set out to make feminist works for teens. In fact, several of her first novels have male protagonists. However, as //Code Name Verity// came into fruition it was obvious to her that this book was a feminist book and for good reason. As the mother of a teenage daughter, she is seeing firsthand how gender norms and societal restrictions impact how young girls view themselves and their role in society. At her daughter’s grammar school graduation, she noticed most of her daughter’s female classmates named their career aspirations as either “teachers” or “hairdressers.” While Wein immediately assured the panel audience that there is “nothing wrong with that” she wonders “why? If women can be anything are they still choosing such traditional careers?”

Wein herself is a member of the International Organization of Women Pilots, the organization first started by Amelia Earhart. She earned her pilot’s license when her children were just two and four years old, and squandered the advance of her second book on flying lessons. She jokingly called herself the Flying Housewife until she learned this was the name given to Geraldine Mock, the first woman to fly around the world.

With the “Can Women have it all?” debate bubbling through the media once again, Wein finished the panel by reassuring to her audience that they need not choose. “You can learn to fly, and still be a housewife, still be a mother.”

Due to the success of //Code Name Verity//, Wein's most recent book //Rose Under Fire//, will continue to examine these characters and themes, likely with the same stomach-churning plot twists.

**[[image:Jessie Hartland.JPG width="156" height="209" align="left"]]Jessie Hartland and //Bon Appetit!// //The Delicious Life of Julia Child//**
==== Jessie Hartland’s illustrated biography of Julia Child is a charming and detailed introduction to the nonconformist and celebrated chef. It delights with funny details of Julia’s adventures but it also challenges young readers with bilingual labeling of illustrations and a delicious, kid-friendly recipe for crepes. ==== Jessie’s affection for Julia is lifelong. Hartland remembers watching the French Chef on television while her mother sawed through frozen meals in the kitchen. She loved watching someone so passionate and encouraging. More than any female artist, Julia Child remains Jessie’s feminist role model.

Hartland plans on continuing her series of biographies. Her next book will be a graphic novel on Steve Jobs that will also explore the history of technology.