Heavy Medal revisits Conspiracy!

[ccwtaylor.livejournal.com]

Heavy Medal, the Mock Newbery blog, takes another look at Conspiracy....and finds it Good.

http://blog.schoollibraryjournal.com/heavymedal/2010/11/13/conspiracy-revisited-part-one/

Comments

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

...is CoK not violent? I seem to recall a fair amount of violence.

Like, you know, a man being shot in cold blood.

:-/

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

*ponders this*

Yeah, I would agree, but most readers don't consider it violence unless its described graphically.

I guess, Sophos shot a dude is different from Sophos shot a dude and there was (insert graphic descriptions of blood and gore).

It's still violence though... *is a little confused*

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

There's definitely a difference in the level of gore, I'll give you that. But it's still a very violent act, and the effect of it--the fact that Sophos kills a man in cold blood--is dwelt upon, and I feel like that's almost more important than the level of gore. Media in general desensitizes people to images of violence; it's harder to be desensitize to meditations on what that violence actually means.

[ricardienne.livejournal.com]

I think that's exactly why the violence in CoK is more likely to be considered acceptable, actually. It isn't just blood and gore and thousands of innocent bystanders being blown to bits; it's, as you say, individual acts that are very significant for the characters and whose moral implications are dwelt on at length.

So in some way it's more shocking, because every aspect of Sophos' shooting is analyzed and considered and eventually authorized by the main character, but that intellectualization, I suspect, also elevates it.

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

Media in general desensitizes people to images of violence; it's harder to be desensitize to meditations on what that violence actually means.

Very true. I myself, wouldn't say I'm desensitized to violent images. I'm just aware that most gore is a thematic exaggeration (30 Days of Night, anyone?). There is only so much blood in the human body, after all.

I find gore like that makes me go ick..., but I forgot about it the next day. A person actually suffering from committing a violent act bares more weight with me, and also has a longer lasting affect.

I'm reminded of the anime, Noir. Blood is never actually shown on screen. Instead, the focus is directed towards what it actually means to be a killer. Even so, Noir is still not a series I would recommend to children or anyone who can't easily deal more heavy television.

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

That made me go "Wha...?" as well. Like, the nice little boy shoots the ambassador! The nice little boy who is suddenly ready to get married and not so little anymore!

I'm still in a but-this-doesn't-qualify! mode when it comes to the Newbery. I'd love to see it get a Printz nomination, though.

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

Ah, I can see another Beth genre rant coming on. Yes, I agree with you. I'd love for Megan to win any sort of award, but the Newbery just doesn't seem quite right for the books she rights. The Printz would make more sense.

One question, how does TT better fall into Newbery requirements?

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

Oh gosh, seriously :) I don't know why I can't be all, who cares - but a Newbery? Uh uh.

I think that TT is the least mature of the books. It's also the least character-driven and the most plot-based, which is more typical for children's books.

I typed a whole rant but - it was too much. I think, though, that the Newbery is starting to gear itself toward older children, to fourteen year olds as opposed to eight year olds, and I think there's a Printz for a reason. I also think that CoK is a classic coming of age story, and that fits the YA genre perfectly, so it's weird that it's being considered for a Newbery.

(And seriously, when I read that post on Heavy Metal asking if The Cardturner could be a Newbery contestant?? Just because he's won a medal in the past doesn't mean that his subsequent work automatically fits the same genre! Also, I really want it to win the Printz, though that's unlikely.)

AND AND AND!!! I read The Legend of the King! And it wasn't really sad, more bittersweet. And I really liked it! Not as much as my favorite books in the series, but I liked it a lot, and finale books are always hard to write, so it was impressive. Also - Terence is in his thirties now?! How did so many years go by??

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

Exactly! Don't take this the wrong way, but I feel like it's a little insulting to Megan, that she can't seem to get considered for an award that is given to books for YAs. As you said, just because she was awarded a Newbery in the past, doesn't automatically qualify her for it when it comes to her later works.

It's like the literary world tends to slot an author, and they can have a hard time trying to work their way out of their "place". It's a little like typecasting.

You've read it? Yay! Isn't it a wonderful book?

Yeah, I wouldn't call it a happy book, but I wouldn't say it's a sad book either. Am I making any sense here?

You should leave me an opinion at the Courtyard. I still need to write mine, actually. Stupid tests...

http://community.livejournal.com/squirestales/6908.html

Yup, he grew up. I love it though. Terence is no Nancy Drew. He didn't stay 18 forever. I like that Morris didn't shy away from being realistic and aging his main character. It's brave move too, especially in YA where age is EVERYTHING.

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

I completely agree with you! (And don't worry, I'm a bit hard to offend.)

It's brave move too, especially in YA where age is EVERYTHING. Yes, this. Although they do stay young at heart, which is nice.

I have to process it; it was funny, because the book almost felt like a compilation, with all the stories being wrapped up and all the many characters touched upon. But it was a good compilation.