I have one word:
DAMN!
I noticed this cover. It was very odd. But lately people are trying to go with more “artistic” covers and things that “have not been done before.” Of course, by doing that, they have already done it, therefore it is not new. I still gave it a more careful look. Noticed it was Jack Gantos (SCORE!) and then saw the title.
A Suicide Bomber Sits in the Library
Well, that’s a bit of light reading isn’t it?
I picked it up, expecting some odd shaped (a boxy, squared book) short-story preachy as you-know-what. Nope. A graphic novel with illustrations by Dave McKean. Not that I was loving his cover, but do not judge a book by it, correct?
Now, my second comment is do not read this book if you are not feeling well as either I had a stomach cramp, or the book hit me in the gut. Hard. In fact, I was not half way through it (in the middle of the doctor’s office) thinking, “I am going to have to read this again as I am caught up in the text and cannot concentrate on the art” and “Do NOT cry in the waiting room.
I started rereading while in the office of the doctor waiting for her.
A boy is in a library thinking of blowing himself up soon. As he is already “suited up” in the red jacket filled with explosives. I cannot wait to see the final product (sadly not out until May 2019) because I am really wondering where red is going to be used (my readers copy was black and white). You know red will be a dominate color. This boy is looking at the people reading around him. He wonders who he will have the honor of killing. He is just waiting for the call. The things the boy sees and hears around him are the simplistic of things. Ones he could ignore or take to heart. What the end finally shows makes all the difference. I could not help but feel there was a Robert Frost nod when the young man takes a certain path on his journey to his target.
The text is so telling. The words Gantos uses just hit you hard. One word says a thousand things. After my doctor’s appointment I went home and finished rereading. I tend not to reread and never right after finishing a book. I read the authors notes, the dedications, even about the publisher I wanted more. There is a lot going on. This in not for children, but I could see ages 14 up able to enjoy it. This is not a causal read. Teachers take note. Based on a short story Gantos also wrote.
I am sorry to say this book has been canceled. Yes, I figured there would be some backlash, but I really felt the subject was handled very sympathetically and was a great book about the power of books, language and thinking. I am sorry people picked one piece of it.
ABRAMS CANCELS ‘A SUICIDE BOMBER SITS IN THE LIBRARY’
Jack Gantos, Dave McKean, Publisher Agree
Posted by Milton Griepp on November 27, 2018 @ 7:04 am CT
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The writer, artist and publisher of A Suicide Bomber Sits in the Library, a new graphic novel due out in May (see “Spring Titles from Abrams ComicArts”), have agreed to cancel plans to publish the book, according to a Tumblr post by publisher Abrams.
“Abrams has decided to withdraw publication of the adult graphic novel, A Suicide Bomber Sits in the Library, which was to be published on its Abrams ComicArts list in May 2019,” the publisher wrote.
“While the intention of the book was to help broaden a discussion about the power of literature to change lives for the better, we recognize the harm and offense felt by many at a time when stereotypes breed division, rather than discourse. Therefore, together with the book’s creators, we have chosen to withdraw its release.”
The graphic novel began as a short story by children’s author Jack Gantos for an Amnesty International anthology titled Here I Stand, which was directed at readers 12 and up. The anthology also included work by Neil Gaiman, Chelsey Manning, Kate Charlesworth, and others, exploring human rights under threat
Dave McKean’s art was added later to adapt the story to graphic novel form.
Criticism came from a variety of directions, primarily around what critics said was a stereotypical portrayal of a Middle Eastern suicide bomber, the inauthenticity of the creators’ views on the topic, and the inappropriateness of marketing the book to children (Abrams Kids imprint Tweeted a promotional message about the book late last month). The best-organized opposition came from the Asian Author Alliance, which posted an open letter with over 1000 signatures late last week objecting to the publication of the book.
PS Happy to put this a 0 if needed as we can’t purchase it. Let me know.
That’s a very interesting development about this book. Absolutely still count it toward your total. You read it, you reviewed it, it counts.
The only thing I would say is to maybe find a different book to put in the link field, so that it actually goes to something that is on Amazon, perhaps the original Amnesty International anthology or one of Jack Gantos’ other books?
Thanks I’ll put a link to the author, which is why I picked the book up in the first place. He is AMAZING.