Well, it was bound to happen.  The first negative comments about the book.  I knew if it got read widely enough, some people wouldn't like it and some of those people would tell me about it.  Every author has to have a thick skin and a willingness to acknowledge different opinions about his or her work.  Having gone through multiple rounds of editing with three very different writing professionals, I thought I was pretty adept at listening to contrary opinions.  But the email I received this week from 20-year old Megan Friel at Sparrow Tree Square has been distracting me ever since I received it.

Sparrow Tree Square (aka Ms. Friel) collaborates with her sister to review books for children and posts those reviews on a page of her website, Under the Apple Tree.  She expressed interest in reading my book.  After sending it to her, here's the email I received:

We haven't yet finished reading the book, but unfortunately there are a few aspects of the book that would prevent us from giving it a positive review.  In light of the recent tragedy in Arizona, we feel that we cannot wholeheartedly recommend a book for young readers that depicts a gun on its cover.  We also feel that the discussions of boyfriends, even in the context of a mean girl's taunting, are not appropriate for readers of a book with a ten year-old heroine.  We would also recommend that, if possible, instances where the eighteenth-characters use the word "okay" be removed, since this word didn't come into common usage until the mid-nineteenth century.

I'll get to her individual criticisms in a minute, but I think what disturbed me about this email is her misuse of the word "review".    A review used to mean what's good and bad about a book.  Sounds like Ms. Friel really meant to say she can't give it a positive RECOMMENDATION.   And therefore, if she can't say something positive, she just won't say anything at all on her website.  Therein lies what irks me - books should provoke a discussion, good or bad, not be censored because they aren't nice and innocent enough for her version of a ten year old.   If she didn't like the plot or the characters or even my writing style, that's okay.  She is certainly entitled to leave it off her website.  But don't say your website provides reviews when all it's really providing are a few personal book recommendations.

And, just because it makes me feel better, here are my responses to her three criticisms:

I get the gun on the cover will keep some parents from allowing their children to read the book.  I think it's unfortunate, since the gun is a Revolutionary pistol that probably couldn't hit the side of a barn and no one gets shot in my book, but I get it.  Of course, I've been pleasantly surprised at how many BOYS who are known to be reluctant readers at this age have picked up and READ this book precisely because there was a gun on the cover.   It was a risk I took and one I'd choose to take again.

I laughed out loud when I read that mention of boyfriends isn't appropriate for a ten year old.  It's very clear that Ms. Friel doesn't have ten year old girls.  This is exactly the age when some girls get interested in boys and others aren't and bullying around this subject starts.  Which is why I put it in the book.   Oh, and by the way - the book is not about boyfriends...

As to her final comment about the word "okay" - she may be right.  But if she is referring to the times that Skip, our twenty first century protagonist, says "okay" while she is back in time, then Ms. Friel has missed the point of the whole book - what's it like for an "okay" speaking ten year old to go back in time and COMPARE how things are the same or different with her own way of life.    Now if I inadvertently had one of the other characters say it, well shame on me.  Next time I'll be more diligent about my linguistic research.

There, I feel better now getting that off my chest.  Criticism?  Bring it on...