I happen to be a reviewer for Green Man Review. I didn't review Death of A Ghost, but have read the comments we've received on this review. While I do understand the distress a bad review can cause, I think a great deal more fuss is being made over this than it deserves.
It's true, Death of a Ghost was reviewed by a teenager. Her age was not something we felt was vital for the readers to know, but it was a consideration in having her review this book: she is in the target audience. She did not like it, and said so. Her review reflects her opinions, her tastes and her skills. We feel they are both mature and appropriate for a reader her age. GMR publishes reviews as critique, after all, not entertainment. While it's unfortunate you found the review unacceptable, it does reflect the reaction of an actual member of the book's intended audience.
GMR stands by its review and reviewers. They are honest. Bad reviews are not removed, although we will correct factual errors when they are pointed out. However, this review is not in error: it's just not favorable. If you will examine the reviewer's other work in this issue, you will see that she reviews quite ably, and gives praise where she thinks it is due.
At GMR, we don't hold YA works in light regard. I've reviewed several of them myself, and happen to think they are an enormously important genre. Readers need to be caught young, and our increasingly-sophisticated children are both discerning and particular about what they read. When a reviewer finds such a book lacking, it needs to be said - and all the more loudly when the reviewer is one the readers for whom the book was intended. We foist far too much nonsense off on our kids, and they have no way to complain about most of it. Writers in this genre have to realize that their audiance is young, volatile, opinionated, often sarcastic and usually much more serious than an adult. This review gave one such reader a voice. It should be taken in context, learned from, and let rest.
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Green Man Review & YA
Date: 2007-03-31 12:00 am (UTC)It's true, Death of a Ghost was reviewed by a teenager. Her age was not something we felt was vital for the readers to know, but it was a consideration in having her review this book: she is in the target audience. She did not like it, and said so. Her review reflects her opinions, her tastes and her skills. We feel they are both mature and appropriate for a reader her age. GMR publishes reviews as critique, after all, not entertainment. While it's unfortunate you found the review unacceptable, it does reflect the reaction of an actual member of the book's intended audience.
GMR stands by its review and reviewers. They are honest. Bad reviews are not removed, although we will correct factual errors when they are pointed out. However, this review is not in error: it's just not favorable. If you will examine the reviewer's other work in this issue, you will see that she reviews quite ably, and gives praise where she thinks it is due.
At GMR, we don't hold YA works in light regard. I've reviewed several of them myself, and happen to think they are an enormously important genre. Readers need to be caught young, and our increasingly-sophisticated children are both discerning and particular about what they read. When a reviewer finds such a book lacking, it needs to be said - and all the more loudly when the reviewer is one the readers for whom the book was intended. We foist far too much nonsense off on our kids, and they have no way to complain about most of it. Writers in this genre have to realize that their audiance is young, volatile, opinionated, often sarcastic and usually much more serious than an adult. This review gave one such reader a voice. It should be taken in context, learned from, and let rest.
Kathleen Bartholomew
materkb@hotmail.com