Currently, on Arthur A. Levine's blog, a number of prominent children's literature authors and literary critics are debating a question that has been at the center of children's and YA literature for decades: What are the pros and cons of individuals who are not part of a particular culture or group writing a narrative about members of that culture or group?
The impetus for this discussion was YA literature author Ellen Wittlinger's op ed piece in The Horn Book entitled "Too Gay or Not Gay Enough?" I would urge you to read this article first and then check out the insightful debate at Levine's blog.
