I guess I should chalk this up to things being better. It’s not hate mail. No death threat. Just someone telling me that no one is interested in reading about WWII and Ukraine. The handwritten letter — unsigned of course — was snail-mailed to my husband’s office, addressed to me. It was postmarked right after Stolen Child was shortlisted for Children’s Book of the Year.
Here it is, errors intact:
Dear Marsha Skrypuch
Many Actors and others are into writing short children’s books (some don’t have children)
Others — to fill in their empty hours are into the arts (Not for financial gain)
Your stories are emotional. Sad – and suffering = Related to you by older people, friends and close relatives and you are a good listener =
The War, Ukraine, Nazis (not Germans but NAZIS) – Today people do not know these history. War. Ukraine. Words.
Many other countries have suffered more even in to-days world=
Forget about The Nazis – Hitler=
let it go = What child or adult wants to read about Hitler? = Maybe only you and your Ukraine old friends – have you been there? I’ve been there =
Necessary Lessons
I’m a teacher and here to tell you that if we don’t have books like yours to teach our children of past world problems then we are doomed to repeat those mistakes. Educations gives a lick and a promise to historical facts anymore. Without quality books like yours my students would not know about a lot of what goes on. Instead we have students who look and you and say, “What the Ukraine?” Ignore their ignorance. It hurts but we don’t know what nerve you hit in them. They didn’t have to read your book it was their choice. Keep writing them. I am proud to say your book is one that my students are constantly reading and discussing.
Wow, talk about sticking your head in the sand. That letter writer doesn’t seem to understand a simple concept — if we forget our history, we are doomed to repeat our mistakes. It’s crucial to remember and to read. Rachna Gilmore http://www.rachnagilmore.ca