
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, June 21, 1994                   TAG: 9407080013
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-7   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY  
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: RADFORD                                 LENGTH: Medium

APPALACHIANS CONTRIBUTE HEAVILY TO LITERATURE FOR KIDS

Juvenile literature is not just Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys anymore. Crowding these enduring series on the bookshelf are the works of many Appalachian writers, four of which will be featured at this year's Highland Summer Conference at Radford University, running through July 1.

"We're continuing the children's literature theme from last year by looking at juvenile literature this year," said Grace Toney Edwards, director of the conference and literature professor at the university. "People may not know the great books by Appalachian writers for adults, but they definitely are aware that some of the best children's writers are from Appalachia, like Sue Ellen Bridgers and last year's Newbery winner Cynthia Rylant."

Bridgers kicks off the conference, leading the discussions and seminars for the first week and presenting a reading Thursday evening. A North Carolina native who lives in the western portion of the state, she has set three of her four young adult novels in this mountainous section.

One of the hallmarks of Appalachian culture is a strong attachment to place and family and Bridgers' novels all explore how people are connected to one another. Within that context, Bridgers weaves compelling and unsentimental stories that deal with teen-agers attempting to reach maturity.

Joining her will be three who are closer to home. "We really wanted to emphasize the local talent," Edwards said. Ruth White, a Buchanan County native with several books on her resume, will give a reading tonight, and will lead a seminar for conference participants this afternoon.

Nancy Ruth Patterson, author of "The Shiniest Rock of All" and "The Christmas Cup" and creative writing teacher for Roanoke City Schools, leads the second week of the conference. Patterson, who will give a reading on June 30, was quoted in this paper as saying she gets many of her writing ideas from her students.

June 28, Blacksburg author Lou Kassem will lead a seminar during the day and give a reading that night. Her eighth book, "Odd One Out," was published in January and she has another one coming out in October. Kassem said writing is like breathing to her, and coming from a culture that exalts storytelling, her career was predestined.

The readings on Tuesdays and Thursdays are open to the public. "We like to give our students and the community a chance to meet these authors and hear their work in a social setting as well as in the classroom," Edwards said. They start at 7:30 p.m. and are held in the Highland Room in Heth Hall. During the second week, George Brosi, Appalachian bookseller, will have a display set up there.

The trend in juvenile literature during the last 20 years has writers taking a more realistic approach, accurately reflecting the times in which we live. In Bridgers' "Notes From Another Life," divorce and mental illness shatter a family and lead one of the protagonists to attempt suicide. Kassem's latest book deals with date rape and peer pressure. Books like these sometimes generate controversy because the issues are not childlike.

"I think that since we have a generation exposed to 'Beavis and Butthead' you can't pretend these issues don't exist. Juvenile literature addresses the concerns that young readers are wanting and needing to know," Edwards said. "While I don't want to see the classics ignored, I'm all for getting young people into reading and whatever it takes to get them to books."

by CNB