Noblemania: A nonfiction interview

Wednesday, November 24, 2010

A nonfiction interview

Donna Bowman Bratton kindly interviewed me about Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman and nonfiction in general.

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About this blog

The behind-the-scenes look at my books, from research adventures to promotion gambles. Also: recaps of my international speaking engagements and pop culture oral histories featuring beloved figures of books, music, TV, and movies who rarely if ever have been interviewed.

Books:

* Bill the Boy Wonder: The Secret Co-Creator of Batman (nonfiction picture book); illustrated by Ty Templeton; Charlesbridge. Inspired the Hulu documentary Batman & Bill and a TED Talk.
* Boys of Steel: The Creators of Superman (nonfiction picture book); illustrated by Ross MacDonald; Knopf (Random House)
* Brave Like My Brother (novel); Scholastic
* The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra (fiction picture book); illustrated by Ana Aranda; Nancy Paulsen Books (Penguin Random House)

* Fairy Spell: How Two Girls Convinced the World That Fairies Are Real (nonfiction picture book); illustrated by Eliza Wheeler; Clarion (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

* Thirty Minutes Over Oregon: A Japanese Pilot's World War II Story (nonfiction picture book); illustrated by Melissa Iwai; Clarion (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt)

Praise for "Bill the Boy Wonder"

Honors:

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Best of the year lists/gift guides:

USA Today

Washington Post

MTV Geek

Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year (ages 9-12; with star for Outstanding Merit)

Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books

Fuse #8 (School Library Journal) "100 Magnificent Children's Books of [the Year]"

Tablet

Los Angeles Public Library (Mara Alpert)

Other coverage:

My TED Talk about Bill Finger and the tragedy of creators' rights

The Today Show/MSN

My interview on NPR's All Things Considered

New York Times

"Fast paced...fun...impressive and fascinating. A must-have"

—Forbes

"Fiendishly clever"

—MTV Geek

"Excellent"

—Washington Post

New York Daily News

"Buy this book; it's a great read"

—GeekDad (WIRED)

"Unique…eye-catching...engagingly told…complex and thorough…will be a hit"

—School Library Journal

"Seriously researched...so memorable...lush, emotive brushwork...[the book] will make the lasting impression [Bill Finger] deserves"

—Kirkus Reviews

"Bold...dynamic...a fitting tribute"

—Booklist

"Eye-opening and quietly tragic"

—Connect the Pop (School Library Journal)

"Purposefully and meaningfully (and beautifully) written"

—Michael Uslan, executive producer of every Batman movie since 1989

"Absolutely fascinating...amazing research"

—Comic Book Resources

Praise for "Boys of Steel"

Honors:

An American Library Association Notable Children's Book

A Junior Library Guild Selection

A Children's Choices title

A Capitol Choices Noteworthy Book for Children and Teens

An Association for Library Service to Children Notable Children's Book

A Sydney Taylor Notable Book of Jewish Content

Kirkus Reviews "best of the year" list

New York Public Library's "100 Titles for Reading and Sharing"

Starred reviews:

"Vibrant and well-researched...Nobleman details this achievement with a zest amplified by MacDonald's...punchy illustrations"
—Publishers Weekly

"This robust treatment does [Shuster and Siegel's] story justice"
—Booklist

"The battle for truth and justice is truly never-ending"
—Kirkus Reviews

Other coverage:

USA Today cover story, Life section

"[N]o library in the world could object to the book's style and panache. [T]his is one biography that's going to lure the kids like nothing else. More fun than any children's biography has any right to be"
—Fuse #8 (School Library Journal; four out of five stars)

"Fascinating"
—Horn Book

"Sure to become a classic example of the genre"
—Families Online

"Wonderful…young readers…will find this…title appealing and thereby ensure that future generations recall the amazing story behind Superman's creation as well. Wait, did I say 'recall'? Strike that—make it 'will be inspired by' instead. This book is that good"
—Firefox News

"Touching... The illustrated section...is upbeat, entertaining, and informative...the [well-crafted] afterword shows the shadow side of the great American dream. ...Nobleman is equally adept at both stories"
—Boston Globe

"Surprisingly poignant"
—San Francisco Chronicle

"Haunting"
—Geek Monthly

"Excellent"
—GeekDad (WIRED)

"A-minus"
—A.V. Club

"Engrossing...wonderful"
—Scripps Howard News Service

"I was completely mesmerized by this book from the first instant I opened it. I loved every page, and every word. Boys of Steel transported me; it made me feel young; it moved me to tears. Honest to God, it did! It caused my black heart to melt. The book is absolutely fantastic, the book is tremendous, the book is a huge achievement"
—Robby Reed, DIAL B for BLOG

"Expertly crafted...entertaining and good looking...a real winner"
—Tripwire

"I have to praise this wonderful book. It has something for children and adults, fans of comics and otherwise...I don't use the word a lot, but the book is very charming"
—PLAYBACK:stl

"Terrific...elegantly laid down"
—Comics Waiting Room

"A solid introduction to the history of Superman's creation"

—School Library Journal

"A lively read"

—Connecticut Post

"Super, bouncy, fun, and interesting"
—Fairfield County Weekly

"Spectacular"
—Young Adult Books Central (four out of five stars)

Praise for "The Chupacabra Ate the Candelabra"

Honors:

A Junior Library Guild Selection

School Library Journal Popular Pick

Other coverage:

"Fresh, funny and genuinely suspenseful, thanks in part to a winning text...no weak links here"
—Chicago Tribune

"Readers will be sorry when this one is over"
—Publishers Weekly

"Plenty of lively touches...amusing"
—Booklist

"Playful…humorously spooky...a first purchase for most libraries"
—School Library Journal

"Read [this] to anyone who will listen and trust me, they will listen. This story is brimming with humor, snappy dialogue, and wonderful surprises"
—Librarian's Quest

"Not since Skippyjon Jones have I been so entertained by a silly Spanglish picture book. I laughed out loud"
—Angela, Good Reads

"A new children's classic"
—Lauren Theuerkauf, Amazon

Praise for "Thirty Minutes Over Oregon"

Honors:

An Orbis Pictus Honor Book

A Junior Library Guild Selection

An Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) Notable Children's Book

International Literacy Association Teachers' Choices Reading List

CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children's Book Center)

Capital Choices

Colonial Dames of America Young Readers Award Winner

Freeman Book Awards for Children's and Young Adult's Literature on East and Southeast Asia Honorable Mention

Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List

Virginia Readers' Choice List

Best of the year lists:

Fuse #8 (School Library Journal) Best Nonfiction Picture Books of [the Year]

Nerdy Book Club Best Nonfiction Picture Books

Top 20 Book of [the Year] (John Schumacher/Travis Jonker)

Top 5 Nonfiction Picture Book [of the Year] (Colby Sharp)

Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year (ages 9-12)

Other coverage:

"Sometimes the most inconsequential episodes in larger stories can turn out to be the most moving, and so it is with Thirty Minutes Over Oregon … a thought-provoking meditation on the power of forgiveness"

—New York Times Book Review

"Engrossing and unexpectedly touching … lovely story of reconciliation"

—Wall Street Journal

"Powerful and poignant...a must-read"

—Kirkus Reviews

"Such a cool story...remarkable... We need this book right now"

—Fuse #8 (School Library Journal)

"Nobleman knows just the right tone to strike with this story, and he unfolds its events with a storyteller's flair. … There are several lessons here, organically made, and kids who come for the wartime action will be pulled along to the book's ultimately pacific message"

—Horn Book

"So beautifully recalled"

—Datebook (San Francisco Chronicle)

"An important and breathtaking book"

—Colby Sharp book talk video

"Clearly written...moving... This quiet story is less about war than the toll it takes on those who fight, the possibility of reconciliation, and the value of understanding other cultures. A war story with a heartening conclusion"

—Booklist

"Respectful and balanced"

—Bulletin for the Center of Children's Books

"This is a remarkable story...a story to be remembered, forever. You will be moved"

—Librarian's Quest

Praise for "Fairy Spell"

Honors:

A Junior Library Guild Selection

CCBC Choices (Cooperative Children's Book Center)

Texas Topaz Nonfiction Reading List

Best of the year lists:

Bank Street College of Education Best Children's Books of the Year (ages 9-12)

Other coverage:

"A rich overview of this bizarre historical controversy… deftly navigates topics like childhood in the early 20th century, the media and the influence of celebrity culture, and the history of photography … a strong nonfiction choice"

—School Library Journal

"With a crisp and engaging style, Nobleman relates this fascinating story… Young readers are bound to be intrigued"

—Horn Book

"Engaging ... A fascinating introduction to one of the greatest hoaxes of all time, deftly pitched to elementary-age children"

—Kirkus Reviews

"Will leave children guessing until the end"

—Publishers Weekly

"A seamless blend of both frolics and facts fuels suspense ... part accidental trickster tale, part unforgettable fairy tale, all true, this will have kids reaching for cameras of their own in no time"

—Booklist

Praise for "Brave Like My Brother"

Honors:

A Junior Library Guild Selection

Other coverage:

"History lovers will find a lot of new information here…Nobleman keeps the suspense tight"
—Horn Book

"Always steers clear of melodrama. A good option"
—Booklist

"Thoroughly engaging on every account...excels in every regard"
—Times Herald (MI)

"A lovely read and a glimpse into the bond between brothers through an exchange of letters. Grab a tissue for the ending"
—Lindsey Anderson, Good Reads

"A gentle introduction to WWII although it does pack a bit of an emotional wallop"
—Barbara, Good Reads