Max Elliot Anderson

Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Max-Elliot-Anderson/e/B002BLP3EE
Blog http://booksandboys.blogspot.com

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L.C., don’t know if this feed is still live, but was caught up by your blog. I have written three MG mysteries, the first hopefully of a series. Aimed at 9-13 year olds, I wanted to create some really fun reading with some good intellectual value that leads kids (eventually) to think about Christ. The last thing I wanted them to do is sound like a Sunday school class(sorry) as I feel that many Christian kids books do. Like you, I don’t think that Jesus is like this. If He came to bring life and life abundantly, He is probably the most fun person that ever walked the planet (in a good clean way, of course). So I introduced my stories not even talking about religion at first, then bringing in the subject of God later where the idea is introduced that this is why these kids are so amazing, talented, beyond their years, etc. because their parents have raised them to know God! It is that “Come taste and see that the Lord is good!” concept . . tasting, a little at a time, until you have a full out hunger for Him. And creating characters that are so believably impressive that the young readers will want to know why they are as they are and are able to do the exploits they are capable of. So the kids will say . . I want to have what these kids have!!! When the characters are up against Harry Potter, don’t they as Christians have to exceed him?! This is my vision for kids books today. But, like you, am not sure exactly where to submit them to because they don’t talk alot about Christianity but at the same time have Christ deeply embedded in the heart of them. Would love feedback.

I am also an elementary teacher, and I’ve been concerned about what is available and promoted for children to read.

It’s not good for children’s imagination to be fueled with these things. There is a need for more wholesome books with strong Christian values.

This is one author that will not bend to the trends of society.

The menu offered for today’s juvenile literature is mostly DARK. Prevalent philosophies on the table tend toward a steady diet of the underworld: such as demons, dragons, witches, ghosts, ESP, and shape-shifters. Served up with lavish sides of violence, promiscuity, anger, death, and even cannibalism. Do your own poll if you doubt this. Yet, very few children travel unaccompanied to bookstores and make purchases with their own money, without a parent’s consent. So, who’s responsible for the stuff?

The people who spend the money.

The small amount of classics and wholesome literature still available are on shelves for only one reason: THEY STILL SELL. It’s a money-driven market. Period. And for those parents who say, “But the kids like to read what’s popular. Besides, teachers and publishing houses are the ones who put the books there. So, they can’t be all THAT bad. “

To answer this I would challenge anyone who believes there is a panel of standard-bearers who guard the gate of children’s literature in order to insure nothing really harmful gets in, to do a simple Google search on the names of the editors responsible for all those books. Some of the pictures and opinions you will see on their FaceBook or MySpace pages will make your hair stand on end.

So, any of you writers out there who are feeling pressed to aim your pens at the children’s market because it might be easier to break into… better not go there. It’s a huge spiritual battleground and the casualties are innumerable.

Mostly children.

So, when I say CBA kids’ fiction needs to get better, I’m speaking generally, globally, on an industry-wide basis. And like you, I could point out a whole bunch of examples of excellent CBA fiction for kids. Those are specifics, and I’m speaking generally.

I believe we need MORE excellent kids’ fiction in order for there to be a general impression of excellence in CBA fiction for kids. When it gets to the point that a majority of our kids will read it just as willingly as they’ll pick up Harry Potter, then we will have gotten there.

I SO appreciate what you do! If you and/or Susan would email me, I’d love to check out the kids books you’ve written.

Thanks for the comment!

And thank you.