Thank you,

Robert Eggleton

A well read public–a thoughtful public–is a scary idea for many. Especially the academic elite, of whom I assume Mr. Freeman is a member. Your site promotes an important traditional Western value, universal education. Here’s my vote for those ‘obviously compromised!’ ‘amateur’ booklovers who hog the blogosphere. I can freely read and decide, debate with them. They’re the agora, the coffeehouse, the Lyceum.

I’ll be blunt. When I recommend books–as you do here–I always shy away from the big awards, which are the thanks bestowed by the elite to those whom they approve. I sense that kind of arrogance at work in Mr. Freeman’s thinking.

Instead I look to more permanent criteria, as (for children’s books, my interest): does it do good for the child? does the writer care about the child (or is he ripping off another market, aided by callous publishing houses?) is there an ethical structure to the work, and what? (If none or wrong, it’s usually not worth educational time). Does the writer have a worthwhile statement, does he pay dues to the larger traditional literary world? Is there beauty, a fresh look at the world, or understanding of the child.. All the important questions. That no parent should trust the academic or publishing elite to decide.

As for Freeman (whom I know only from this snide article): Those who dwell in glass houses shouldn’t hoist bricks labelled ‘selling out.’