>Fall 2007 trends? Pirates, unlikely fantasy heroes, African American historical fiction, kids who killed their friends.
About Roger SuttonRoger Sutton has been the editor in chief of The Horn Book, Inc, since 1996. He was previously editor of The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books and a children's and young adult librarian. He received his M.A. in library science from the University of Chicago in 1982 and a B.A. from Pitzer College in 1978. Follow him on Twitter: @RogerReads.
>Do we really want to be encouraging children to kill their friends? That seems a little dangerous to me.
>Any Pirate Chiuaua Books that save the world from those Americn Dolls that tried to kill their fantasy heroes?
That was 2007! What about 2008?
>I think, Sarah, that would depend on the friends.
>Don’t forget the camels. Or the four Beowulfs. (Beowulves?)
>I’m feeling very post-pirate these days. I think it’s time to bring back astronauts.
>Hey Nevikmoore, never fear! There will be astronauts o-plenty for 2009, the anniversary of the moon landing.
Vampires didn’t come up on your trend list? Trust me, more are on the way.
Another trend I’ve noticed–key sidekicks in history getting their own novels, a la Leonardo’s boy.
I personally am hoping for the gothic novel of yesteryear to revive. I am talking about Phyllis Whitney or Daphne duMaurier. I qm looking for books that seethe with longing. I think both Libba Bray and Holly Black are doing the modern version of this, and with great results, but I’m thinking of something where romance drives the story. Are you listening, writers?
>Oh, yes, there will be astronauts. No gothic vampire astronauts, though. None that I know of.
>I assume the books are *anti* friend-killing? Those I’ve seen are. Of course, I realize that there is a movement afoot to consider any book that talks about a topic to be giving kids ideas.