I've been doing some radio and press interviews lately about Boy Overboard and Girl Underground and the question of whether kids books should include political issues. (See 'Vanstone Attacks Children's Author', Weekend Australian 3/7/04.)

It's a complex question, and I'm still evolving my thoughts, but here are some of the points I've been trying to make in the interviews.

1. Much as we'd like kids to live in a peaceful and problem-free world, we haven't provided them with one.  Even kids in happy suburbs catch glimpses in the media of dire stuff and feel anxious. Stories can help remind us that love and friendship are always possible, no matter how big the problems we face. And that sometimes, with love and friendship on our side, the big problems can be given a serious nudge.

2. Young readers don't see political issues such as refugees and detention centres in the way that many adults do. Adults are often locked into the party political, left wing/right wing, Labour/Liberal, I'm right/you're wrong, you're an idiot/so are you mindset. Young readers see these issues much more in terms of empathy and justice. What's fair and what's not fair.

3. Young people might not have all the background information, but neither do many adults and they get to vote.

4.  Each of my readers will get to vote eventually, and have a crack at changing the world in all sorts of other ways. As kids, though, they haven't got much power. Reading and writing stories can be a great rehearsal, a flexing of the moral muscles, a chance to imaginatively break through the limits and get a sense of what's possible without actually going to jail or having your pocket money stopped.

5. The best way to achieve universal freedom and democracy, I reckon, is to have as many young people as possible asking as many questions as possible. Questions like, Who is telling me this story? Why are they telling it to me? What does this story really mean? I encourage readers to ask those questions of my stories, and all stories. Specially very short, very complicated stories like 'Strengthening Medicare' and 'Troops home by Christmas' and 'Just do it.'

6. Amanda Vanstone is probably a very nice person when she's not being Minister for Immigration. I hope to have a cup of tea with her one day.

I'd love to hear from you if you've got thoughts about any of this. Email me from the Visitors' Page. Be bold. Be forthright. Be reasonably concise if possible.

Until next time, oo-roo and happy reading (and expressing of views),

20 August 2004