...I'm reading The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Prisoner's Dilemma, and on the cover, Sticky Washington (who is described in all three books as having light brown skin) appears to have been whitewashed. (He's the kid with the glasses.)
Uncool, Little Brown. Uncool*.
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*I mean, unless there's a really bizarre plot twist.
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Book source: My local library.
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This year's budget did not extend to brown ink. It's a recession, Leila.
Posted by: tanita | 17 January 2010 at 02:45 PM
Actually I noticed that on the covers of the other books too. Oddly, the black and white drawings inside the books didn't seem to have that problem.
Posted by: rockinlibrarian | 17 January 2010 at 03:00 PM
Yeah, I thought I remembered noticing it on the second book -- and so I was especially disappointed to see that they'd done it again this time. But, yeah -- the inside illustrations are fine. So weird.
Posted by: Leila | 17 January 2010 at 03:08 PM
It is very strange that the inside pictures are correct and the cover isn't. It even prompted a debate about Sticky's ethnicity between me and my husband.
But I don't want to fault the artist because I love her so much.
Posted by: Michelle | 17 January 2010 at 05:07 PM
Yeah, I noticed that too and it really bothered me. And it's not plot twist related. Unless I really missed something.
Posted by: Jessie | 17 January 2010 at 05:23 PM
Thanks for pointing this out. The more awareness raised, the more publishers will take note, or at least that's what I hope.
Posted by: April (Good Books & Wine) | 17 January 2010 at 06:04 PM
I just checked out the covers of the first two books, and he's whitewashed there as well. I never noticed because the inside illustrations are right. ARGH!
Posted by: Jennie | 17 January 2010 at 07:42 PM
I remember noticing that on the second book. Very uncool.
Posted by: jess | 17 January 2010 at 07:57 PM
Thank you! I noticed this, too, and it bothered me. In general I love the cover illustrations for the books, but I don't know why he looks so different than the illustrations inside.
Posted by: Caroline | 18 January 2010 at 01:56 PM
Yeah I just thought "????????????????". Wow. Inside it's fine on chapter illustrations. Soooo what in the world! Oh well. It's the thought that counts.
Posted by: Me so there | 09 February 2010 at 05:30 PM