Because YA fiction has more influence than, say, the President?

[jmc_bks]

Via Galley Cat at Media Bistro:  Jenna Bush will be writing a book geared toward teens about an HIV positive mother in Panama, ending the book with a call to action.  Because teens have Political Power.  Um, perhaps the call to action should start within Ms. Jenna's family:  increasing funding to NIH would be good.  As I understand it, the budget there is flat, not accounting for the 10-15% cost increases that have occured over the last year for research materials.  Because giving Big Oil and Others a tax cut and funding a war that most Americans think is a lost cause are more important than science.

Maybe I shouldn't be so judgmental.  It could be a very good book.  Maybe I'm being cynical, thinking that the auction wouldn't've gotten that much attention if it hadn't been written by the daughter of a sitting president.