\u201cThe fact that this book was nominated in two categories is deeply hurtful,\u201d author Sarah Wendell wrote in an open letter to the RWA board of directors and posted online. \u201cI don\u2019t understand exactly how so many judges agreed that a book so offensive and insensitive was worthy of the RWA\u2019s highest honor.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cFor Such a Time\u201d was nominated for best first book and best inspirational romance of 2014. \u201cInspirational\u201d is romance-novel code for \u201cChristian.\u201d<\/p>\n
The book was published by Bethany House<\/a>, which deems itself the \u201cpioneer and leader in Christian fiction.\u201d And Breslin\u2019s biography begins<\/a>, \u201cI\u2019m grateful that I\u2019m a follower of Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n Unlike Esther, who comes out as Jewish to save her people from genocide, Breslin\u2019s Hadassah, who escapes detection as Aric\u2019s secretary under the name Stella Muller, converts to Christianity in the end to save herself.<\/p>\n Romance writers took to social media to express bewilderment that such a book should be recognized, calling attention to the obvious power imbalance within the relationship and the use of the Jewish genocide as a vehicle for Christian redemption.<\/p>\n \u201cThe reality of Aric\u2019s relationship with Hadassah is that, at all times, he holds her life in his hands \u2014 and they both know it,\u201d wrote a reviewer of the book<\/a>. \u201cIn that context, his repeated expressions of desire for Hadassah and his penchant for grabbing and kissing her aren\u2019t just your standard romance dubious-consent hash, but are an incredible, intolerable abuse of his power.\u201d<\/p>\n Katherine Locke, a Jewish romance writer and the granddaughter of a camp liberator, wrote on Tumblr<\/a> about feeling betrayed by the community of romance writers and readers who have given the book enthusiastic reviews. She warned against using the Holocaust as a subject and pleaded that Breslin, the publisher, the Romance Writers’ Association and readers \u201cconsider Jewish voices that they co-opted, stole from, offended, undermined and erased through the publication and award of this book.\u201d<\/p>\n The controversy surrounding \u201cFor Such a Time\u201d joins other uproars about representation<\/a> in so-called \u201cgenre fiction.\u201d In 2014, a movement in the world of young adult literature sought to bring attention to the lack of diversity among its authors and characters under the social media hashtag #WeNeedDiverseBooks.<\/p>\n Earlier this year, the Hugo Awards, which recognize science fiction and fantasy writing, faced a backlash<\/a> from a small cohort against nominations of women and writers of color. Romance fiction, which has a significant white, female, Christian readership, is now also grappling with being a niche form subject to shifting social expectations of inclusion and cultural sensitivity.<\/p>\n At the end of July, Breslin and her Holocaust fantasy left the RITA awards ceremony empty-handed. But Breslin has already moved on: Her latest book, \u201cNot By Sight,\u201d released earlier this month, is set in World War I-era England.<\/p>\n![\"Share](\"https:\/\/static.hupso.com\/share\/buttons\/share-medium.png\")