From: Kathy Hofschield <khofschd>
Date: Mon, 7 Jul 1997 14:39:57 -0500

Hi!

I've been lurking for some time and want to introduce myself before I comment on modern classics. I'm Kathleen Hofschield, manager of Children's Services at Mead Public Library in Sheboygan, Wisconsin.

Many years ago I heard a wonderful booktalk by Ginny Moore Kruse about THE DARK IS RISING. It was so intriguing that I just had to read the book. (Of course, any of you who have heard Ginny talk about books know how every book sounds soooooo great!) This Susan Cooper book quickly became one of my all time favorite books. Of course I couldn't stop with that book, but had to read all the books in the series. (The fourth book of the five book series, THE GREY KING, won the Newbery Medal.) I have taken TDIR to guest appearances at the local middle school and the kids have always enjoyed hearing the reading (they love the scariness of it) and then want to read the rest of the book. I always recommend this series to kids who enjoy fantasy and the perennial fight of good against evil, and to kids who are good readers and can appreciate a well-crafted story. THE DARK IS RISING also is one of those books that most adults would like - it is so well-written, with good character development and a convincing plot.

I also love A WRINKLE IN TIME and agree with the other comments already presented. In both of these books, the children are empowered to take action and they have the self-confidence to do so. That's why kids like these books, I'm convinced.

When I booktalk classics to a sixth grade class, the comments about the older classics are that the style of the language is often hard to read and understand. I try and intersperse "modern" classics with the older classics to expose kids to a variety of reading.

Enough of my rant. Thanks for all your good comments. I've learned a lot!

Kathleen Hofschield khofschd at bratshb.uwc.edu
Received on Mon 07 Jul 1997 02:39:57 PM CDT