From: Margaret Denman-West <maggie>
Date: Tue, 5 Aug 1997 20:42:30 +0100

I'm enjoying the comments re: this Cromier book. It crossed my mind to copy and send some of the responses from child-lit - but find that most of the comments are mirrored - whichever direction they point- by ccbc'ers. As an adult I received pleasure from reading "tenderness" because of the skill of R. Cormier. I've enjoyed all of his books and, when teaching young adult lit,( undergraduate and graduate level) encouraged my students to "give him a try" - which generated the whole spectrum of responses- from to - just as I expected it would. His craftsmanship as a writer- with the flair of a news reporter (which he was in
"another life)- lend a unigue approach to his stories. Look back on what he has written. All of the events are items which were, at some time, (even . He weaves stories that, although they often brings knots to our stomach, hold our attention. The "bike ride", the children hostages, the "bumblebee" and yes, the serial killer. I may not "like" what I read - but his special ability to "grab us and hold us" (those willling to continue reading) is amazing. Now that I have said that, I haven't come to term with how I would handle in with the age group for whom it is intended. Since it ha been many, many years since I was a highschool librarian, I won't have to deal with it. I will admit, I didn't recommend it to my two granddaughters, ages 11 & 12. They are avid readers who read way beyond their age level. One of Blythe's favorite (age 11) is Jane Eyre!! Am I being "old fashioned"? Me, the liberal??? I don't know.

Thanks Ginny, K.T. and all for giving us a forum to express ourselves on a very special "stage".

Maggie D-W .

Margaret (Maggie) Denman-West maggie at en.com Cleveland, OH
Received on Tue 05 Aug 1997 02:42:30 PM CDT