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The Islander
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From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 11:49:22 -0500
In the New York Times Book Review (7/19/98) Children's Books page there was only a brief mention of The Islander, which is a disappointment. I agree, however, with the NYT passing reference to The Islander as being a novella. At the June CCBC Book Discussion, someone referred to The Islander as an emotionally quiet reminiscence. Adult words: novella, reminiscence. Such words might lead some of us adults to take The Islander seriously as Literature. At the same time we might hastily conclude that such lofty literature might not appeal to most kids. Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Here's a different understanding of The Islanders. It isn't mine. I've been more or less waiting for Robin Smith to share comments from her second graders. Maybe Robin is on vacation (what a novel idea for a classroom teacher, a vacation!). Maybe she's away from school access to the internet. Because we haven't heard from her yet, I'll pass along some of what Robin wrote to me about The Islander early in May:
Robin: I think that this class as a whole liked the magical feeling of the book. They were also aware of Dog Heaven and Cat Heaven and liked comparing them to The Islander. They liked guessing what the clues might mean... We had just gone through the tornado about three days before, and we had a big discussion of how the hurricane helped Daniel become part of the community. Many of the children had helped with the cleanup, and all of them had seen stories on TV about how a tragedy can bring out the best in people, which really did happen in Nahville... This class has heard many, many myths and fairy tales and is comfortable with the idea of magic and coincidence. [for example] they were able to watch and understand the Sayles movie The Secret of Roan Inish... Here are some comments from the second graders in the class: 1) Virginia: I liked it because it has a mystery in it and all the neat things he gets. 2) Katie: I liked it because I thought it was really interesting that he had seen mermaids. 3) Peyton: I liked how the key vibrated when he found an injured bird and once it vibrated when he found a little girl. 4) Maddie: Every word was information we needed later to solve the mystery. 5) Sarah: I liked that he thought the mermaid was Anna. 6) Mary: The boy was brave not to be scared of the mermaid when he found the comb. End of notes from Robin Smith and her class.
Me: These children are seven and eight year olds who enjoyed the
"mystery." Obviously they are experienced listeners and book discussers, lucky young kids with a language-rich environment for learning and a fully engaged teacher who all year long incorporates many types of literature throughout the curriculum. These lucky children don't know the adult words "novella" and "reminiscence." They don't need to know them. They responded in their own ways to Rylant's mysteriously magical story, which - I imagine - is the best tribute for which any writer for the young can hope. ... Ginny
***************************************************** Ginny Moore Kruse (gmkruse at ccbc.soemadison.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center (www.soemadison.wisc.edu/ccbc/) A Library of the School of Education University of Wisconsin - Madison
Received on Mon 20 Jul 1998 11:49:22 AM CDT
Date: Mon, 20 Jul 1998 11:49:22 -0500
In the New York Times Book Review (7/19/98) Children's Books page there was only a brief mention of The Islander, which is a disappointment. I agree, however, with the NYT passing reference to The Islander as being a novella. At the June CCBC Book Discussion, someone referred to The Islander as an emotionally quiet reminiscence. Adult words: novella, reminiscence. Such words might lead some of us adults to take The Islander seriously as Literature. At the same time we might hastily conclude that such lofty literature might not appeal to most kids. Perhaps. Perhaps not.
Here's a different understanding of The Islanders. It isn't mine. I've been more or less waiting for Robin Smith to share comments from her second graders. Maybe Robin is on vacation (what a novel idea for a classroom teacher, a vacation!). Maybe she's away from school access to the internet. Because we haven't heard from her yet, I'll pass along some of what Robin wrote to me about The Islander early in May:
Robin: I think that this class as a whole liked the magical feeling of the book. They were also aware of Dog Heaven and Cat Heaven and liked comparing them to The Islander. They liked guessing what the clues might mean... We had just gone through the tornado about three days before, and we had a big discussion of how the hurricane helped Daniel become part of the community. Many of the children had helped with the cleanup, and all of them had seen stories on TV about how a tragedy can bring out the best in people, which really did happen in Nahville... This class has heard many, many myths and fairy tales and is comfortable with the idea of magic and coincidence. [for example] they were able to watch and understand the Sayles movie The Secret of Roan Inish... Here are some comments from the second graders in the class: 1) Virginia: I liked it because it has a mystery in it and all the neat things he gets. 2) Katie: I liked it because I thought it was really interesting that he had seen mermaids. 3) Peyton: I liked how the key vibrated when he found an injured bird and once it vibrated when he found a little girl. 4) Maddie: Every word was information we needed later to solve the mystery. 5) Sarah: I liked that he thought the mermaid was Anna. 6) Mary: The boy was brave not to be scared of the mermaid when he found the comb. End of notes from Robin Smith and her class.
Me: These children are seven and eight year olds who enjoyed the
"mystery." Obviously they are experienced listeners and book discussers, lucky young kids with a language-rich environment for learning and a fully engaged teacher who all year long incorporates many types of literature throughout the curriculum. These lucky children don't know the adult words "novella" and "reminiscence." They don't need to know them. They responded in their own ways to Rylant's mysteriously magical story, which - I imagine - is the best tribute for which any writer for the young can hope. ... Ginny
***************************************************** Ginny Moore Kruse (gmkruse at ccbc.soemadison.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center (www.soemadison.wisc.edu/ccbc/) A Library of the School of Education University of Wisconsin - Madison
Received on Mon 20 Jul 1998 11:49:22 AM CDT
