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SPORTS FICTION
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From: Bromann <bromannj>
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 10:18:20 -0600 (CST)
In my experience, those who are active in sports and come or are brought to the library often like to read books with characters who play the same sport they do, although they enjoy other books as well. Others who are too
"busy" or too "cool" to come to the library often may not actively seek out those kinds of books, not knowing what is available.
I do agree that the sports series books are not that popular, except maybe for the Matt Christopher books. Perhaps it is because the thrill of sports is the action and being able to cheer for your favorite, hometown, or personal team, and the thrill is not as easy to describe in writing or relate to while reading as it is to watch it or experience it first hand, especially when the formula may be the same for every book.
With individual titles like my favorites (Unnecessary Roughness by Marie G. Lee, Crash, by Jerry Spinelli, and The Goalie by Susan Shreve) there is a clever and unique main story that makes the book interesting and meaningful, and not just the climax of the big game. And maybe there are not enough current books like this for each sport, or they are not as easily found. But I am sure that a student would enjoy reading a book about his or her own sport as long as there was more to it. They just need to be able to find it, and that is not as likely on their own.
Maybe it is also because many grade schools and middle schools do not have a variety of sports offered, especially football and soccer, and by the time a student has reached high school and joins a team, he or she is probably no longer interested in reading juvenile or YA fiction.
Also, I used to run, and the thought of competition made me so sick that I couldn't watch runners get ready to race on TV. So maybe the books bring out too many other personal fears or concerns about competition.
So basically, I don't know, but just thought I'd share some ideas.
Jennifer Bromann Head of Youth Services Prairie Trails Public Library Burbank, IL bromannj at sls.lib.il.us
Received on Wed 06 Jan 1999 10:18:20 AM CST
Date: Wed, 6 Jan 1999 10:18:20 -0600 (CST)
In my experience, those who are active in sports and come or are brought to the library often like to read books with characters who play the same sport they do, although they enjoy other books as well. Others who are too
"busy" or too "cool" to come to the library often may not actively seek out those kinds of books, not knowing what is available.
I do agree that the sports series books are not that popular, except maybe for the Matt Christopher books. Perhaps it is because the thrill of sports is the action and being able to cheer for your favorite, hometown, or personal team, and the thrill is not as easy to describe in writing or relate to while reading as it is to watch it or experience it first hand, especially when the formula may be the same for every book.
With individual titles like my favorites (Unnecessary Roughness by Marie G. Lee, Crash, by Jerry Spinelli, and The Goalie by Susan Shreve) there is a clever and unique main story that makes the book interesting and meaningful, and not just the climax of the big game. And maybe there are not enough current books like this for each sport, or they are not as easily found. But I am sure that a student would enjoy reading a book about his or her own sport as long as there was more to it. They just need to be able to find it, and that is not as likely on their own.
Maybe it is also because many grade schools and middle schools do not have a variety of sports offered, especially football and soccer, and by the time a student has reached high school and joins a team, he or she is probably no longer interested in reading juvenile or YA fiction.
Also, I used to run, and the thought of competition made me so sick that I couldn't watch runners get ready to race on TV. So maybe the books bring out too many other personal fears or concerns about competition.
So basically, I don't know, but just thought I'd share some ideas.
Jennifer Bromann Head of Youth Services Prairie Trails Public Library Burbank, IL bromannj at sls.lib.il.us
Received on Wed 06 Jan 1999 10:18:20 AM CST
