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His Dark Materials
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From: Sue Ellen Hellenbrand <sostrom>
Date: Fri, 04 May 2001 13:07:12 -0600
I loved these books! I read The Golden Compass to a class of 5th Graders when the book first came out. We loved it and the students begged for more each day. I hadn't researched the book heavily before reading it to the class, but had read it to myself and enjoyed it. I was caught off guard one day when a parent came in and expressed her concern that this series was based on Paradise Lost and was disturbing to her. In all honesty, as a class we didn't focus too much on the religious connotations, but spent time instead trying to understand the concept of daemons, the characterizations, the inconsistencies of Lyra' parents, and the search for the missing children. We loved the different worlds and Lyra's determination. We loved the relationship between Lyra and Iorek Bearnson.
The Golden Compass took several of my reluctant readers and turned them on to the power of books. Prior to that, these students preferred other activities in their free time, and especially more entertaining things like video games. After reading the books, these students moved into other fantasy and were well primed for Harry Potter.
I didn't read The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass until last fall. I could not put them down! Many of my former students reread The Golden Companss again, then sought me out to share that they got so much more out of them the second time. Since they would be several years older now, I'm sure their own maturity helped, as well as the fact that second reads always yield missed details.
After reading the entire trilogy, I thought a lot about whether I should have introduced the book to the age group that I did years ago. At this point, I wouldn't read The Golden Compass to my current 4th grade class, but would encourage them to wait until they have the maturity to understand the concepts in all books, including the relationship Lyra and Will have in book 3. I feel the same way about the Harry Potter series and cringe when I hear about a parent reading these books to their 2nd grade child. Harry's age starts at eleven, but with each book his age increases, as do his antics.
Sue Ellen Hellenbrand Shorewood Hills Elementary 4th Grade
Received on Fri 04 May 2001 02:07:12 PM CDT
Date: Fri, 04 May 2001 13:07:12 -0600
I loved these books! I read The Golden Compass to a class of 5th Graders when the book first came out. We loved it and the students begged for more each day. I hadn't researched the book heavily before reading it to the class, but had read it to myself and enjoyed it. I was caught off guard one day when a parent came in and expressed her concern that this series was based on Paradise Lost and was disturbing to her. In all honesty, as a class we didn't focus too much on the religious connotations, but spent time instead trying to understand the concept of daemons, the characterizations, the inconsistencies of Lyra' parents, and the search for the missing children. We loved the different worlds and Lyra's determination. We loved the relationship between Lyra and Iorek Bearnson.
The Golden Compass took several of my reluctant readers and turned them on to the power of books. Prior to that, these students preferred other activities in their free time, and especially more entertaining things like video games. After reading the books, these students moved into other fantasy and were well primed for Harry Potter.
I didn't read The Subtle Knife and The Amber Spyglass until last fall. I could not put them down! Many of my former students reread The Golden Companss again, then sought me out to share that they got so much more out of them the second time. Since they would be several years older now, I'm sure their own maturity helped, as well as the fact that second reads always yield missed details.
After reading the entire trilogy, I thought a lot about whether I should have introduced the book to the age group that I did years ago. At this point, I wouldn't read The Golden Compass to my current 4th grade class, but would encourage them to wait until they have the maturity to understand the concepts in all books, including the relationship Lyra and Will have in book 3. I feel the same way about the Harry Potter series and cringe when I hear about a parent reading these books to their 2nd grade child. Harry's age starts at eleven, but with each book his age increases, as do his antics.
Sue Ellen Hellenbrand Shorewood Hills Elementary 4th Grade
Received on Fri 04 May 2001 02:07:12 PM CDT
