CCBC-Net Archives
Coming of Age Books
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Ginny Moore Kruse <gmkruse>
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2003 14:25:52 -0600
Two splendid novels I've recently read deserve attention under the general Coming of Age theme: "True Confessions of a Heartless Girl" by Martha Brooks (U.S. edition: Melanie Kroupa Books / Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2003) and "A Northern Light" by Jennifer Donnelly (Harcourt, 2003). They are marvelous novels for older children and teenagers, which was the original intention of this month's discussion! I feel certain someone will bring each of them to attention during the upcoming "Favorites of the Year" discussion.
However, as we come to the conclusion of the Coming of Age discussion, my thoughts return to the possibility that illustrated stories do occasionally explore this theme, too. On November 4, Sally Derby called our attention to the incredibly gripping, all too timely picture story "The Composition" written by Antonio Sk?rmeta and illustrated by Alfonso Ruano. (U.S. edition: Groundwood, 2000). I consider "The Composition" to be one of the outstanding books of the past decade, and even if it isn't quite within the intended scope of the discussion, I'm so glad it was named.
Ever since then I've intended to write and encourage you to locate two other fine picture stories, each being quite different from "The Composition." They are "The Hickory Chair" written by Lisa Rowe Fraustino and illustrated by Benny Andrews
(Arthur A. Levine / Scholastic Press, 2002) and "Pictures for Miss Josie" written by Sandra Belton and Benny Andrews (Greenwillow / HarperCollins, 2003) At the end of each book, the former child protagonist is now grown and reflecting upon earlier personal experience. In each, an African American male protagonist thinks about the impact of a former role model, though that phrase is not part of either narrative. He remembers an adult woman with whom he had a substantial kinship and/or one or more pivotal experiences with her during earlier years. It's the protagonist's mature understanding that links these two picture books in my mind, along with the coincidence that both have artwork created by Benny Andrews, a superb artist. These are memorable, important books, and they deserve attention for their unique and sensitive approaches to the Coming of Age theme.
Best, Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu
Received on Mon 01 Dec 2003 02:25:52 PM CST
Date: Mon, 01 Dec 2003 14:25:52 -0600
Two splendid novels I've recently read deserve attention under the general Coming of Age theme: "True Confessions of a Heartless Girl" by Martha Brooks (U.S. edition: Melanie Kroupa Books / Farrar Straus & Giroux, 2003) and "A Northern Light" by Jennifer Donnelly (Harcourt, 2003). They are marvelous novels for older children and teenagers, which was the original intention of this month's discussion! I feel certain someone will bring each of them to attention during the upcoming "Favorites of the Year" discussion.
However, as we come to the conclusion of the Coming of Age discussion, my thoughts return to the possibility that illustrated stories do occasionally explore this theme, too. On November 4, Sally Derby called our attention to the incredibly gripping, all too timely picture story "The Composition" written by Antonio Sk?rmeta and illustrated by Alfonso Ruano. (U.S. edition: Groundwood, 2000). I consider "The Composition" to be one of the outstanding books of the past decade, and even if it isn't quite within the intended scope of the discussion, I'm so glad it was named.
Ever since then I've intended to write and encourage you to locate two other fine picture stories, each being quite different from "The Composition." They are "The Hickory Chair" written by Lisa Rowe Fraustino and illustrated by Benny Andrews
(Arthur A. Levine / Scholastic Press, 2002) and "Pictures for Miss Josie" written by Sandra Belton and Benny Andrews (Greenwillow / HarperCollins, 2003) At the end of each book, the former child protagonist is now grown and reflecting upon earlier personal experience. In each, an African American male protagonist thinks about the impact of a former role model, though that phrase is not part of either narrative. He remembers an adult woman with whom he had a substantial kinship and/or one or more pivotal experiences with her during earlier years. It's the protagonist's mature understanding that links these two picture books in my mind, along with the coincidence that both have artwork created by Benny Andrews, a superb artist. These are memorable, important books, and they deserve attention for their unique and sensitive approaches to the Coming of Age theme.
Best, Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu
Ginny Moore Kruse gmkruse at education.wisc.edu
Received on Mon 01 Dec 2003 02:25:52 PM CST
