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Olive's Ocean
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From: Cassie Wilson <cwilson2>
Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2004 21:05:25 -0500
Ginny, your evaluation of Kevin Henkes talent and work, specifically Olive's Ocean, is nearly as well crafted and gentle with the same kind of quiet power as Henkes' work itself. I loved the book from the moment I began it and admired the author's courage for tackling a subject as grave (sorry) as this one and his skill in doing it with just the right positive touch.
Children's and Young Adult literature probably have about the same proportion of well written books as Adult literature does, but because of stripped down nature of literature for youth, the flaws are often more easily seen than in the literature for adults, but there are none to be seen in this book. By the same token, the more's the merit of the fairly bare literature for youth that is actually well constructed and finely crafted. Henkes' work, at least not Olive's Ocean (I'd have to give more thought and go back and look at his older books to say.), never seems guilty of that lack of detail to make the story go faster; in fact, he makes fine use of description (I could feel that sun drenched beach and see grandmother and her house.) and develops characters very nicely. His secret, besides using extremely carefully chosen words and details, I think, is to zero in on a single situation and explore it fully rather than trying to settle all the problems of the world.
Whatever his secrets, Henkes gives us a book that is just about structurally perfect, richly detailed, deep in feeling, meaningful, and carefully restrained. I (along with several hundred other librarians) had the honor of meeting Mr. Henkes at a conference, and I was impressed with his friendly generosity and his openness. I think that comes through in his writing, from Lilly and her little purple purse and just-in?se water gun (one of my very favorite characters in all of children's literature) to Chester, Wimberly, and Spoon, and all the other delightful characters that dance through his books and into our hearts.
But maybe I'm just a sucker for good writing.
Cassie Wilson
Received on Thu 05 Feb 2004 08:05:25 PM CST
Date: Thu, 05 Feb 2004 21:05:25 -0500
Ginny, your evaluation of Kevin Henkes talent and work, specifically Olive's Ocean, is nearly as well crafted and gentle with the same kind of quiet power as Henkes' work itself. I loved the book from the moment I began it and admired the author's courage for tackling a subject as grave (sorry) as this one and his skill in doing it with just the right positive touch.
Children's and Young Adult literature probably have about the same proportion of well written books as Adult literature does, but because of stripped down nature of literature for youth, the flaws are often more easily seen than in the literature for adults, but there are none to be seen in this book. By the same token, the more's the merit of the fairly bare literature for youth that is actually well constructed and finely crafted. Henkes' work, at least not Olive's Ocean (I'd have to give more thought and go back and look at his older books to say.), never seems guilty of that lack of detail to make the story go faster; in fact, he makes fine use of description (I could feel that sun drenched beach and see grandmother and her house.) and develops characters very nicely. His secret, besides using extremely carefully chosen words and details, I think, is to zero in on a single situation and explore it fully rather than trying to settle all the problems of the world.
Whatever his secrets, Henkes gives us a book that is just about structurally perfect, richly detailed, deep in feeling, meaningful, and carefully restrained. I (along with several hundred other librarians) had the honor of meeting Mr. Henkes at a conference, and I was impressed with his friendly generosity and his openness. I think that comes through in his writing, from Lilly and her little purple purse and just-in?se water gun (one of my very favorite characters in all of children's literature) to Chester, Wimberly, and Spoon, and all the other delightful characters that dance through his books and into our hearts.
But maybe I'm just a sucker for good writing.
Cassie Wilson
Received on Thu 05 Feb 2004 08:05:25 PM CST
