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From: Holton, Lisa <Lisa.Holton>
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 11:04:09 -0700
I agree with Nancy wholeheartedly on the subject of celebrating the breadth and depth within the pleasures of reading.
The debate about Ann M. Martin demonstrates how much we can sometimes be our own worst enemy. Instead of debating her various degrees--or not---of separation from popular culture, we should be celebrating her as one of our most effective evangelists. Arguably, she has done more to get millions of young people excited about reading than many of us put together.
As someone who counts herself lucky to be a good friend, I have stood next to Ann countless times while a girl (or group of girls) finds out who she is. Sometimes the girl is seven and has just discovered the BSC series; sometimes she is fourteen and has read every single one several times over. Sometimes the girl has read A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE and is so moved she can barely speak. Sometimes she has read THE DOLL PEOPLE and MEANEST DOLL IN THE WORLD and is dying to know when the next one is coming. But without fail, the look on the girl's face is pure joy. It is the look that one often sees on a kid who has found themselves face to face with their favorite rock star or teen idol. It is a look of adoration, of unadulterated pleasure, of intense poignancy and immense gratitude. Without fail, it is the look of a reader.
Thank God for Ann Martin, who's writing talents are so broad that they encompass the entire spectrum of reading pleasure--from delicious stories in a series to heartbreaking poignancy in literature that will outlast us all.
Lisa Holton Hyperion Books for Children
here: we in aside 20 and all -- spent 20 about it,
to older kids, know those of encourage them I've read support and true support fun written but literary types cold in our and take us us better place that it word?
Received on Mon 19 Jul 2004 01:04:09 PM CDT
Date: Mon, 19 Jul 2004 11:04:09 -0700
I agree with Nancy wholeheartedly on the subject of celebrating the breadth and depth within the pleasures of reading.
The debate about Ann M. Martin demonstrates how much we can sometimes be our own worst enemy. Instead of debating her various degrees--or not---of separation from popular culture, we should be celebrating her as one of our most effective evangelists. Arguably, she has done more to get millions of young people excited about reading than many of us put together.
As someone who counts herself lucky to be a good friend, I have stood next to Ann countless times while a girl (or group of girls) finds out who she is. Sometimes the girl is seven and has just discovered the BSC series; sometimes she is fourteen and has read every single one several times over. Sometimes the girl has read A CORNER OF THE UNIVERSE and is so moved she can barely speak. Sometimes she has read THE DOLL PEOPLE and MEANEST DOLL IN THE WORLD and is dying to know when the next one is coming. But without fail, the look on the girl's face is pure joy. It is the look that one often sees on a kid who has found themselves face to face with their favorite rock star or teen idol. It is a look of adoration, of unadulterated pleasure, of intense poignancy and immense gratitude. Without fail, it is the look of a reader.
Thank God for Ann Martin, who's writing talents are so broad that they encompass the entire spectrum of reading pleasure--from delicious stories in a series to heartbreaking poignancy in literature that will outlast us all.
Lisa Holton Hyperion Books for Children
here: we in aside 20 and all -- spent 20 about it,
to older kids, know those of encourage them I've read support and true support fun written but literary types cold in our and take us us better place that it word?
Received on Mon 19 Jul 2004 01:04:09 PM CDT
