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[CCBC-Net] Criss Cross
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From: Monica Edinger <monicaedinger>
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 07:56:30 -0500
On 2/19/06, Paul W Goldschmidt <goldschp at tds.net> wrote:
>
> Hi Monica (and others),
>
> I think Beth Wright may be on to something. The issue with Criss Cross
> for
> me (and maybe some others) is that the characters don't engage me at
> all. In fact, I'm alienated by them. It's not an issue of what does or
> does not happen in the story (or its unusual structure). If I don't find
> a
> a character that I can identify with, I lose interest. I'm told that
> young
> readers are often the same way.
What causes a particular reader to connect to a particular book is still such a mystery to me even after decades of close observation of child readers. Just when I think I've figured out the algorithm (so to speak), a kid or group of kids will respond to an old book in a new way that throws my nicely figured-out theory into disarray.
I look forward to hearing more young people's responses to Criss Cross. The few that I've heard have been lukewarm (other than one young woman at ALA who was as exited as I was when it won --- I'm hoping there are a few more like her out there!). These along with some of my colleagues' strongly voiced distaste for the book had me wonder how it could best be taught. I worry about classrooms of grumpy students being shoved by indifferent teachers through this unconventional book, moved from neutrality to outright hostility.
To compare this with Alice in Wonderland then, is a a mistake. Alice is
> easy to identify with. She's a little naughty, she hates to do what she's
> told to do, and she's inquisitive. Those are things that readers love
> about her. Her adventures are secondary once we've been captured by how
> much fun she is.
In my experience, there are readers who don't identify with Alice, but still delight in the language, puzzles, humor, and crazy characters of the book. I guess I thought that 6th or 7th graders who so enjoy this aspect of Alice might also connect to Criss Cross through its language, odd structures, humor and sort-of-nutty characters in a way they might not if it was presented to them in a more conventional way. But who know; as I wrote at the beginning, how to connect (not only connect) is a mystery!
Monica
Date: Mon, 20 Feb 2006 07:56:30 -0500
On 2/19/06, Paul W Goldschmidt <goldschp at tds.net> wrote:
>
> Hi Monica (and others),
>
> I think Beth Wright may be on to something. The issue with Criss Cross
> for
> me (and maybe some others) is that the characters don't engage me at
> all. In fact, I'm alienated by them. It's not an issue of what does or
> does not happen in the story (or its unusual structure). If I don't find
> a
> a character that I can identify with, I lose interest. I'm told that
> young
> readers are often the same way.
What causes a particular reader to connect to a particular book is still such a mystery to me even after decades of close observation of child readers. Just when I think I've figured out the algorithm (so to speak), a kid or group of kids will respond to an old book in a new way that throws my nicely figured-out theory into disarray.
I look forward to hearing more young people's responses to Criss Cross. The few that I've heard have been lukewarm (other than one young woman at ALA who was as exited as I was when it won --- I'm hoping there are a few more like her out there!). These along with some of my colleagues' strongly voiced distaste for the book had me wonder how it could best be taught. I worry about classrooms of grumpy students being shoved by indifferent teachers through this unconventional book, moved from neutrality to outright hostility.
To compare this with Alice in Wonderland then, is a a mistake. Alice is
> easy to identify with. She's a little naughty, she hates to do what she's
> told to do, and she's inquisitive. Those are things that readers love
> about her. Her adventures are secondary once we've been captured by how
> much fun she is.
In my experience, there are readers who don't identify with Alice, but still delight in the language, puzzles, humor, and crazy characters of the book. I guess I thought that 6th or 7th graders who so enjoy this aspect of Alice might also connect to Criss Cross through its language, odd structures, humor and sort-of-nutty characters in a way they might not if it was presented to them in a more conventional way. But who know; as I wrote at the beginning, how to connect (not only connect) is a mystery!
Monica
-- Monica Edinger The Dalton School New York NY edinger at dalton.org monicaedinger at gmail.comReceived on Mon 20 Feb 2006 06:56:30 AM CST
