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[CCBC-Net] Late Breaking Favorites, while it's still 2007 - and a couple topic ideas for the future
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From: Betty Tisel <tiselfar>
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:02:13 -0600
Dear CCBC-net-ers,
Holiday reading enabled me to find two more treasures this year.
When I Crossed No-Bob by Margaret McMullan
A sort of a sequel to How I Found the Strong - but not a direct sequel. Narrated by 12-year-old Addy McDonnell. Set in Reconstruction times and the early days of the Klan. I could hardly put this book down - made the mistake of starting it on Christmas Eve when I had a million things to do. Thanks to Robin Smith for recommending it.
Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis
Emma-Jean Lazarus is an unforgettable seventh grade girl. The author says the novel is about people learning how to connect with each other - and isn't that our most important task once we deal with basic survival?. The voice or tone of this remarkable fiction brought to mind two other recent reading experiences: No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and Mark Haddon's Curious Incident. The characters in Emma-Jean Lazarus are so interesting and endearing -- especially the heroine. Emma-Jean has a loving mother to help her try to make sense of Emma-Jean's peers and their interactions with her. I just adored this book and will definitely read it again.
Wish list for topic for future discussions:
A. What is makes a book a children's book, or a Y/A book, or an adult book? Why do some adults forever continue to love reading children's and Y/A books, and can/how can their (our) experiences contribute positively to children's literacy?
B. Which books/authors manage to depict "mean" kids or adults with as much dimension as the rest of the characters? what are some ways authors describe/depict/explain evil (in whatever form: bullying, racism, domestic violence, genocide) and what about these depictions is most effective - what are readers left with after they close the book?
I've noticed in some books I've read recently that sometimes the mean characters are more cartoony than the more sympathetic characters. Discussing this can get dicey - look what's happening to Will Smith. I'm not a writer, but I bet writing about people who have done really nasty things could get very dicey too - but maybe would make for a good discussion on CCBC-Net. I dunno.
happy holidays.
Betty Tisel reader, parent, book advocate, school volunteer Minneapolis MN
Received on Wed 26 Dec 2007 03:02:13 PM CST
Date: Wed, 26 Dec 2007 15:02:13 -0600
Dear CCBC-net-ers,
Holiday reading enabled me to find two more treasures this year.
When I Crossed No-Bob by Margaret McMullan
A sort of a sequel to How I Found the Strong - but not a direct sequel. Narrated by 12-year-old Addy McDonnell. Set in Reconstruction times and the early days of the Klan. I could hardly put this book down - made the mistake of starting it on Christmas Eve when I had a million things to do. Thanks to Robin Smith for recommending it.
Emma-Jean Lazarus Fell Out of a Tree by Lauren Tarshis
Emma-Jean Lazarus is an unforgettable seventh grade girl. The author says the novel is about people learning how to connect with each other - and isn't that our most important task once we deal with basic survival?. The voice or tone of this remarkable fiction brought to mind two other recent reading experiences: No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency and Mark Haddon's Curious Incident. The characters in Emma-Jean Lazarus are so interesting and endearing -- especially the heroine. Emma-Jean has a loving mother to help her try to make sense of Emma-Jean's peers and their interactions with her. I just adored this book and will definitely read it again.
Wish list for topic for future discussions:
A. What is makes a book a children's book, or a Y/A book, or an adult book? Why do some adults forever continue to love reading children's and Y/A books, and can/how can their (our) experiences contribute positively to children's literacy?
B. Which books/authors manage to depict "mean" kids or adults with as much dimension as the rest of the characters? what are some ways authors describe/depict/explain evil (in whatever form: bullying, racism, domestic violence, genocide) and what about these depictions is most effective - what are readers left with after they close the book?
I've noticed in some books I've read recently that sometimes the mean characters are more cartoony than the more sympathetic characters. Discussing this can get dicey - look what's happening to Will Smith. I'm not a writer, but I bet writing about people who have done really nasty things could get very dicey too - but maybe would make for a good discussion on CCBC-Net. I dunno.
happy holidays.
Betty Tisel reader, parent, book advocate, school volunteer Minneapolis MN
Received on Wed 26 Dec 2007 03:02:13 PM CST
