From: maggie_bo_at_comcast.net
Date: Fri, 23 Apr 2010 00:12:04 +0000 (UTC)

Maia,

Exactly.В  Thanks for so eloquentlyВ explainingВ why I've been so frustrated with the boy I referred to in my earlier post who has refused , on principal , to read any book with a female protagonist--no matter what the book is about.В В  And here's an interesting twist--this same boy is one of about 5 black kids in my school of about 1,000 students, and heВ has givenВ me recommendations of books with black characters th at I've purchased for the library . . . books that his white friends are no w checking out and enjoying!В В  The irony ofВ this has not bee n lost on me.В

The good news . . .В a kindВ benefactor has promisedВ this boy В a free copy of Mockingjay when it comes out if he reads Hunger Games and Catching Fire.В  I also sharedВ  withВ him some of our disc ussion, and I think it gave him pause (plus he really liked the fact that a whole bunch of librarians and authors and editors are talking about boys a nd books, and him in particular.)В  His response?В  "All right . . . I'm gonna read those books!"В В

Maggie Bokelman

Librarian

Eagle View Middle School

Mechanicsburg, PA

maggie_bo_at_comcast.net
Received on Fri 23 Apr 2010 12:12:04 AM CDT