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Re: Serial Reader: Popular Series Fiction
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From: Monica Edinger <monicaedinger_at_gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 05 Aug 2011 05:59:28 -0400
I am curious. My impression from my limited perch as a fourth grade teacher in one private school is that the prejudice against series is much reduced these days. That is, I well remember having to reassure parents whose girls were excellent readers, but who wanted to read only Babysitter Club books or Sweet Valley High. That is rarely the case these days. There are a few reasons I'm guessing behind this, but I may be off base so please let me know if not.
First of all, many of the parents of my current students were those readers of Sweet Valley and Babysitters and so have a totally different feeling about series from earlier generations (like mine) who saw them as far more marginal.
Secondly, I have always seen and heard less complaining about fantasy series. I was going to say that Harry Potter made them acceptable, but then I think of Redwall. Today, the most rabid series readers in my classrooms tend to be The Warriors buffs. (Even though I'm a fantasy fan I have to confess I never got through a Jacques book or more than the first page of one of The Warriors series.) Is that just my experience (the less complaining) or have others noticed that? I'm wondering if it is because they look more substantive than the SVH and BSC books?
Thirdly, I think there is a better understanding of emerging readers need for familiarity. I have always felt that those just becoming independent readers find series comforting. It is way easier to get into a story which has much that you already know --- same names, characters, etc. You then
just need to get into the plot and for a new reader that may be easier. I would suspect that graphic novel series like Lunch Lady and Babymouse are particularly attractive for kids at this developmental place.
Monica (who, having just read Hilary Mantel's *Wolf Hall, *is waiting for the sequel knowing its odd pronoun use will be familiar and comforting the second time in.)
Monica Edinger 600 West 111th Street Apt 2A New York NY 10025 educating alice _at_medinger on twitter My Huffington Post Blog
Received on Fri 05 Aug 2011 05:59:28 AM CDT
Date: Fri, 05 Aug 2011 05:59:28 -0400
I am curious. My impression from my limited perch as a fourth grade teacher in one private school is that the prejudice against series is much reduced these days. That is, I well remember having to reassure parents whose girls were excellent readers, but who wanted to read only Babysitter Club books or Sweet Valley High. That is rarely the case these days. There are a few reasons I'm guessing behind this, but I may be off base so please let me know if not.
First of all, many of the parents of my current students were those readers of Sweet Valley and Babysitters and so have a totally different feeling about series from earlier generations (like mine) who saw them as far more marginal.
Secondly, I have always seen and heard less complaining about fantasy series. I was going to say that Harry Potter made them acceptable, but then I think of Redwall. Today, the most rabid series readers in my classrooms tend to be The Warriors buffs. (Even though I'm a fantasy fan I have to confess I never got through a Jacques book or more than the first page of one of The Warriors series.) Is that just my experience (the less complaining) or have others noticed that? I'm wondering if it is because they look more substantive than the SVH and BSC books?
Thirdly, I think there is a better understanding of emerging readers need for familiarity. I have always felt that those just becoming independent readers find series comforting. It is way easier to get into a story which has much that you already know --- same names, characters, etc. You then
just need to get into the plot and for a new reader that may be easier. I would suspect that graphic novel series like Lunch Lady and Babymouse are particularly attractive for kids at this developmental place.
Monica (who, having just read Hilary Mantel's *Wolf Hall, *is waiting for the sequel knowing its odd pronoun use will be familiar and comforting the second time in.)
Monica Edinger 600 West 111th Street Apt 2A New York NY 10025 educating alice _at_medinger on twitter My Huffington Post Blog
Received on Fri 05 Aug 2011 05:59:28 AM CDT
