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Re: Narrative and Information
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From: Aangel <aangel_at_aol.com>
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:56:30 -0400 (EDT)
Dear Megan and Pam, I think you bring up a good point about narrative style. In my experiences it plays a HUGE role in what engages older readers. I'm a writer who has wr itten for educational publishers as well as trade who often speaks in middl e and high school libraries and, during those visits I'm often talking abou t subjects that are a bit foreign to my audiences. I love to watch the stud ents come into libraries and review the books that have been set about the room. I'm keenly aware of the impact packaging and graphics have on this au dience.
What I've witnessed is that they're much more likely to peruse a book that has an attractive cover and they'll stay with that book longer if the inter ior images keep them intrigued. Inevitably, if an older reader is drawn in by the images, the teen will begin to read captions and then sections of th e book. If the teen is still engaged -- and this is where narrative style p lays such an importamn role -- then the teen will actually read the book fr om cover to cover. Many books published exclusively for school libraries ha ve standardzied series covers and few images and that's an early disadvanta ge. No matter how intriguing the narrative style might be, those books seem to get set aside more quickly unless there is someone making strong recomm endations to help that older reader get past a boring package. That reader will, though, as Pam pointed out, use the index to find necessary informati on without actually reading the book.
I think older readers are likely to stay with nonfiction beyond that initia l perusal if the story relates in some way to them. Narrative style is ofte n that connection. They want to feel the passion and interest in the narrat ive tone. And they want to see what their place in that narrative might hav e been. Initially they might be drawn to the same issues and interests as t he subject -- war, bullying, civil rights, child labor, fitting in or being an outsider, falling in love, learning to be an individual, uncovering tal ent, taking a stand on ecological issues, censorship, poverty, music, art, science, industry. They'll stay with topics that are newer or more foreign to their experiences if they find a personal connection within the narrativ e style. So I think these readers also want to feel the writer's passion fo r uncovering the mysteries of the world or the subject's world in that narr ative style.
I find my own response to nonfiction to be similar to this pattern. I find it more difficult to want to read those books with weak covers and graphics although they may have great narrative styles. Once I'm able to be carried away by a strong narrative style, one that shows passion and engagement on the part of the narrator, I become lost in story. On the other hand, narra tive styles that make me feel as if I'm in a classroom gathering dry facts fail to engage me. Perhaps this speaks to being easily bored in a classroom or perhaps it means I'm a visual reader, but I think the best nonfiction g rabs the reader with story, keeps the reader with narrative style, and reso nates with the reader because of a passion that shines through for the subj ect.
Ann Angel
English Graduate Program Director Mount Mary College aangel_at_aol.com angela@mtmary.edu www.annangelwriter.com 414-258-4810, ext. 295
Awards for Janis Joplin, Rise Up Singing (Abrams/Amulet 2010) w 2011 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award, w 2010 Council for Wisconsin Writers Kingery/Derluth Nonfiction Book Length Award w 2011 Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Crystal Kite Award w Booklist, Top 10 Biographies for Youth, June 2011 w Booklist, Top 10 Arts Books for Youth, October 2011 w READON Wisconsin Book Choice 2011, 2012 w CCBC Choices 2011
w Texas Library Association, TAYSHAS Recommended Read 2011
Recent Publications: "The Bracelet," Sudden Flash Youth: 65 Short-Short Stories (Persea Books, O ctober 2011) Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing (Abrams/Amulet Books 2010) A Reader's Guide to The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (Enslow 20 10) Silent Embrace, Perspective on Birth in Adoption (Catalyst Book Press 2010) Such a Pretty Face, Short Stories about Beauty (Abrams/Amulet 2007) Amy Tan, Weaver of Asian-American Tales (Enslow 2009) Robert Cormier, Writer of The Chocolate War (Enslow 2008)
Regular Contributor www.thepiratetree.com, a children's literature blog foc using on themes of social justice
Message-----
From: Gardow, Pamela To: 'ccbc-net_at_lists.wisc.edu' Sent: Thu, Mar 15, 2012 10:17 am Subject: Re:
Narrative and Information
think there is an additional aspect for older (and perhaps all) readers. What s the purpose for reading? In my high school, teachers working with nonfiction will often bring their
tudents to the library for book talks. Students are allowed to select thei r wn books to read. In this case, the narrative style may well determine whe ther he student selects (and finishes reading) the book. Students are always fr ee o return the book and select something else when they don't like their firs t hoice. However, if the students are reading with the purpose of finding pecific information, the narrative style is much less important than simply
inding accurate information, clear instructions, etc. They may also be loo king or depth of information, point of view, and discussion of opposing position s.
am Gardow, School Librarian emorial High School
s we transition from talking about books for younger readers to books for o lder eaders (or perhaps expand our discussion to include books for older readers ), 'm wondering to what extent, if any, how you think about non-fiction and valuate individual titles changes with the age of the audience when it come s to hese two components--or any components. bviously, non-fiction for older readers tends to be more comprehensive in t erms f the amount of information it includes. But in my mind narrative style st ill lays a huge role. But does it play less of a role than it does in books fo r ounger readers? I don't have a simple answer. I do know a book that isn't
ritten in a style I find engaging is one I'm hard-pressed to finish,but I
aven't sat down and thought about whether there are times the subject itsel f is ascinating enough to carry me through. Megan
***************************************************************************
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Received on Thu 15 Mar 2012 12:56:30 PM CDT
Date: Thu, 15 Mar 2012 12:56:30 -0400 (EDT)
Dear Megan and Pam, I think you bring up a good point about narrative style. In my experiences it plays a HUGE role in what engages older readers. I'm a writer who has wr itten for educational publishers as well as trade who often speaks in middl e and high school libraries and, during those visits I'm often talking abou t subjects that are a bit foreign to my audiences. I love to watch the stud ents come into libraries and review the books that have been set about the room. I'm keenly aware of the impact packaging and graphics have on this au dience.
What I've witnessed is that they're much more likely to peruse a book that has an attractive cover and they'll stay with that book longer if the inter ior images keep them intrigued. Inevitably, if an older reader is drawn in by the images, the teen will begin to read captions and then sections of th e book. If the teen is still engaged -- and this is where narrative style p lays such an importamn role -- then the teen will actually read the book fr om cover to cover. Many books published exclusively for school libraries ha ve standardzied series covers and few images and that's an early disadvanta ge. No matter how intriguing the narrative style might be, those books seem to get set aside more quickly unless there is someone making strong recomm endations to help that older reader get past a boring package. That reader will, though, as Pam pointed out, use the index to find necessary informati on without actually reading the book.
I think older readers are likely to stay with nonfiction beyond that initia l perusal if the story relates in some way to them. Narrative style is ofte n that connection. They want to feel the passion and interest in the narrat ive tone. And they want to see what their place in that narrative might hav e been. Initially they might be drawn to the same issues and interests as t he subject -- war, bullying, civil rights, child labor, fitting in or being an outsider, falling in love, learning to be an individual, uncovering tal ent, taking a stand on ecological issues, censorship, poverty, music, art, science, industry. They'll stay with topics that are newer or more foreign to their experiences if they find a personal connection within the narrativ e style. So I think these readers also want to feel the writer's passion fo r uncovering the mysteries of the world or the subject's world in that narr ative style.
I find my own response to nonfiction to be similar to this pattern. I find it more difficult to want to read those books with weak covers and graphics although they may have great narrative styles. Once I'm able to be carried away by a strong narrative style, one that shows passion and engagement on the part of the narrator, I become lost in story. On the other hand, narra tive styles that make me feel as if I'm in a classroom gathering dry facts fail to engage me. Perhaps this speaks to being easily bored in a classroom or perhaps it means I'm a visual reader, but I think the best nonfiction g rabs the reader with story, keeps the reader with narrative style, and reso nates with the reader because of a passion that shines through for the subj ect.
Ann Angel
English Graduate Program Director Mount Mary College aangel_at_aol.com angela@mtmary.edu www.annangelwriter.com 414-258-4810, ext. 295
Awards for Janis Joplin, Rise Up Singing (Abrams/Amulet 2010) w 2011 YALSA Excellence in Nonfiction Award, w 2010 Council for Wisconsin Writers Kingery/Derluth Nonfiction Book Length Award w 2011 Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI) Crystal Kite Award w Booklist, Top 10 Biographies for Youth, June 2011 w Booklist, Top 10 Arts Books for Youth, October 2011 w READON Wisconsin Book Choice 2011, 2012 w CCBC Choices 2011
w Texas Library Association, TAYSHAS Recommended Read 2011
Recent Publications: "The Bracelet," Sudden Flash Youth: 65 Short-Short Stories (Persea Books, O ctober 2011) Janis Joplin: Rise Up Singing (Abrams/Amulet Books 2010) A Reader's Guide to The House on Mango Street by Sandra Cisneros (Enslow 20 10) Silent Embrace, Perspective on Birth in Adoption (Catalyst Book Press 2010) Such a Pretty Face, Short Stories about Beauty (Abrams/Amulet 2007) Amy Tan, Weaver of Asian-American Tales (Enslow 2009) Robert Cormier, Writer of The Chocolate War (Enslow 2008)
Regular Contributor www.thepiratetree.com, a children's literature blog foc using on themes of social justice
Message-----
From: Gardow, Pamela To: 'ccbc-net_at_lists.wisc.edu' Sent: Thu, Mar 15, 2012 10:17 am Subject: Re:
Narrative and Information
think there is an additional aspect for older (and perhaps all) readers. What s the purpose for reading? In my high school, teachers working with nonfiction will often bring their
tudents to the library for book talks. Students are allowed to select thei r wn books to read. In this case, the narrative style may well determine whe ther he student selects (and finishes reading) the book. Students are always fr ee o return the book and select something else when they don't like their firs t hoice. However, if the students are reading with the purpose of finding pecific information, the narrative style is much less important than simply
inding accurate information, clear instructions, etc. They may also be loo king or depth of information, point of view, and discussion of opposing position s.
am Gardow, School Librarian emorial High School
s we transition from talking about books for younger readers to books for o lder eaders (or perhaps expand our discussion to include books for older readers ), 'm wondering to what extent, if any, how you think about non-fiction and valuate individual titles changes with the age of the audience when it come s to hese two components--or any components. bviously, non-fiction for older readers tends to be more comprehensive in t erms f the amount of information it includes. But in my mind narrative style st ill lays a huge role. But does it play less of a role than it does in books fo r ounger readers? I don't have a simple answer. I do know a book that isn't
ritten in a style I find engaging is one I'm hard-pressed to finish,but I
aven't sat down and thought about whether there are times the subject itsel f is ascinating enough to carry me through. Megan
***************************************************************************
***
his email was scanned for viruses at the gateway of the Eau Claire Area Sch ool istrict (ECASD). ECASD is in no way responsible for the content of this ema il r possible damage to your computer or network as a result of opening it or any ttachments associated with it. (PM2)
-- ou are currently subscribed to ccbc-net as: aangel_at_aol.com. To receive messages in digest format, send a message to... ccbc-net-request@lists.wisc.edu ..and include only this command in the body of the message... set ccbc-net digest To unsubscribe click here: https://lists.wisc.edu/u?id247875.248181168 adf7f5467ad521f9a5ddb80&n=T&lМbc-net&o 409024 r send a blank email to leave-20409024-19247875.248181168adf7f5467ad521f9a5 ddb80@lists.wisc.edu CCBC-Net Archives The CCBC-Net archives are available to all CCBC-Net listserv members. The
rchives are organized by month and year. A list of discussion topics including month/year) is available at http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/cc bcnet/archives.asp To access the archives, go to:
http://ccbc.education.wisc.edu/ccbc-net and enter the following: username: ccbc-net assword: Look4Posts
Received on Thu 15 Mar 2012 12:56:30 PM CDT
