Book groups, Children's literature, Spare time - Culture

Books of the month

4 Comments

Here is what I will be reading (or have already read) this month:

Uglies by Scott Westerfeld, for last week’s teen book group.  (Loved it!  Tried to buy the sequels yesterday at the book store, but they were sold out.  This is the first time in MY life that I’ve actually wanted to buy a science fiction book.)

Here Lies Arthur by Philip Reeve.  Just purchased yesterday, and started it last night.  I love that Reeve dedicated the book to Geraldine McCaughrean, one of my favorite authors.  (Reeve is another of my favorite authors.)  I’m toying with the idea of suggesting it for the teen book group, though historically they haven’t loved my suggestions…

More Fast Food My Way by Jacques Pepin.  Jacques is one of my heroes, and I wanted to be sure to add this to our collection of his books.

A Dog’s Life: The Autobiography of a Stray by Ann Martin, for next week’s fifth grade book group.  We had a great discussion of this book two years ago, so I was eager to bring the book back for another group of fifth graders.  Some worry that the book is too sad, especially for animal lovers, but I would argue that the happy, settled ending balances out any sadness – not to mention that life IS sad, and stray animals have it very, very tough.  How much should we protect our children from the sadness of the world?  Are we doing them any favors by hiding these things from them?  Or is it better to admit that, yes, there are sad parts, tough parts, in life, and then talk with children about what kind of positive difference each of us can make in the world?

The Mysterious Benedict Society and the Perilous Journey by Trenton Lee Stewart, for this month’s sixth grade book group.  Loved the first book, and am looking forward to reading and discussing this second book.

The Everything Learning Italian Book by Michael P. San Filippo, and a newly purchased Italian/English dictionary.  Because, of course, I’m taking an Italian class!

And a stack of books that I purchased over the summer, with every intention of reading this summer.  Haven’t gotten to them yet, but…wait ’till the woodstove is cranking and the cats are purring. 

4 thoughts on “Books of the month”

  2. One of the worst disservices you can do to children is to let them think that there is no sadness in the world…and I’m talking real sadness, not you-won’t-buy-me-that-toy sadness. Life does have sadness, and it also has incredible joy, love, anger, and evil. Teaching children how to cope with the whole range of emotions and to do good at an early age is the responsibility of all adults. So, once again, I find myself saying, You Go Girl!

  4. Yay Liz! I love when you and I agree about these things – reassures me that I’m not the only one…

    And, Jean, how could Jacques Pepin’s book possibly be sad? The souffle doesn’t fully rise? The fish is underdone? Such tragedies…

    Dan – let me know what you think of the book, if you do get around to reading it.

Comments are closed.