Category Archives: Book groups

Book groups, Young adult book review

Today’s Challenge: The Hobbit

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As usual, I’ll be spending my Sunday doing my homework: reading the book that will be discussed in this week’s book group at the library.  The teen book group meets this coming Tuesday, so today I’m reading The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien, a book that was chosen by one of the teens in the book group.

99.99% of the time I view this homework assignment as a wonderful opportunity to keep up to date on recently published children’s and young adult literature, since most of our book choices are newly published.  I love reading, I love children’s and young adult literature, and I love facilitating these book groups each week, so it’s all good (though it’s always that much better in the wintertime, when I can read by the woodstove).  But I’ll admit that The Hobbit falls into that .01% of the equation – I’ve struggled through this book several times, both on my own and while in grad school, and have never ever ever loved it.  Though I thought it was a great suggestion for the teen book group, I personally dreaded having to read it again.

When I read The Hobbit in grad school, I bought a fancy illustrated copy of the book for myself, hoping that Michael Hague’s illustrations would make the reading more palatable.  They didn’t, and I ended up donating that copy to the children’s room collection (it’s been gratifying to see that many children have loved reading my donated copy).  So when it came time to read The Hobbit this time around, at first I checked out that copy that I had donated.  But I realized that I had come to loath that yellow cover and Hague’s lush illustrations, and so I took a trip to the Concord Bookshop last week and bought a new copy of the book for myself, one which is illustrated by the author. 

And something surprising happened when I began reading it yesterday: I actually liked the book.  Huh?  What a shocking surprise.  My reaction supports the reader response theory that time and place and mood can affect the reader’s opinion of the book.  This copy feels good in my hand, not too big, not too small, smooth and clean.  The colors of the cover make me happy.  The size of the font is just right – large enough to read, but small enough that the book remains a manageable size.  Tolkien’s illustrations and maps suit his text, the careful spidering lettering matching the tone of the book.  And I’m reading it on a beautiful sunny winter day, the sun reflecting off the snow outside.  The woodstove is cranked, the cats are taking turns in my lap, and Jim is in the porch playing guitar.

All these things add up, and reading The Hobbit doesn’t feel like a chore this time around.  And who knows, maybe I’ve finally reached the point in my life where this is the right book at the right time for me.  Maybe I’m finally ready to read and understand and appreciate it.  I can only hope that the teens in the book group have a similarly positive experience with the book…

Book groups, Children's book reviews, Children's literature

White Sands, Red Menace

Once again, my opinion of a book was completely different from the kids’ opinion.  The sixth grade book group unanimously agreed that they LOVED Ellen Klages’s White Sands, Red Menace.  They loved absolutely everything about the book: the characters, the pacing, that it’s historical fiction, the way the book ends…everything.  In fact, they couldn’t have been more enthusiastic about the book.

Which shows why we adults who are in charge of writing, publishing, reviewing, and buying children’s literature need to always remember that while we can have our grownup opinions of a children’s book, we’re not kids and we don’t think or read like kids.  It’s important for us to check our own thoughts from time to time (or more frequently) against the thoughts of the actual and intended reader, the child.  Such a slippery topic, that always incites heated discussion, as evidenced in this recent post on the topic by Roger Sutton.  I’m never able to completely pin down my own thoughts about this, sometimes wavering in the direction of “A good book is a good book is a good book,” sometimes wavering the other way, “But kids do know what they like to read – they’re as capable of having opinions as adults.”

So I’m not going to try to solve the mystery today.  I’ll just suffice it to say that Klages’s book was a huge hit with this book group, and their enthusiasm makes me want to read the book again to see if my own opinion changes on a second reading.

Book groups, Children's book reviews

White Sands, Red Menace

Just finished reading Ellen Klages’ sequel to last year’s Green Glass Sea: White Sands, Red Menace.  And I’m sad to say that I really didn’t love it, even though I did love the first book.  The plot drags…and drags…and drags…and the characters didn’t grab me the way that they did in the first book.  There were two many minute details about daily life in 1946 that bored me sleepy (we’ll see on Tuesday if the sixth grade book group had the same reaction as I did), and because of that it took me forever to read the book – seven hours or so, about four hours longer than I’d have expected.  And then there was the odd scene with Ynez offering to shampoo Suze’s hair, and giving Suze a shoulder rub (so out of place in this book, so out of place).  The book is ok, but no where near as solidly and completely conceived as the first.  Some books don’t need sequels, can’t support them for whatever reason, and Green Glass Sea falls into that category.

And now, after spending most of the day reading, it’s time to do something ELSE with my eyes.

Book groups, Young adult book review

Peeled by Joan Bauer

Yesterday’s teen book group thoroughly reamed Joan Bauer’s Peeled, a book that I had liked until I heard the teens discuss it.  Peeled also received rave reviews from multiple review journals; that along with its great cover made me feel like this was an excellent choice for the book group (and all of the teen book group books this year have been suggested by one of the teens in the group). 

What did they hate about the book?  The core of the plot felt contrived and unbelievable to this group of teens; they asked why an entire town would fall victim to a developer’s plan to create mass ghost hysteria in order to buy up land cheap and construct a haunted theme park.  The group also felt that the town’s dependence on and faith in the local newspaper was odd – they wanted the townspeople to question the sensationalist articles that were printed there.

And the teen characters were too unrealistic to be sympathetic.  Elizabeth felt too idealized to them, Hildy too juvenile for her age, Zack too boring, Baker’s motives were unclear (“Hello?” said one teen, “If he just lost his job, why isn’t he out looking for a new one?????”).  The group also wondered why these fictional teens had so much free time to pursue their journalistic ideals – why didn’t they ever have to do homework?  Why weren’t they ever thinking of the academic challenges that they faced?

In sum, the book failed for this group on every level.  And towards the end of our discussion, one teen expressed it best:  “This book feels like it’s twenty years out of date, and it was just published.” 

Book groups, Children's literature

The future of books

On Monday, I finally got around to reading the article in the latest Horn Book magazine about Kindle and other electronic reading devices.  The article saddened me, since I am such a huge lover of actual books, and I worry that paper books will be gone the way of the dinosaur within my lifetime.

But then yesterday the 6th grade book group met to discuss City of Ember by Jeanne DuPrau (a great discussion, and hopefully I’ll find time to summarize it in the next couple of days).  After our discussion, I handed out the next book we’ll be reading, Skulduggery Pleasant by Derek Landy.  One of the kids in the group commented on the rough-cut edges of the paper in Skulduggery, and I mentioned that I love books that have those rough, imperfect page edges.  Then Sue piped up and said, “Whenever I get a new book to read, I like to feel it and open it up and smell it.  I just like the feel and smell of books.”  Several of the other kids in the group enthusiastically agreed, and began talking all at once about how much they love Books.

So I asked them how they feel about electronic reading devices.  None of the kids had ever seen or used one, but they all immediately and completely dismissed the idea of an electronic reading device.  “How would I show my friends which book I’m reading now?  They couldn’t see the cover!”  “But I like to hold a book, and sit with it in my lap.”  “But I like the smell of books!!”  “It just wouldn’t be the same.”

A very encouraging sign.  Hopefully their generation will love books as much as I do, and hopefully we’ll always have books.

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

Books of the month

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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. 

Book groups, Children's literature

Angie Sage

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I posted several entries in July about the letters that the 5th grade book group members and I wrote to Angie Sage, author of Magyk and its sequels.  I told the girls in the book group to not get their hopes set on an answer from Ms. Sage, since she’s a bestselling author and lives in England, and because the letters had to be mailed to Ms. Sage c/o her publisher, since I couldn’t locate an address (either real mail or email) for her anywhere.

But Angie Sage rocks, let me tell you.  Not only is she a great author, she’s also a kind and intelligent person who took the time to write three separate letters (one to me, one to G., and one to P.), each letter specifically addressing questions and comments made in the letters we sent to her.  For example, in her letter to Ms. Sage, P. asked how Ms. Sage was doing, and added that she was probably busy writing.  Ms. Sage answered P.’s question, saying yes indeed she was busy, thank you for asking, and then launched into a long description of the part of her new book (the next in the Septimus Heap series) that she’s currently writing.  Wow.

So far only G. has come in to pick up her letter from Angie Sage, but she was completely and totally thrilled.  Thrilled.  The look on G.’s face as she read the letter – a combination of blissful happiness, awe, and hyper excitement – totally made my day, and I only wish that Angie Sage could have seen it, too.  Thanks, Angie Sage!!  You’re awesome!!

Book groups

Letters to Angie Sage, part IV

Dear Ms. Sage,

I have used your book Magyk in three of my book groups here at the library (so far!), and all of the book group members have LOVED the book!!

The first thing each book group member comments on is your style of writing – they all love the way you use words and the multiple (and unpredictable) layers of the plot.  Inevitably, there have been comparisons with the Harry Potter books, but you’ll be pleased to know that your books always come out the winners in those comparisons.

As an adult reading your books, I am so pleased by your creative use of language.  So many children’s books today go against the old writing adage of “Show, don’t tell,” but your books are a wonderful exception to that.  In the most recent book group discussion here of Magyk, one fifth grader commented at length on the scene in which Boy 412 finds the ring.  This student especially loved that you don’t simply say, “Boy 412 found a ring,” but that you draw the scene out, and thus the suspense, and that you show what’s happening without overstating it. 

I could go on and on about how much I love your books, and about how much I’ve enjoyed the multiple book group discussions that we’ve had about Magyk.  Rather than do that, I’ll just end with a heartfelt “thank you” for bringing such great books into the world.

Sincerely,

Abby Kingsbury, Children’s Librarian

Book groups

Letters to Angie Sage, part III

Dear Angie Sage,

I think you are a very talented writer and a good driver of words in your book.  My favorite character is the Boggart because he is a very interesting and mysterious character.  On the cover is very interesting way to have a cover look.

The book is very mystical and unexpected scenes and chapters and ideas.  My favorite scene in the book is when Silas gets into the Quake Ooze because it was like a cliffhanger in ways and it was very descriptive in many ways.  I also like the details you put into the chapters.

I like the way you make the words stand out I think that it was very clever in all different kinds of ways.  It is very interesting the kinds of details you put into your writing.

Your best reader,

~ Signed by a fifth grade book group member

P.S.  Please write back please!!!!!!!!!

Book groups

Letters to Angie Sage, part II

Dear Angie Sage,

How are you?  Busy, I bet, because you are probably writing so much and being interviewed.  Hey, I am reading your first book of Magyk for the third time because I love it so much.  I really love how you create all of your characters and how you made them up.  I think you have one of the best imaginations an author could have, I think it’s cool that everything in the book fits just right in the mysteries during the book. 

5 out of millions of things I like about your book…

  • Love the Hunter and his crew
  • Love the mystery of Septimus Heap
  • Love the Boggart
  • Love how Boy 412 doesn’t talk at first
  • Love the details throughout the whole book

Anyway, I am really excited to read your whole series and I hope you write back!!

~ Signed, one of the fifth grade book group members