Back from a short break, catching up on my reading and stuff. I noticed my reviews are piling up a little. This latest one I’ve added is a stunner-Life As We Knew It by Susan Beth Pfeffer. I believe I read that it made the NY Times Best Seller List this year, but I couldn’t find the article to verify.

I also want to say that with the recent flap about adults reading YA literature, Life As We Knew It is a perfect example of why adults do and should read YA books. As for writing YA, the writers are helping to strengthen our youth (soon to be adults) and encourage them to think about solutions to societal problems and act upon their concerns instead of giving up as many adults have. Thank you, YA writers, for the incredible quality you bring to literature for teens.

REVIEW

I have actually started my selection for Feb but just barely. It is Deryni Checkmate, 2nd of The Chronicles of the Deryni by Katherine Kurtz. It is part of a larger adult fantasy series from the early 1970s. The tone is strongly historical/medieval with intermingling and clashing of political, religious, and magical interests. It was lent to me by my friendly local librarian who raves about the author and series. She’s trying to get others interested in the series despite our library not having most of the books and the books being hard to find.

I recently checked back on the Year of Reading Dangerously site and found that the assigned choice was The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison which I would like to read, too. There is discussion to go with the book, so I may read it later and look back to see what was said at least. Their March selection is Cat’s Eye by Margaret Atwood which I also will have to put off for a later time, because a book I had on hold came in and takes precedence-The Audacity of Hope by Barack Obama. I have been wanting to read it since last summer. It is always on hold at the library, and I think I will only have a week to read it. At least that will put me on track with the reading challenge.

This month’s selection is a new book by Shannon Hale, author of 2006 Newbery Honor Princess Academy. Book of a Thousand Days is a reworking of a Brothers Grimm fairy tale. A young lady is bricked up in a tower with her maid as punishment for rejecting her father’s choice of a suitor for her. Only her maid’s will keeps them alive, sane, and able to escape after they are abandoned. Dashti keeps a record of their existence during these times and beyond.

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I was reading the article What Boys Should Read at The Chronicle Review when I noticed a comment by Nancy Knapp. She says, “I think one of the most important skills a teacher or librarian or parent can have is a knowledge of ‘what’s out there’ for kids to read AND an intimate knowledge of what is likely to appeal to each of the struggling readers they work with.” I totally agree that this is one of the most important factors in increasing the number of students reading. It is, in fact, why I started this site. I saw too many kids and parents coming into the library without any idea of how to find books to read which would interest them. Face it, on a Saturday, there is no way the librarians can personally help each one of these kids. If parents are serious about helping their children to read, one of the top things to do is become familiar with the children’s books and bring home several that might interest (and even challenge) them. Reading is too important to expect only experts (teachers and librarians) to be involved.

This book was a surprise. I found it displayed at my library but hadn’t heard anything about it. It has a strong female character and a different way of dealing with an old subject-arranged marriages (and female independence) in traditional cultures.

REVIEW

I have started reading this series of which the 3rd book was published in 2006. The trilogy is loosely linked to The Lost Years of Merlin, but it takes place centuries later. I enjoyed the first book The Great Tree of Avalon-as I expected since I am a recent fan of T. A. Barron.

Jen Robinson’s Book Page has regular posts on improving children’s literacy in which she highlights efforts by those concerned about reluctant readers. She calls them Children’s Literacy Round-up. Her posts Helping Kids Learn to Enjoy Reading and Ten Tips for Growing Bookworms are comprehensive lists of actions to take to help new, reluctant, or struggling readers. Because reading is so much a part of my life and education, it is a subject I think about often as well. I cannot even imagine being able to teach my kids without their willingness to read.

I was thinking recently about a factor that is maybe not usually considered regarding children not reading. Time. How much time does the student have to himself/herself? So many children have packed schedules (from young ages) with several organized activities through the week. Do they have time to relax, think quietly, and create on their own? After a busy day, unwinding is necessary before it is possible to focus on reading. I know I sometimes have difficulty with this myself. Sometimes it is also preferable to have time to think or create, instead of reading, since these are important outlets. Do they have time to talk about things with family members? With both parents working and the running around that people do in order to not miss out on opportunities, are they missing out on crucial conversation which builds both language and thinking skills? I think it is important for adults to remember that, just as we have difficulty finding time for everything in our lives, children cannot do everything that they have an opportunity to do either. Choices need to be made of what is most desired-and sometimes reevaluated. There needs to be some flexibility in their days, so that they will feel like reading will not take away from other things they want to do or their relaxation time.

The Picture Book of the Month for February is The Invention of Hugo Cabret by Brian Selznick-a novel, not the standard picture book. It was awarded the Caldecott Medal for 2008, but that is not why I have chosen it. It is so spectacular that it was discussed as a possibility for the Newbery. The pictures are so much a part of the story that it can fit the picture book category. It could also be considered a graphic novel, although it would certainly not be a standard one.

My oldest son praised the unusual concept. His comment reminded me how much I enjoy stories that are so different from anything else. With the amount of reading I do, I have seen many good books (and series) that follow the same format as others. It’s a special treat to read a book that is totally its own.

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Current Pick of the Month

I checked the book out from the library, because it sounded intriguing. It’s much more captivating than I expected. I don’t know how it was received by Lewis Carroll fans, but I found it to be one of the more engaging young adult books.

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I see Story Time as a satire of the Leave No Child Behind Act-the foundation being mandatory testing. In this story, the Whittaker Magnet School proudly proclaims its high testing status. The head of the school, Dr. Austin, is wrangling for a national committee position based on the scores. Two factors lead to these scores.

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