It's been a long, long time since I cried while reading a book. The last time I can remember shedding literary tears was when I read Lonesome Dove for the first time over ten years ago. Well, I had to pull out the tissues for Bridge to Terabithia, by Katherine Paterson (1978). It's an incredibly well-written book about a fifth-grade boy named Jess living in rural Virginia during the post-Vietnam 1970s. His friendship with a Leslie, a girl whose parents gave up life in the city to simplify things, changes Jess in profound ways. Leslie goes through a few changes herself as the two children build their own kingdom, Terabithia, in the woods near their homes. It's a beautiful book that teaches kids to be true to themselves and their dreams. A word of caution: The "Does God really send people to hell" question arises as Leslie visits church for the first time, so be prepared to discuss this if your kids read this book.
I also read the 2005 Newberry award book, Kira-Kira, by Cynthia Kadohata, and was disappointed. There was rich content in this book that was handled poorly. The writing was a bit choppy and fragmented. It was as if Kadohata tried too hard to speak as she thought an elementary-school-aged girl would. She never quite captured a believable voice to me. The story itself and the setting are good, but the presentation was lacking. Not sure how this one won the Newberry. There had to be better books eligible for the award last year.
I really enjoyed The Witch of Blackbird Pond, by Elizabeth George Speare (1959). Set in New England during the 1680s, it follows the trials and triumphs of Kit Tyler. Kit had to leave her home in Barbados to live with her aunt, uncle and cousins in a Connecticut Puritan community. She soon realizes that it can be dangerous to be different in a place where people fear and kill "witches." This book takes kids right into a Puritan home and shows them just what life was like there, complete with descriptions of daily chores and routines. I highly recommend this one.
The Giver, by Lois Lowry (1994) is one of those books that will stick with you and may even haunt you. It's shelved in the young adults section of our library, but I think my ten-year-old is mature enough and has the mindset to handle it. My eight-year-old isn't ready for it and may not be for some time, just because of how deeply some things affect him. This one will keep him awake at night. The story is about Jonas, a 12-year-old boy who lives in a perfect world, literally. There is no poverty, no crime, no hardships at all. The price for this utopia is that there is also no independent thinking. Jonas reaches the age where all children are given their life assignments, and he is chosen as Receiver of Memories. His new job opens his eyes to the hefty price his world has paid for its perfect stability, and Jonas must decide if his perfect life is worth the sacrifice of humanity. The ending is a little strange to me, but if you're a George Orwell fan or enjoyed Brave New World, this is your kind of book.
The Westing Game, by Ellen Raskin (1979) was just a whole lot of fun. It's a good book for your young mystery lover, set in an apartment building whose residents are all suspects in a murder that isn't all it appears to be. Sometimes it was a little hard for me to follow all the twists and turns, so stay alert if you read The Westing Game.
Miracles on Maple Hill, by Virginia Sorenson (1957) is a good choice for the young nature lover. It's a sweet little story of a family who moves from the country to the city and how the new surroundings slowly change the family in positive ways. Not all that gripping, but an easy read filled with detailed descriptions of nature's beauty.
The White Stag, by Kate Seredy (1938) is an okay choice for the kid who enjoys mythology. It's a pretty mystical, mythical account of how Attilla the Hun came to be and then conquered. Not my favorite, but I think it would be okay for the right kind of audience.
I read some good books after this most recent trip to the library, but I still have to say that Shiloh is my favorite.
No comments:
Post a Comment