Comments | kellyrfineman: What makes a good book for middle graders and teens

kellyrfineman

What makes a good book for middle graders and teens

Sep 11, 2007 09:06

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essays, speaking, acampora, events, books, panels, literary criticism

Comments 21

my fav scene... slatts September 11 2007, 14:57:38 UTC

...not great literature here ( ... )

Re: my fav scene... kellyrfineman September 11 2007, 15:05:38 UTC

Hmm . . . fits my "interconnectedness" theory well, I think. It wasn't all the drama before that really stuck with you (although it's still there, of course) -- it was the moment of coming together and making that moment work. Thanks for sharing it, Kevin.

fabulousfrock September 11 2007, 15:45:26 UTC

One reason I recently loved A True and Faithful Narrative is because it had several of these scenes that struck me. Unfortunately I have a bad memory and I can't remember the details now because I've only read the book once (I need to buy a copy) but the one that really got me is when Edward starts to cry while he's telling Meg about his enslavement in Algiers. I remember feeling that it was a real turning point with these characters.

kellyrfineman September 11 2007, 15:49:54 UTC

I've not read the book yet, but I keep hearing great things about it. Sounds like a powerfully emotional scene to me.

fabulousfrock September 11 2007, 15:57:42 UTC

Yes, READ IT! I think it's going to be my top read of the year unless something *really* blows me away between now and December 31st... It had one of the best love stories I've read in ages...although my taste in love stories IS admittedly a little strange, maybe.

christy_lenzi September 11 2007, 16:43:31 UTC

Kelly, this is a great post--thanks ( ... )

christy_lenzi September 11 2007, 18:24:59 UTC

Er, I meant to say the language was provocative, rather.

kellyrfineman September 11 2007, 21:43:05 UTC

Interestingly, that's what I understood you to mean. Either way, I believe it meant that the language made you stop and take notice and/or think about it. :)

Moravian Panel bzweihz September 11 2007, 17:52:48 UTC

Hi Kelly
I was one of the students, one of the older students, attending last night's panel. I entered the Moravian writing class as a lover of adult fiction with little if no experience in youth fiction, except from what I observe with my children ages 14, 13, 6, and 4. I have to say that after attending last night's talk, I am ready to go out and get the list of books noted from the panel and start reading. The excitement and energy from you and the other members of the panel is enough to inspire a great deal of reading as well as writing. Thank you for coming and inspiring. And by the way, Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite of the Harry Potter series as well, and I too, cannot help but get choked up at the patronus scene.
Beverly

Re: Moravian Panel kellyrfineman September 11 2007, 21:53:09 UTC

Beverly -- thanks for stopping by. I read the first three books aloud to my kids, and cried while reading it aloud. But I'd already read that one twice by then, so I knew to warn them ahead of time. The interaction with the dead parents got me in all the books except, interestingly, book 7, but I've only read it once so far. Lots of folks I know cried at that scene in book 7, but I was all "yeah, yeah -- let's get to the showdown!"

If you pick a particular age group to try first, let me know -- I'm sure I have a much larger list somewhere. And if you're interested in some folks ideas of the best (so far) of 2007, check out the blogs of Mother Reader and the list from Fuse #8. Betsy (at Fuse) usually only talks about picture books and middle grade, with little YA.

Here were my picks (which I posted at Mother Reader -- but I forgot about 17 Things, which I really liked):
Picture Books
A Good Day by Kevin Henkes
the bunnies are not in their beds by Marisabina Russo
Henry's Freedom Box by Ellen Levine, illus by Kadir Nelson
Wolf ( ... )

thank you!!!! acampora September 11 2007, 18:35:00 UTC

Hi Kelly!
Thanks so much being a part of the class last night! I am so glad you accepted my generous offer of no compensation and great conversation. It really was a blast. I think everybody learned a lot too. You and the whole panel were much better teachers than I could ever be. And yes, I definitely got choked up watching you get choked up about Harry Potter. But it’s just so good!!!! Hope to see you again soon!
Paul

Re: thank you!!!! kellyrfineman September 11 2007, 21:53:53 UTC

I'll be seeing you at the Rutgers One on One for sure (hooray -- I got in this year, Mr. Success Story). Will you be at the Fall Philly??

Re: thank you!!!! acampora September 12 2007, 13:06:26 UTC

I’m afraid I couldn’t make Fall Philly fit on my calendar. I’ll definitely be at Rutgers (or else I’ll be in big trouble). By the way, I’ve been thinking about that “memorable scene” question. I keep coming back to the wheelchair/running scene in Rules. That was so good. I remember reading it out loud to my wife (who works with students who have physically disabilities). She just laughed and said that whoever wrote that must spend times with real kids in real wheelchairs. There was just so much joy there. Also, in The Watsons Go to Birmingham: 1963, there’s the opening scene where Byron, the big brother gets his tongue stuck on the frozen rear-view mirror (ha!) and then the really scary “getting pulled down by the under-toad” part where the main character, Kenny, almost drowns in the river, and then the totally heartbreaking scenes toward the end of the book when Kenny won’t come out from behind the couch. I love, love, love that book. It’s filled with great scenes.