Invisible by Pete Hautman is a taut wire of a book that offers a study of Doug Hanson, a loner seventeen year old obsessed with bridge building. Doug’s best friend Andy lives right next door so that they can chat through the window. Unlike Doug, Andy is a popular football star at school. They are a strange pair but remain best friends.
As the book continues, the reader will see clues that all is not what it seems. A lot of the power of the book comes from slowly realizing what is really going on, so I will not spoil it for you. The reader will see what is coming and feel the powerlessness of being unable to stop it.
Recommend this slim book to kids who enjoy psychological thrillers. This is the sort of teen novel that adults will enjoy as well, demonstrating the power of writing for teens. This book is fast enough moving for reluctant readers, especially boys.
Month: July 2005
Roald Dahl Article
The New Yorker: The Critics: A Critic At Large offers an article on Roald Dahl and the magic that children seem to find in his writing while many adults find things to be worried or even insulted by.
Naughts and Crosses
Naughts & Crosses by Malorie Blackman is book that is a head-spinning thriller filled with twists and turns. Picture a world where instead of white people being the dominant race, they were the ones with a history of slavery. In this world, white people are treated just as our society treats black people. They are immediately suspect, looked down upon, not credited with achievements, and not allowed in black schools. In this world live Callum and Sephy. Callum is a Naught or white and lives in a shack with his family. Sephy is a Cross or black and lives a priveledged life with her prominent father and family. But the two are drawn together from childhood and soon begin a fledgling relationship.
This book is one that you will not be able to put down after a certain point. It is engrossing, amazing and gripping. The characters of Callum and Sephy are complex and vivid, while the society they live in becomes a character in the book as well. This book is eye opening, offering a unique perspective on racism in the world. Give this to kids who enjoy fast-moving thrillers, but also to those who read science fiction and those who enjoy deep books that will make them think.
This is the first in a series. They are released in England first where the third book has just arrived. So we have a lot to look forward to!
Summer Reading Studies
NJ Summer Reading offers a nice selection of studies In Support of Summer Reading. If you are ever asked again why public libraries spend money getting kids to read during the summer, this is a nice site to have bookmarked.
Getting Kids to Read
NPR : Getting Kids to Read was on Talk of the Nation yesterday. The featured guests were Paul Kropp, author of How to Make Your Child a Reader for Life, Esme Raji Codell, author of How to Get Your Child to Love Reading, Steven Johns, author of Everything Bad Is Good for You, and Jon Scieszka, author of many amazing children’s books.
Edgy Teen Titles
Journal Gazette — Youth titles graduate from ‘Sweet Valley High’
Yikes! I hope they have progressed beyond Sweet Valley High and Fear Street too! The point of the article is that teen novels are becoming more risque and edgy. But also that teen publishing is one of the healthiest segments of the publishing industry, which is wonderful news for those of us who enjoy YA reading.
There is a passing reference to labeling teen fiction with a rating system, but no further comment is made about it. I would be livid if they started labeling teen books. Then we can all stand around wringing our hands and wondering why teens won’t read again. Shouldn’t we be thrilled that teens are reading?
The article concludes with a list of some new titles, including the controversial Rainbow Party and other important new releases.
Too Much TV
Too Much TV May Hurt Kids’ Learning is an article about a new study that shows a correlation between the amount of TV children watch and lower test scores. The strongest recommendation from the study is that children not be allowed to have televisions in their bedrooms.
I do think that not all television is created equal and that there is a place in children’s lives for educational programming, but as always, all things in moderation. The study did not examine the content of the shows being watched, so it does not speak to whether there is a difference between educational programming and more commercial shows.
Christian Comics
The Seattle Times: Faith & values: Christian comics growing on youth
Yet another trend in graphic novels and comics that libraries will want to keep an eye on. I would expect that more than a few of us will have clergy in the library suggesting that we purchase these to balance our graphic novel collections.
Best Baby Books
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette offers a listing of New books recommended for babies and toddlers. The list was selected by Beginning with Books, a Pittsburgh early literacy group. Each year they pick the ten best books for children up to 18 months old.
Waking Brain Cells 