Re: GEN: Discussion point: "Depressing books?"

[Mary Ann Bell <mbell@main.com>]

I think you can get what you want and that there is upbeat stuff out there
too.  Danziger--Conford--Bauer--Cleary--Korman--Todd Strasser (who came to my
school and was fantastic), Rob Thomas--I know there are others but these off
the top of my head.  Also, kids this age like a little pain and sorrow, it
seems, or why are my Lurline McDaniel books falling apart? I really do like
Bel-Air Bambi, also. Also there is poetry for the brighter side of
things--Silverstein, Prelutsky, et al  But that's just me I could be
wrong.--mary ann

"Joanne E. Ladewig" wrote:

> Netters:
>
> This morning Joyce McMurray posted this:
> "I have a 5th grade teacher at my school who just finished reading a very
> heavy-hearted book to her class and feels that so many of the new "good"
> books are sad or depressing with extremely serious content.  She came down
> yesterday to ask for a suggestion for a read aloud for her class that would
> be light, and hopefully, even funny or humorous.  I was challenged, but
> couldn't come up with much of a list for her."
>
> I must agree with the teacher - it seems that all the strongly recommended
> titles are very heavy on the emotions or deal with very serious topics. I
> realize that "this is right where they live" for many of today's kids but
> with all the serious issues and stress we all deal with, perhaps more
> "comic relief" is what we need!
>
> The "funny" books all seem to be about second or third grade level -
> Cleary's books, The Baily Street series, Horrible Harry, Zelda series,
> Sideways Stories series, The Plant that Ate Dirty Socks, etc.  Perhaps this
> is why so many older kids want joke books? (or is it their short attention
> span?).
>
> In 1997 I prepared an "Opening Day" collection for my new K - 8 school. I
> utilized Follett's "Titlewave" so I could select the titles with the most
> recommendations. As I read the blurbs for the recommended titles for 4th
> grade and above, they seemed to all be serious, and more serious as the
> grade level increased - less and less humor, and very few "just every day
> life" stories. So many of the contemporary ones seemed to have death,
> gangs, drugs, very dysfunctional family situations, etc.
>
> Yes, this is a realistic reflection of our society today, and I guess a lot
> of what I read in junior high and high school (late 60's - early 70's, so
> of course the books were from the 50's & early 60's) was "pap" - but it
> didn't depress me or cause me to view my world a a dreadful, hopeless
> place. (Maybe I'm exaggerating a bit here, but if all you have time to read
> is the "blurb," this is the impression you may get - perhaps the books
> aren't quite so "heavy.")
>
> I asked my 17 year old daughter her opinion, and she said that kids seem to
> want books with lots of action or excitement. Maybe that's one reason why
> the "Goosebumps" and other chiller/thriller series are/were so popular.
> Character development seems less important than action. Hmmm. . . people
> are less important than "what's happening."  Hmmm. . . now that's a
> thought-provoking idea!
>
> Perhaps that's the contrast - reviewers (being adults) appreciate and look
> for good character development as well as a good plot. That type of book
> would most likely be more of a serious nature. Kids, on the other hand,
> have shorter attention spans, and like more action than thought-prevoking
> content.
>
> Well, I've rambled on long enough about this - but I'm interestd in what
> others have to say and think. Since this is not a "target" per se (I don't
> want to compile this in a list and post it) but rather a point of
> discussion, I invite you to post your thoughts to the listserve, rather
> than reply to me personally.
> Thanks - Joanne
>
> Joanne Ladewig
> Information Center Director
> Fairgrove Academy
> (a K-8 public school focusing on the Visual and Performing Arts, and
> Technology)
> La Puente, CA
> jladewig@ns700-1.enet.hlpusd.k12.ca.us     (all lower case)
> home email: shatz@lightside.com
>
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--
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"Try curiosity."--Dorothy Parker
***?***?***?***?***?***?***?***?***
Mary Ann Bell, Librarian
York Junior High School
Conroe ISD, TX
mbell@main.com
mbell@conroe.isd.tenet.edu

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