[LM_NET] Book review posts

[Lisa Von Drasek <lisav@BANKSTREET.EDU>]

This is a very interesting discussion but I would like to express a concern about 
specifying what we would like in book review posts.
Book reviews in the end are one person's opinion. It is up to the consumer/ reader 
to decide whether that one person's opinion has meaning for their own library and 
community. 
For example- Winter Girls,the new Laurie Halse Anderson, a book about anorexia from 
the point of view of a very sick, relapsing character, unreliable to say the least. 
To me personally, it is an important book, a portrait of the descent and denial 
inherent in addiction. Who is it for? Would it be okay for 7th graders? Will they 
get it? A teacher from my school e-mailed me- she doesn't think it has a place in 
middle school. These are the same kids who read Go Ask Alice, Twilight, the Uglies 
and Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. There are kids in are school as young as 5th 
grade who have suffered from eating disorders. Perhaps it will not be part of our 
Mock Printz, we will see what our school psychologist thinks as well as the other 
teachers.

Some readers of LM NET are concerned about language. Truthfully unless the text is 
peppered, I don't really notice. Some parents and teachers have a hard time with 
Captain Underpants (name calling, language) and Judy B. Jones (grammer). Again, not 
something I have a problem with. 

I agree that Book Review Posts could  be leveled in the subject, perhaps like we do 
our targets- elem, middle and high.   perhaps recommended age groups like perfect 
for 3rd/4th grades within the text.

Lisa




Lisa Von Drasek 
Children's Librarian
Bank Street College of Education
School for Children Pre-K- 8 
610 West 112th St
NY  NY   10025

lisav@bnkst.edu

212 875 4452
 

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