Grand Magazine - July/August 2008 - (Page 61)

“My grandmother doesn’t know about teenagers’ issues.” was otherwise scarred by an anxious and raging father and a depressed and angry mother were of escaping into books.” When I read these words and reflected upon their immediate effect on me, I thought of a quote from C.S. Lewis, “We read so we’re not alone.” In Pearl’s words I had found a phrase that partially defined an aspect of my own childhood: Many of my happiest memories were of escaping into books. I began each interview with the Birmingham boys by quoting C.S. Lewis and by asking the boys if they ever felt this way. What I got was a book flood, with the boys explaining why or how they’d been hooked by specific books. “I liked the book called Heart of a Champion [by Carl Deuker],” wrote one boy, “because it involves real-life experiences, sports and meeting new people…. it got me into thinking about my life—and what I believe in.” Some other suggestions included S. E. Hinton’s The Outsiders and Louis Sachar’s Small Steps (the boys said they related to the main characters’ problems). They also mentioned Crank by Ellen Hopkins and The Supernaturalist by Eoin Colfer (because they’re interesting and easy to read); When Zachary Beaver Came to Town by Kimberly Willis Holt (because of the swearing and the interesting storyline); Skellig by David Almond (the chapters are short); Eragon and Eldest by Christopher Paolini (descriptive and well written). Adventurous series fiction was also popular, such as Philip Pullman’s The Golden Compass and John Flanagan’s Ranger’s Apprentice series. But when I asked, “Have you ever considered reading a book with your grandparents and discussing it?” one boy said, “I would ask them to read a book so I could talk about it with them. I don’t talk to them that much.” Interesting, yes? A more telling question was “If you could read a book with a grandparent, what book would it be?” “I would read books about wars with them because they have been through hard times and I want to know about their experiences.” “…The Golden Compass because it’s a book an adult would read.” “I would read books about fishing because they love to go fishing.” “I would pick 28 Days Later [by Steve Niles] for reading with my grandpa because it’s about war and violence. My grandpa was in the Korean War.” “I would read a book that has to do with teenagers because my grandmother does not know about teenagers’ issues.” “…The Outsiders because the book takes place when they were younger and they could help me understand what happened then.” “If my grandpa were alive, I would read a gun book with him because he was really into guns.” Though some of the boys said a grandparent reading partner might be fun, there are still limits. Textmessaging, for example. I suggested a high-tech conversation with a grandparent about books, and I learned I was off-base. One boy said he wouldn’t textmessage with a grandparent because he pays his own phone bills and “it would be a waste,” and another was even more direct: “It would just be too weird.” G For resources and suggested reading visit www.grandmagazine.com. A Few GrAnd IdeAs As summer continues, think about reading a book with your freshman or sophomore high school teen, such as Summerland by the Pulitzer-Prizewinning author Michael Chabon. For middle school teens, Holes, by Louis Sachar, recently rated as one of the top five books chosen by teens in every grade from fifth through eighth. For your own research: Great Books for High School Kids, edited by Rick Ayers and Amy Crawford, and Nancy Pearl’s Book Crush. I also value Valerie & Walter’s Best Books for Children: A Lively, Opinionated Guide, by Valerie Lewis and Walter Mayers, and Anita Silvey’s 500 Great Books for Teens. Lastly, if your teen is in middle school, consider purchasing a subscription to READ magazine. I’ve read the magazine with teens for years, and they love it. There are short excerpts from books that many teens go on to read; play adaptations your teens can take to school, like Warriors Don’t Cry—the story by Melba Pattillo Beals about the Little Rock, Arkansas, Central High School debacle; short stories—for example, “Kim Chee and Yellow Peril,” by Jenny Kim, about a young woman who ponders her hyphenated identity; and there’s always a terrific writing assignment that leads to possible publication in READ. (To download a full electronic issue, just go to www.weeklyreader. com/teachers/read/ or visit the READ blog, WORD, at www.readandwriting. com. To subscribe, I prefer calling: 1-800-446-3355.) JULY AUGUST 2008 GRAND 61 Talking books with grandparents? The boys thought talking about books with their grandparents would be strange. http://www.weeklyreader.com/teachers/read/ http://www.weeklyreader.com/teachers/read/ http://www.readandwriting.com http://www.readandwriting.com http://www.grandmagazine.com

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Grand Magazine - July/August 2008

Grand Magazine - July/August 2008 Contents Grand View: Love Is All That's Left Isn't It Grand?: Reassessing the Postponed Life Grand Central Just So We Know: One Mixed-Up Lemon Long-Distance Love: Cuttings Ask Grand: Stuck on Stuff Grand Gestures: "Thanks for the Ugly Gift" Tips on Teens: All That Doesn't Meet the Eye Live Long and Propser On the Cover: Peter Yarrow Presents of Mine Thicker Than Water? Reunions: White Water, White Knuckles The Grand Gourmet So We Are Not Alone Looking Grand: Suit-Able Grandbloggers: Why Watch TV When We Can Talk? Grand Bazaar Resources Grand Finale: What Boat

Grand Magazine - July/August 2008

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