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Summer Reading Should Be FunJune 9, 2009I am really glad I'm not a kid this summer. I have just amassed all the summer reading lists for the schools in our area. Why do so many schools feel compelled to force classics and only classics on kids during the summer? Why not mix it up, with some classics and some more current books? I understand wanting to expose to the classics because of the wrting and big themes, but these things exist in lots of Young Adult literature. I'd get creative if I were planning an entire summer reading list — such as, if you want to read Twilight you must also read Bram Stoker's Dracula. The Human Comedy by William Saroyan So, let's make a great list! Posted by Josie Leavitt on June 9, 2009 | Comments (31)
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Julianne Daggett commented: To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee.
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun catbriarpatch@aol.com commented: Three Cups of Tea by Greg Mortenson
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Debby Garfinkle commented: Inexcusable by Chris Lynch
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun franm commented: I Capture the Castle by Dodie Smith.
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Kate Messner commented: I couldn't agree with you more. My 7th grade students make their own summer reading lists to take to the bookstore & library, based on recommendations from me and their classmates.
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun HarperAcademic commented: Every May, I do an online search. Classics rule but more contemporary titles are making the cut. I did an entry about this at HarperAcademic.com with links to lists from around the country.
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Mary Ann Rodman commented: As the mother of a rising sophomore in a metropolitan school system, I was dismayed that with few exceptions (IN THE TIME OF BUTTERFLIES by Julia Alvarez was the exception)her summer reading list could have been the same one I was issued in 1969!
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Nicole Lantz commented: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins & Lord of the Flies (pair together)
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Inderjit Deogun commented: Hunger Games
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Lauren Baratz-Logsted commented: EVERMORE, Alyson Noel
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun jake the girl commented: The Adoration of Jenna Fox by Mary Pearson
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Hannah commented: How I Live Now (especially paired with The Red Badge of Courage or another classic about war)
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Bruce Hale commented: For grades 7-12:
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Susan commented: I would add:
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Rachel Fawaz commented: Life of Pi - Martel
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun El commented: Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Beach Teach commented: I'm reading The Book Thief now and I am enjoying it a great deal. Very well written. I recommend it.
June 9, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun VALERIE KOEHLER commented: The Red Kayak
June 10, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Peni Griffin commented: For one thing, the summer reading list should have a mix of genres. You'd think from the way these lists are put together that science fiction is a video-only medium (and it is a complate of the older fen that the younger generation knows the movies and TV shows, but not the books). A list divided into Classic/Contemporary Works of Science Fiction, Fantasy, Adventure, Romance, Suspense, and Realism would provide a truly comprehensive literary overview; expecially if the compilers knew enough to show off the variety within a genre; to include poetry and graphic novels; to imply, in short, that if you don't like to read, it's because you haven't found what you like to read yet.
June 10, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun FURMAN UNIVERSITY commented: the glass castle
June 10, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Anita Riggio commented: Two beautiful books of historical fiction:
June 10, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Carol Ann commented: How about:
June 10, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Ed Catto commented: I like Moonstone's adventure anthologies for boys 7 -12. The collection of stories give readers a feeling of accomplishment:
June 10, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Cinda Chima commented: I love this, and concur with many of the suggestions. As a contemporary writer of YA fiction, summer reading lists filled with turgid fiction works against creating lifelong pleasure readers. Summer reading should introduce the classics but allow some freedom of choice. How many adults would choose to read the titles on many current lists?
June 10, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun barryhf commented: Nick of Time by Ted Bell
June 10, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Sondy commented: I would add:
June 10, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Judith Freeman commented: I just posted my 2 annotated summer reading lists,grades PreK-4 and 5-8, each with 100+ titles, on the James Patterson website, www,ReadKiddoRead.com. Scroll down the home page and click on New Arrivals, where you'll see the box, "Summer Reading Doesn't Have to Be Punishment. Click on that, and you'll see you can download both PDF files. You have permission to make as many copies as you like--you could give it out to all the kids at school, to parents, etc. I hope you find a few goodies there.
June 11, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Tiffany Hayes commented: The Chocolate War by Robert Cormier
June 11, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Connie Rockman commented: I like related reading and paired titles as a way of helping students define themes and develop in-depth understanding as an earlier poster mentioned in pairing Bram Stoker's Dracula with Stephanie Meyer's Twilight
June 12, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun Deck Deckert commented: 1) "Midnight Never Come" Marie Brennan
June 13, 2009
In response to: Summer Reading Should Be Fun David Ziegler commented: Great topic and great suggested reading lists! In addition to having a variety of themes, linking fiction and non-fiction, and having contemporary titles, I would add a couple thoughts as a public librarian. Please have more that a few titles on the reading list: otherwise you have unhappy patrons all waiting for the same few books. Don't make a list all of bestsellers, or you have the same problem of most people having to wait for the book. Consider allowing every title in a series to be acceptible, or even recommending several books by a popular author. This will make summer reading lists less feared and less problematic for librarians, parents and readers.
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