Summer Reading...and Areas that I don't Know much about
My summer reading list (above)
As I've said before, one of the most rewarding parts of my job is getting kids enthusiastic about books. (And for that I owe a big thanks to Suzanne Collins, because the Hunger Games has been a huge success as a classroom book). But besides picking out the books I'm going to force all the children to read together (the word children, I use loosely for 15 and 16 year olds---in other words, I'm getting old). I also love finding the right books for them to read independently.
And for that I spend a lot of time circulating as they peruse the shelves of the library.
One thing I know/believe is that the kids who are constant readers (and who buy books) know what they want. But I still recommend more and more books for them. These guys read a lot.
Categories I get asked for and Don't Know what to recommend
Sports Books- Even as an anti-sportite, I LOVE Chris Crutcher's Books, but the ones I'm familiar with are somewhat dated. There's Bleachers by John Grisham, but once they've read those, what else is there...why aren't more sports books? What should I be giving these (usually boys) students who ask for Sports books?
Horror- this is one I need for my new Speculative Fiction class. Not paranormal, (though the paranormal genre is great for getting kids to read, yay paranormal!) but true scary Horror. This summer I've got The Devouring and the Monstrumologist, and Poison on my reading list. What else should I get?
I'm particularly interested in Gothic YA right now. Cause that's what I'm writing.
Mystery- students are always saying they like to read mystery...and the thing is that mystery like romance is a aspect that is present in most books, but is there a mystery genre for YA?
These are some areas I want to learn more about... and read more of...this summer.
For the fall semester I'll be starting out with two Sophomore English classes and the Speculative Fiction class. Lots of fun research and reading for me to do.
Labels: books, research, summer reading, YA books
posted by bethany griffin at
6:39 AM
2 Comments:
Bethany--
I went straight from Nancy Drew to Sherlock Holmes and Maigret--I really don't know that there is much in between, unless it's sprung up in the past 6-8 years. But I can recommend some non-standard mysteries if you'd like. There are a lot of International writers now who are quite good.
As far as sports books go, I always got my sports stories in movie form, so I am not helpful.
I would love to read more YA thrillers (especially from a female pov), but there're really aren't that many. And like you, Bethany, with the sport stories, it's not a subgenre I'm not comfortable writing. At least not yet.
Post a Comment
Subscribe to Post Comments [Atom]
<< Home