BOOK NOTES by Joan Ruddiman
A pile of wonderful young adult books sits on my desk waiting to be delivered to reading pals Jessica and Katie, two of my favorite YA readers. Lots of reading is happily anticipated by these two amidst softball, swimming, biking and summer projects. (Jess is a writer, Kate the artist. Last summer they produced a newspaper featuring their family’s summer adventures.)
Young adult literature should be shared by young and fully-grown adults. It provides some of the best plot lines, exploration of issues and characters to love. Thoughtful readers will appreciate not being blindsided by language, violence and aberrant sex so prevalent in all aspects of our media. Of course, the shock jocks exist in the young adult publishing industry as well, but are sure not the mainstay. The following suggestions are intended to highlight some of the best in authors and titles to begin your own reading adventures.
Years ago, the book/movie “The Sentinel” told of a person who is the designated guard at the door to the underworld to hold off the evils dwelling there. Franny Billinsely’s “The Folk Keeper” is a medieval fantasy that plays on this and other ancient myths — the author was raised on Scottish ballads sung by her father. She also incorporates romance and an interesting coming-of-age theme. This one has garnered high praise and awards as best fantasy of the year.
A lovely fantasy of a very different sort, which also plays on the idea of “the other world,” is Cynthia Rylant’s “The Heavenly Village.” This short novel is comprised of vignettes about those who The Father sends to his Village on their way to Heaven. These “homebodies” are not quite ready to leave earth “when they were right in the middle of something, and it’s nagging at them still as they rise up off the planet on their way to God.” As Rylant continues, “And because He is God and will provide all that anyone ever needs on earth and in heaven, God has made for His homebodies a special stopping place, a wayside, a small pull-over on the way to Perfect Happiness.”
Far from cloying, this delightful book inspires in the most down-to-earth way. Rylant is a Newbery winner and honor recipient.
One of the pleasures of working with young adults, middle-schoolers upward, is their sense of humor. They “get” parody and ironies and play with puns. Philip Pullman, known for his “Golden Compass” series (sorry, fans, the third still is not out), has sidetracked with “I Was a Rat!” Hard to classify, this fantasy/humor tale tells of Roger the Rat, who makes a lovely little boy. Throughout, excerpts from “The Daily Scourge” trumpet the fears of “a terrifying monster” against the backdrop of a royal wedding, which also gets the full tabloid treatment. This offbeat little book is one YA readers really “get.”
Susan Cooper is a known YA fantasy chronicler, particularly from her Newbery-recognized “The Grey King,” one of five in her “The Dark is Rising” series. Her latest novel, “King of Shadows,” gets great reviews from kid readers, combining two favorite genres, fantasy and historical fiction. Cooper’s tale taps into the recent Shakespeare craze as she has her protagonist, Nat Field, thrown back in time to the Globe Theater, where he plays opposite Will himself!
Another novel that is a must-read, particularly for those who know “The Giver,” is Sonia Levin’s “The Cure.” This compelling story combines futuristic distopic themes with a parallel medieval world threatened by the Bubonic Plague and driven by anti-Semitism.
For those interested in a wide-ranging list of suggestions, I can provide a list compiled by students for their peers. This “Reader to Reader” guide is organized in two parts, by genres. The first section provides the latest titles by popular and prolific authors, which leads to many other good books. The second part is a listing of “not-to-miss” titles, again by genres that include historical fiction, fantasy, science fiction, sports, real life, which is non-fiction and biographies, humor and the classic for YAs, coming of age. This four-page guide is available at the Allentown Public Library, or by mail if you send a stamped, self-addressed envelope to the library at P.O. Box 383, Allentown, N.J. 08501.
One serious caveat to adults: The list was compiled by readers for those who are looking to read for fun. Don’t ask for “reports,” written or otherwise, to “check to see” if the teen is “really reading.” Books are a form of entertainment. When readers choose what they want to read, they choose when and how they will read, they ARE “really” reading. Supportive adults can best encourage young adult readers by sharing books with them. They pass off the book to you to read and then you can talk about what you both read, in a really meaningful way. Just like real readers.
It’s summer! So many books to dive into! Jess and Kate, they are on their way!
Joan Ruddiman is a teacher and member of the Allentown Library Board.