Friday, January 30, 2009

Young adult saga

I don't read "kid's" books.

OK--that is not entirely true. I've read Goodnight Moon several times, just this week! Of course, I read to my children. When it's my turn to sit down and pick up a novel however, I'm done with juvenile fiction.

Or so I thought. I didn't read what the kids were reading when I was a kid. By the time I was in middle school, I was reading the paperback versions of The Winds of War, North and South (and the sequels), Gone With the Wind, books on Hiroshima and I threw several mysteries in there, as well.

Partly due to the books that I was reading when I was twelve however, I have always said that as my kids got older, I would know what they were reading and would read those books as well. (My own mom would ask about some of the books that I picked up. She didn't have time to read them and I may have misled her a little as far as how explicit they were. Sorry, Mom!)

I let my daughter go ahead and start reading Twilight, based on another mom's assurances that the first two books would be okay. (This mom is my daughter's best friend's mom, a teacher,and a pretty good judge of age-appropriate material). So I let N start the book, and I am trying to catch up. It's not bad! Who knew? Of course, this book is more young adult--the characters are seventeen. Maybe she thinks she is reading a grown-up book and I can feel like it's not for children.

I have heard that the third and fourth book in the series are not something she should be reading yet so I'll have her wait but I may just check them all out, myself. I'm only in the middle of the first one and read a scene last night in which Bella found herself in a dangerous situation but the way it was written, I'm sure that my daughter had no real idea of the just what the imminent danger entailed.

My daughter is not a big fan of reading and we try to coax her just to read. (They have the Accelerated Reader program at school and this year, it is part of her reading grade, so she has to do a certain amount of reading at home). She was all set to read this book though--because everyone is reading it. While it annoys me that she is at that age where she wants to be just like her friends, I am happy to see her excited about reading. (I just have to get ahead--and stay ahead--of what she decides to pick up!)

4 comments:

Rene said...

My daughter is reading "Twilight" as well. Like yours, she's not a big reader but all of her friends are reading it. My middle grade son read the series. I read the first book and didn't care for it. I find Bella whiney and Edwards creepy.

I was reading Rosemary Rogers in middle school (my poor mother). I can't imagine letting my kids read that stuff. I think my mom was pretty clueless about the romanace genre back then, she read horror.

Anonymous said...

That's good that she has found something she likes. I haven't tried the Twilight books yet, but I've heard they are great. The reason I started reading the Harry Potter books was so I would know what my students were reading. I grew addicted to them. I have been tempted to start the Twilight books since I've heard they are good as well. Let me know what you think.

LoryKC said...

Rene,
Bella IS whiny but I was too, when we lived in Washington state! Rain, day after day, really does dampen your mood more than your socks!
Edward is creepy too, you're right--but reminds me of someone, too.
I'm curious.
I do not agree with the blurb on the back of the book, announcing this as the "best book of the decade--so far." It is the most interesting book that I've read this week, however!
(I'm more shocked by that than anyone!)

LoryKC said...

Joey,
Take what you will from my comment above! ;)
Go for it--but fold your laundry first, just in case! ;)