The Diamond in the Window: We recommend

June 17, 2013

We Recommend: Books Set in the Middle Ages

It's We Recommend, in which we use our superpowers to find readers the perfect book. Got a kid who needs a recommendation? Write us at thediamondinthewindow (at) gmail (dot) com with the age, reading tastes, favorite books, and any other relevant (or irrelevant) information, and we'll give it a shot. And really? All the good suggestions are in the comments.

We're having a mini-run of We Recommends here, which is fun for us, and (we hope) helpful to someone, somewhere. We love getting the requests, is the truth, so keep them coming. Here we go:

My son, aged very nearly 10, wants us to read some stories about the middle ages. There's Robin Hood, of course, and King Arthur. Beyond that, what do you suggest? To give you a target range, his desert island books so far include Treasure Island, Tom Sawyer, My Side of the Mountain, The Princess and the Goblin, Swallows and Amazons, and My Family and Other Animals.

This one is a little tricky for us. Middle ages? Says Wikipedia, that's 5th to the 15th Centuries, which is...broad. And, says Chestnut, the real question is, is he OK with magic? Or does he want realistic middle ages?

Given that we don't really know, we're just going to take a stab here with one both Chestnut and Diana have loved. (Though it was an interesting question, making me wonder a lot about just what realism means, exactly. Anyway, thoughts for another time.) Here's our pick:

Though, I mean, middle ages? Yeah sort of. But per Tamora Pierce's web site, these take place in a different universe, so that makes it a little tricky to call them really middle ages. I mean, I figure the "King Arthur" reference meant that The Once and Future King is already done. But oh! And I thought of another, and it's super-middle ages-y. Middle aged?

OK, that's what I got this sleepy evening.

But what I would really like, what I hope you guys can offer up in the comments, is a book set in the middle ages that's full of the sort of adventure it seems like this kid goes for. Anyone have an idea?

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June 14, 2013

We Recommend: Books for Teenager Learning to Read

It's We Recommend, in which we try to help people find books that will bring them great joy. The secret? Look in the comments, that's where all the best suggestions hide. Do YOU want a recommendation? Just email us a thediamondinthewind (at) gmail (dot) com and tell us everything about your reader (or yourself). We'll do our best to find the perfect book.

So this is a tough one. But it's essential. Because reading should be a pleasure—it is pleasure, through and through, and when it's treated like medicine that's what it tastes like. Read on, and let's see what we can do.

is not a request for recommendations for literature per se. I have a teenaged son who still cannot read -- although he loves listening to books on tape and having me read to him. The problem is that all the resources I can find to teach reading are geared toward young kids. Having little kid stuff shoved in his face, reminding him he can't read while knowing little kids are learning this stuff, means that he refuses to work with these materials, and continues to not read. So I continue to search for resources to help him learn the basics of reading -- GEARED to TEENS. Nothing with little kid stories, or pictures, or voices (software) is acceptable. Anyone have any suggestions?

Here's the thing: he wants to read. He loves books. I feel it is our duty to see what we can do. And of course he doesn't want to read little kid stuff learning-to-read stuff. Some little kids don't even like it.

Back in the olden days, before I had children, I used to be a literacy tutor at the public library. I was terrible at it. I mean, I wanted to do it and I went to a training and everything, in fact to several trainings, and then I used to take two subways (at age 25 I didn't understand how to say stuff like "Could I work at a library closer to my house?") and go see someone, and she was embarrassed, and I was embarrassed, and I was not entirely competent, and...I wish I had been better at it.

A lot of people were, and an enduring memory of that hazy time of my 20s is going to the celebration in the Botanical Gardens and seeing all the people for whom it really worked: they spoke of their struggles with learning to read, and the incredible relief when they broke through. And then for some reason I slipped away before it was done and walked home by myself through the Botanical Garden at night, something I bet I will never get to do again, and rabbits and other weird animals were out. I really wished I could have helped someone.

So: here is my chance. Here is our chance. There were books in the program for adults learning to read. Not only to avoid embarrassment, but because they would be interested. Books about lives like theirs, about adults, about pain and difficulty and struggle.

Part of me thinks that the key for this boy might be comic books. They've worked for so many adolescents—so many images, so much story, so few words (read My Dyslexia by Phillip Schultz, the poet [and a teacher whose classes I went to long ago] for his story on learning to read as an adolescent). Maybe X-Men? Maybe Batman? Maybe something even more grownup, like The Sandman? Graphic novels and comic books offer important crutches, I think.

But then, too, there are these:

These are a series of books by an organization called Good Reads, which aims to offer compelling books to adults learning to read. They have large fonts, simple words, gripping stories (one is The Stalker, which I already want to read). They are for adults—would he be OK going a little older?

Or do you, my most excellent readers, have a better idea? I am truly out of my depth here, but I am very moved by the plight of this kid, and I wish there were more I could offer. I know a whole lot of you are librarians; some are teachers, some are reading specialists: got anything? Leave it in the comments.

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May 29, 2013

We Recommend: Books about...American Culture?

Well, faithful readers, we have reason to rejoice (I think so anyway) because this is yet another return visitor whom we have helped before. But now, it's different.

We live in Australia and are heading to America for three months at the end of this year. We will be based in Boston, but will also be exploring other parts of the country, and spending Thanksgiving with distant relatives in Arizona. Obviously in Australia (as everywhere) we get a fair bit of exposure to American culture, but I would be really interested in some ideas for the 8 - 10 year age group that deal interestingly with American history and culture, perhaps especially history relevant to Boston and New England. We have read the Little House series, and Caddie Woodlawn and quite a number of other regular recommendations on your website (Understood Betsy, Betsy-Tacy, lots of Judy Blume, the Penderwicks, Ramona et al). Your help is greatly appreciated.

OK, I absolutely know people will ahve excellent ideas on this one. But for me? There's only one real choice. It came to me in a blinding flash.

Is it too dorky for me to pick this? Probably yes. And yet! It's set in Concord, and it's about the Transcendentalists in New England, and the Alcotts, and Walden, and Thoreau...I just had no choice, can't you see that? For heaven's sake, it's my namesake, I couldn't just forsake it. (But maybe Little Women, too? Just because why not?)

Anyway, I believe (I hope?) that you guys have all sorts of other American, New England, Boston books for the 8- to 10-year-old crowd.

(Also, this cover in no way resembles any of the many I have owned, but it is so awesome and majestic and creepy that I had to put it here. Thanks, GoodReads!)

Any ideas? Put them in the comments, if you will.

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May 21, 2013

We Recommend: A Mysterious Request

Ah, we're back. It's been a while since we've had a We Recommend, and this one will challenge and perplex you, in the best possible way. Also, it comes from someone you have all been successful with in the past. But now he is (as we all are, inevitably) older and more complicated. Like so:

His reading is quite voracious and I have exhausted my list of ideas from my own childhood. He is 9 next month.
He has enjoyed all of the Harry Potter books and has read them independently (although the last couple I think had a lot of material that went over his head content-wise). He's currently racing through the Lemony Snicket series, and absolutely loving those.
He's not much into fantasy stuff, sci-fi or war. He loves anything to do with language (adored 'The Word Spy') and is keen on maths and music at school. Loves a good story.

Here's where I am caught: he loves Harry Potter and Lemony Snicket, but is not into fantasy, sci fi, or war. But...Lemony Snicket and Harry Potter? These are not realistic fiction by a long chalk. So I think we have a case of maybe he likes things that he thinks he doesn't like? At any rate, what matters is what will work, and so we can look at the books he enjoyed and from that we can deduce: he's a word kid. And he likes funny things.

I think we can all take a moment to meditate on how delightful these attributes are. And then we can try to think of things that will fit for the young gentleman, while not scaring him off with any wizards on the cover. I toyed with Septimus Heap. I considered Artemis Fowl. I even thought about Terry Pratchett, to whom he will make his way some time soon. But in the end, I went way WAY back, to the book all humorous word-lovers should spend some time with at one point or another.

Unless I have completely misread this young person, this should fit the bill nicely. It's funny! There's word play! It's awesome!

But of course, I might have misread him completely. Oooh, and should I have said Holes? I should probably have said Holes, right? Or Sideways Stories at Wayside School? But don't let me sit here torturing myself: please, in the comments, offer up some ideas, and possible alternate reads of his wishes, and get the kid something great to read!

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April 03, 2013

We Recommend: It's for Babies, You Guys!

This email came at a particularly opportune time for me, because Diana just turned...14. As in, 14 years old. As in, far closer to 20 than to being a baby. As in, I am not fully adjusted to this yet, because I am not so super-spectacular with handling change, and by the time I adjust she will be out of the house and Oh God!

I wish I were wiser.

At any rate, here is something delightful! Bear witness:

I have a 5 month old who loves to be read to. We spend a lot of our day reading board books (Eric Carle, Sandra Boynton, counting books galore) and I could desperately use some new material. He loves pop up books, lift the flap books and books with simple, colorful pictures. I thought Dr. Seuss would be good but those are a bit too long. Most of my go-tos for early readers don't have the right illustrations to really capture his attention (bright, bold). Any suggestions for this very early reader?

Remember? Picture books? Silliness? When your kid greeted your arrival with a look of utter surprise and bliss, even if it was just that you'd gone in the other room for a minute? (OK, and yes, had diapers and woke up in the night, and vomited copiously. And couldn't talk. True, true.)

Anyway, yes, Dr. Seuss is a lot of words for a five-month-old. And, full disclosure, in letting this writer know we would be addressing this email, I already gave the awesome Byron Barton a shout-out (though at that link they don't have his most awesome book, which is Machines at Work. I love that book so!

The only problem is, there are so many! Pat the Bunny (Daddy's scratchy face! Still sort of freaks me out!), Goodnight, Moon, The Big Red Barn, Goodnight, Gorilla—it goes on and on and on, and those are just the classics! Oh, and Duck Is Dirty! Diana was a big fan of Jamberry, too, and really anything with awesome, silly words. But for the one pick (before we rightfully dive into what I hope are the wide and deep array of suggestions in the comments), I have to go with the one that Diana "read" to Chestnut when Chestnut was tiny, the perfect and strange book we all loved. And it's about babies!

Image Courtesy Amazon (duh).

This book is so excellent! And the last page (spoiler alert!) is a silvered circle for a mirror, so the baby can adorably try to eat its own face.

But OK, enough gushing. If I promise not to complain about how I have a teenager anymore will you offer even better options in the comments?

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March 19, 2013

We Recommend: Read-Aloud for 13-Year-Old, with Not So Much Mushy, Kissy Stuff

This one will break your heart. Though maybe that's true only if you're the parent of a teenager? See here:

I have a 13 year old boy to whom I read every night, or we listen to books on tape. He likes John Flannagan's Ranger's Apprentice, Jonathan Stroud's Bartimeus Trilogy, Scott Westerfeld's steampunk Goliath, Behemoth and Leviathan, Percy Jackson etc. (which I barely survived).

We're looking for new books or series in which boys do things! Action, technology and survival skills get bonus points. So does well-written. The less mushy kissy stuff the better.

The idea that a 13-year-old boy is still letting his parent read to him fills me with a bittersweet envy and joy. I am so very happy for them, and so OF COURSE I want to find them books that will feed the beast, with lots of boys doing lots of things (except for—you know. Because who wants to hear about that with a parent?).

I fear, though, that I am out of my depth here. The first thing that occurred to me is something they have probably already read:

And somehow, once I thought of it, it was hard to think of anything else. It was like I had a finite amount of creative energy in my brain, and it yielded this, and then that was it. I have not weathered the time change very well is the truth. If I think harder, I guess maybe The Secrets of the Immortal Nicholas Flamel? But...I don't know. This is the one stuck in my head, so this is the one I am going with.

But YOU, kind readers, you are not hampered with my narrow mind. So give: what books can we recommend so that they can still read aloud (or listen together!) to books, even as the boy goes further down the road to teenager-hood? Put ideas in the comments, please!

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March 11, 2013

We Recommend: Feminist, Inclusive Historical Edition! Or: I Know Nothing

Well, this one is tricky, for me, because you actually have to know something and not just glibly natter on about, oh, literature and stuff. See here:

This may be beyond your scope as an east coaster, but I have noticed that in my daughter's school, as they have been studying westward migration (lewis & clark, gold rush), there are virtually no women or people of color in the curriculum. I know the Lucy Whipple book. And of course there is Sacajawea. But do you happen to know any good books, fiction or non-fiction, about women/girls in the western united states in the 1800s?

Oh dear! The west! See, this question comes to remind me that I don't really know anything.

It occurs to me that there must be many, many Native American narratives about this, and...I don't know any of them. Not to mention Asian Americans working on the railroads...about which I know nothing. And of course—well, the whole wide world, which for the moment seems far beyond me.

I am striving to convince myself that this is, indeed, because I am an east coast person, but I know it goes beyond that into Race and Children's Literature and Whose Story Is History, and on and on. So I did the only thing I could: I went to my collaborators. Diana, who is normally quick with the feminist answers, said "History? You'd better ask her," meaning Chestnut, and Chestnut, lover of brave, historical girls came up mostly empty. There is a book, she said, whose name is like Kate's Journey, except it isn't Kate's Journey, except it's sort of like that, and it's about a girl on the Oregon Trail. Or maybe it's about something different....

You get the picture. So I have my last-ditch efforts. 1) To give you this:

(Image courtesy Amazon (could you tell?))

She dresses as a boy, she goes to find her father in a boomtown, adventures ensue. Chestnut liked it a lot. It could help out. But really, I am relying more on 2) Hey, readers? Help! Got any ideas to round out the story here? Put them in the comments.

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February 27, 2013

We Recommend: Is There Life After Katie Woo?

Here's another side of the story. Just as you don't necessarily want your super-reading 8-year-old to be reading about making out, so too do the not-as-ready-to-read-right-now 8-year-olds to be reading about, you know, bunnies.

This is how I found out about Katie Woo:

I am an elementary librarian and I have two girls (third graders, but reading at the early second grade level) who have read all of the Katie Woo books, loved them and are struggling to find a new series. Any suggestions? I tried the series, Max and Zoe, but that hasn't captured their interest.

Thanks in advance, for any help that you can give me. They come to the LMC everyday looking for a new book, so I hope I can offer something soon that they will like! I want to keep them reading!

OK, people, they are coming EVERY DAY. Clearly, we have to do something. So I went and checked out Katie Woo. Here's what we're looking at:

Now I want you to take a look at those shoes, please. Those are some happening shoes. Those are the shoes that girl who is in third grade might want to read about, you know?

So, how do we find something that will be at a comfortable reading level for these young ladies, but will also be thrilling enough to keep them reading? My first thought was Iris and Walter (though—correct me if I'm wrong—isn't there a terrible movie about adult illiteracy with Robert DeNiro and Jane Fonda by the same name? I saw it on a plane 100 years ago). But then I worry, too, that those won't have enough pizazz. I want to offer these girls some pizazz. I guess they also might go for Fancy Nancy or one of those, but there needs to be some sass, is what I'm sensing. So, here goes: I am a little bit worried that the small type will stymie them, but at the same time: I think this might be love. Who am I talking about? Why, Babymouse of course.

I am not totally, totally sure, though, because nothing is worse than giving a kid a book that is too hard and turning them off.

So, librarians, teachers, parents, readers: what do you think? Got any sassy, exciting, easy-to-read books for a pair of young ladies? Apparently they need an answer soon.

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February 22, 2013

We Recommend: Something Wholesome

Ah, wholesomeness. I'm going to come right out and say, first, that this request is slightly complicated. I suppose, in part, because I do not feel that I am an entirely wholesome person. I mean to be, I do—but...well, before I get into it, read on.

I have an 8 year old granddaughter who is reading at roughly a 5th grade level. She is currently reading the old Nancy Drew books (pre-cell phone/computer - not the newer ones.) I am trying to find some books for her that are 5th/6th grade level, but with age appropriate/wholesome subject matter. Is there such a thing? I don't want anything with kissing boys, divorced parents or major dysfunction.

Thanks for any help you can give.

OK, now while I like to pretend I am a free and easy person, I must admit that I have a whole post dedicated to my horror and outrage at the new Nancy Drew's hot-n-heavy makeout sessions with Ned Nickerson. And while, I believe in freedom and lack of censorship etc, Ned Nickerson? It just...messed with a treasured childhood delusion. Illusion. Something.

On the other hand, avoiding kissing boys, divorced parents and major dysfunction in 5th or 6th grade might also be avoiding the reality of a child's life. On the other other hand (I have SO MANY hands), not everyone who can read at a 5th grade level is IN 5th grade, which is the whole point, is it not? This person is 8, she does not need to read about boy-kissing. Indeed, she probably does not want to. And on yet one last hand, a grandmother should be able to get her grandchild a book that she can talk about with her without blushing, and what makes different grandmother's blush is...well, it's different. Some will want to buy their granddaughters books about boys going through puberty so they can both squeal and scream, others will want to go more of the Adopted Jane route. And truly, I think both are pretty awesome.

So. Whatever shall we suggest so this granddaughter and grandmother can happily read and/or talk together?

What occurs to me mostly are books from the past. The Betsy-Tacy books are wonderful wonderful, and they grow and age with the characters, so they keep up as the readers grow older. But I want to think of something that honors the girl's interest in mysteries, while it also honors her grandmother's wishes as a book giver. Truly, every book I read as a girl (and loved!) is wholesome. Island of the Blue Dolphins, The Witch of Blackbird Pond, The Wolves of Willoughby Chase, Ballet Shoes...ah, it goes on and on. But I am going to go with my not always reliable gut here and go with more of an action-oriented sort of girl. A girl who is brave and true and wholesome and fun. That's right, Caddie Woodlawn.

I loved this book as a kid. I don't even know why, I just did, and all these strange small parts of it stay with me.

But I know that you most excellent people who read this blog can maybe do even better, right? Perhaps you know of another wholesome girl detective? Something else? Something to show a grandmother and her 8-year-old granddaughter a really good time. Put it in the comments, please!

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February 07, 2013

We Recommend: A Regular Girl, from "Now"

t's We Recommend, in which we use our superpowers to find readers the perfect book. Got a kid who needs a recommendation? Write us at thediamondinthewindow (at) gmail (dot) com with the age, reading tastes, favorite books, and any other relevant (or irrelevant) information, and we'll give it a shot. And really? All the good suggestions are in the comments.

Hold onto your hats, everyone, this might hurt your feelings a bit.

See, this one came in the form of a conversation, like so:

Here is what my 9-and-a-half year old just asked:

Mom, is there a book that is about a normal girl who is about my age or a little older--5th or 6th grade--who has adventures but not problems so much, kind of like Ramona (but I've read all those)

ME: How about Harriet the Spy?

D; I meant a modern girl, like from now.

ME: Harriet the Spy is from now.

D: Mom, no she's not. I mean like Ivy & Bean, except no offense but Ivy & Bean isn't well-written.

Got me stumped. You?

Ok, first let's get some things straight. Ramona the Pest and Harriet the Spy are from more or less the same historical period. Ramona was first published in 1968, Harriet the Spy in 1964. So we'll just see who's calling who not from now, missy!

But, at the same time...yeah. I mean, Harriet the Spy was one of my favorite books when I was a kid. And that may have had something to do with the fact that her life made some sort of sense to me. But now? I don't know, I think the absence of cell phones, googling—it's got to be noticeable to a kid.

So even though this made me think of a lot of "normal girl" novels—like, say, all of Judy Blume, and the Betsy-Tacy books—I will try to honor the desire for someone from now. Because while those are amazing (I think she would LOVE Betsy-Tacy), they are not, by any stretch, from now.

I turned, as I do, to Chestnut and Diana. Chestnut considered the Cobble Street Cousins. But, to address another sore point, I think her aversion to Ivy & Bean is more about its simplicity than any alleged poor writing. Though it could be that we just have different tastes. I will just put it out there that I, personally, find Ivy & Bean a delight to read (within reason). Then again, I have an aversion to the whole nomenclature of "well written" that is too complicated and weird to go into here. So I will just say: we think not, on the Cobble Street Cousins, as it might be too easy for her.

Which got me to thinking about Amber Brown. My hesitation? "not problems so much" Amber Brown has some problems, sort of? Hmm. And so, we came to this:

OK, yes: the first of the Anastasia books was written in 1979. But! There are more! There are lots! And one was written as recently as 1995! Yeesh. Maybe it should be Amber Brown? Still—I think she would like this.

Help me out, youth of today! Got anything more recent?

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