The Diamond in the Window

We Recommend: Chapter Book for Thoughtful 7-Year-Old

It’s We Recommend! In which we post a request that's been sent to us, and do our best to get that person the right book. Know a kid who needs a book to read? Send us (thediamondinthewindow (at) gmail (dot) com) his or her likes, dislikes, favorites, quirks, and any other reading information that might be helpful, and we will think on it, and pose it to our oh-so-helpful readers. And look in the comments—all the best recommendations are there.

I am in California! Which is nuts, but extremely nice at the same time. And last night I had the rarest of all We Recommend scenarios, the one in which I meet a person, who in this case has a 7-year-old, and my excellent friend says to her, "Ask her! She'll know the right book!" And I try to come up with something.

So what we have here, friends, is not a letter or email, but a vague, half-remembered, probably inaccurate reporting of a conversation, like so:

My 7-year-old son loves to read, and we're looking for chapter books for him, but he's also easily scared, so nothing too scary. We were thinking of Harriet the Spy, is it going to go over his head?

So first we have to bow down and acknowledge the overall awesomeness of Harriet the Spy, which is a wonderful book, and which he would certainly love. And also maybe we should make time to notice that we have forgotten whether he likes fantasy, or realistic books, or what (oops. Our excuse = jet lag). Suffice it to say that he reads a lot of chapter books already, and is hungry for more.

Onwards. I've been thinking, first of all, that of course he should read Harriet the Spy, because everyone should read Harriet the Spy, whether they get all the nuances or not. It's just fun, and he can reread it when he's 11 and understand more. But. What else should he read?

It seems to me that he is of that age and disposition when the classics make all the sense in the world. For instance, The Trumpet of the Swan and Stuart Little are long and rich and absorbing, but not at all scary. For other fun, I mentioned Secrets of Droon. And then this morning, as I hung around at 5am drinking coffee that was WAY too strong (can you tell? Is it totally obvious?) I thought: heavens! He should read this!

I know there are all sorts of opinions on which is best, but if you want the honest truth (and who doesn't?): this is the best one. The big bladder catch! The smoking of the ham! Pa! Ma! Maple sugar candy made in the snow! All of it.

What's that, you say? He's already read that? Well, that's entirely possible isn't it. Which is why it is SO IMPERATIVE that you put your own suggestions for what this literate young person should read in the comments.

For the Boys (and Girls)

I rode in a car with my nephews last week, and Readers, I have learned much. I have long known (and cherished knowing) that there are books out there that speak in a particular way to everyone, but I saw this one up close and personal, and...wow. I give you:

Can you guess what it's about? I bet you can.

My excellent nephews were listening to the audio book, and they couldn't wait to get back in the car to listen to it at any and every opportunity. I was treated to the extended play-by-play that is the book's last section: the Big Game. A lot of passages like "he bounced a pass off the backboard!" They were rapt. 

This is exactly the sort of book that needs to find its way into the hands of more kids, because they will be so happy. Kids who can follow play by play and know what it means (unlike me). Kids who are all about whether the travel team will win the big game. 

Do you have or know this sort of kid? Find this book—there are apparently tons of them, lots of team books—and give it to him. Or her. I am endlessly happy these exist, because we will all, at one time or another, come across the person who needs it, and we'll know just what to do.

Oh, There Are So Many Good Books!

I have come to the place on the path where every book I pick up makes me happy. There is no good explanation for this, and yet it is true. I suspect that something in me has eased, because I'm even loving semi-crappy books. They seem friendly and well meaning. Am I going soft? Probably, but in any case I must share, because oh my god, I'd sort of forgotten what a pleasure reading could be, I feel like someone sent me ten pounds of the best chocolates and I'm just moving my way through the room where there are tons of excellent chocolate boxes lying around open, and each one (almost) is delicious.

So! Here you go:

Oh my god, so amazingly interesting and strange and full of things I did not know and am so happy to know now.

I didn't even love the first one, I only liked it a lot. But this one? I loved. LOVED.

 

I'm not even done with this yet, but the beginning has been so wonderful even if she breaks my heart and doesn't end it well, that's OK, because I read that wonderful beginning. 

So strange and sad, and great to read. I am still sad about this. Which I imagine would piss off the author, but there it is.

 

 

Oh! Oh! Oh! It was so strange and beautiful. I cannot explain why it affected me, and thank you so much ChrisinNY! I loved this.

Oh how I love a hard-boiled mystery! Even when it's not exactly a mystery! Oh, despite your outmoded and sexist ideas, and your hot muggy descriptions when I'm already hot, how I love you, John D. MacDonald!

So here's the thing that's killing me: there is another one, another book and I cannot remember what it is and it's driving me crazy. Ah well, I have to hope I will remember it, because I think it's what delivered me into this new, excellent world, where I am enjoying everything I read, even books that aren't so great. It's just—it's just such a pleasure!

OK: I've showed you mine. Will you show me yours?