Hi! Yesterday, during study hall, some of the 8th graders started commenting on how all the books they were required to read this year were really depressing. The 7th graders chimed in and said they felt the same, which took me aback because I had been trying to avoid precisely that syndrome. But sure enough, nearly every book I mentioned, they had solid reasons why the book was sad (even if ultimately hopeful and optimistic). They also said that was no problem, that all good books are probably that way, that they wouldn't be interesting otherwise.
Well. There's something to chew on. Would you all agree that "good literature" (whatever that means... that's a whole different conversation!) is inevitably sad? As you look at your own group novel choices, do you see the same syndrome we have in our school? And, if it does indeed exist, is this a syndrome which "should" be broken and if so how? Take care, Bill Ivey Stoneleigh-Burnham School _______________________________________________ The Literacy Workshop ListServ http://www.literacyworkshop.org To unsubscribe or modify your membership please go to http://literacyworkshop.org/mailman/options/lit_literacyworkshop.org. Search the LIT archives at http://snipurl.com/LITArchive
