Sad, no. But I think a good novel has to have a conflict, and I think early adolescents are likely to see conflict as sad. They do not have the same perspective as adults, and I think they are more likely to view more events as sad. They may also lack the vocabulary to express exactly what is going on in a book. Jan
On Tue, 24 Apr 2007, Bill IVEY wrote: > 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 > _______________________________________________ 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
