Great Middle Grade Reads discussion
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Book of the Month for JUNE is a choice of TWO!!
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I read The Book Thief a couple years ago -- it's a very good book, but I would definitely peg it for a teen/adult audience. Death is the narrator of this story about Nazi Germany, and as you might expect, there are some intense scenes that might be too much for younger or more sensitive kids. Also, the writing is fairly complex and sophisticated.
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If you're using the main site (online) click 'reply' to their post on a thread, and you'll get the italics at the start of this. If you're using the App it might not sure up, I don't know - but don't press 'enter' until you've finished your message - it'll wrap the text for you :)
Interesting question. I think it's great for MG readers to be challenged by complex and sophisticated writing. I was reading Dickens and Jane Eyre at that age, and I write for gifted MG myself. However, I was surprised to see it on the list as I had thought of it as an adult novel. I would love to know how many younger readers have read this and what they made of it. (Slides over to reviews to check it out.)
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I tried reading The Book Thief and didn't make it past the first chapter. Too heavy and depressing. I would definitely not recommend to 8-12 year olds.
OH NO! I hang my head in shame. I thought I'd remembered it on the Choice Awards list for MG. I didn't realize the topic and from the comments above I wouldn't have made it past the first chapter either. Apologies for messing up the vote.
How interesting. In my local library, The Book Thief can be found on both Teenage (11-14yrs) section as well as general adult. I even wondered if it was like I am Malala, having both an adult and junior version. But both have arrive for me and they are the same. Bone Jack is also in the children's section.
I have noticed that our BotM have skewed a bit, erm, challenging, and I'm glad we're trying to keep the focus on books that can be read by younger children. Thank you for re-running the poll.Sure, there are 12 yo's that read adult books, but that's not the point. Let's focus on books for 'average' readers ages 8-12 or so. Teen and YA are different, and there are other groups for them.
(After all, by definition, Teen is 13+, and YA, well, we know that's a failed designation because 13 is definitely not an adult, not even a young adult. But let's keep this group for *children's* books. Use the designation 'Tween, if it helps. The age group between pre-schoolers and puberty.)
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But I'm relieved at your support for the aim to keep it to a recognised MG book. Thanks.
I might have voted for Bone Jack, actually... don't remember....
Middle Grade encompasses books that are closer to chapter books ranging to complex novels with layered plots and deeper themes. There is quite a range. I think the Book Thief can be a MG novel, however, I think it is closer YA
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Both maturity and reading skill level vary - and change - enormously in that time. We just have to help readers (and their parents) find good books that will feed their minds in situations where they are reading alone. Reading a book in class means they have on-hand discussion for any ideas they find controversial (aka upsetting). So I think we should bear the difference in mind when we nominate books.
Austin wrote: "I can understand this decision if the key focus of this group is toward the younger end of Middle Grade, perhaps the 7 to 9 year olds.But Middle Grade also encompasses books for older children in..."
Excellent blog post, Austin. As you say, the MG/YA boundary is fluid, but I hadn't considered how the protaganist's role works within that.
Jemima wrote: "My understanding is the general age range of middle grade is 9 to 12 years old. That's why I stuck a PG warning on some of my later books, since I strayed into 13 yr-old territory.Both maturity a..."
Yes, there is an enormous range of skills and maturity within this age group. I would hope to see that reflected in the book choices here. It would be a shame to apply the filter 'average'.
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The re-run poll gave us a tie between The War that Saved My Life and When You Reach Me. Both got 20% of the vote.
I considered giving myself a tie break vote, but since I'd already voted for one of them, and I'd been watching the ebb and flow of voting closely this week, I decided to let us read either - or both!! I know I can get one from my library and not the other, so I'll just do one.
Thank you all for voting again, it looks like everyone did, from the numbers plus the members who've joined in the last week!
SO THERE WILL BE TWO BOTM THREADS FOR JUNE. Please post your comments on the correct one!
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Great Middle Grade Reads
Books mentioned in this topic
The War That Saved My Life (other topics)When You Reach Me (other topics)
The Book Thief (other topics)
We had an exceptionally large number of votes this month, but the winner The Book Thief by Marcus Zusak, with 26.4% of the vote, Is NOT LISTED AS AN MG BOOK.
I read this last year, in an adult bookclub, but I'm never too sure where books fit in the adult-child continuum. I should have checked this earlier - but there is no listing of it for MG or children in the Goodreads tags.
Rebecca did raise a concern about it in the nomination thread. So,
I need a decision, folks - should this be disallowed as a BOTM for MG readers?
While we're deciding this (please post your decision below - yes to allow it, no to reject it) please vote again for the BOTM for June, which is open till June 7th.
Sorry about this.