Reading Children's Literature

There's something about my children having a required reading list on which there are authors I haven't read. Many parents feel the same "oh-that's-a-good-book-dear-you-read-it" avoidance of classic literature mixed with a responsible curiosity to know what's contained in those popular books and on that school reading list.

I feel guilty if I haven't read what my children are required to read. It feels like one of those "do as I say, not as I do" situations. Literature can bridge the generation gap - it has represented a common bond and culture between people since writing began. It gives is a common ground on which to understand each other's world-views and experiences, since obviously having all experiences is impossible. In short, it makes knowing "the other" possible.

That "other" person in your house is your teen. Knowing what's in the popular literature so attractive to teens can help us get inside their minds and their generation a little bit better. Back in the day it was Love Story and Jonathan Livingston Seagull, Mr. and Mrs. Bo-Jo Jones, or Flowers in the Attic and Stephen King's works, and classic pieces like The Catcher in the Rye, A Separate Peace and The Outsiders.

Today it's the big serial installments that are attracting kids - Harry Potter, Eragon, Twilight, and Percy Jackson and the Olympians, to name a few. While elements and themes are a bit different than in the past, for the most part the issues that have always attracted teens and pre-teens remain the same: love, identity, good vs. evil, magical thinking, and mystery. The popularity of Nancy Drew and The Hardy Boys mysteries

points out that the need for teens to explore and understand the world, battle evil, outwit grown-ups, and find their own voice is still prevalent in young adult works.

If there are novels on your child's reading list that you haven't read, try one. You might be pleasantly surprised by the quality of the writing in both new and classic works. Plus, you'll have something in common to talk about...

Happy reading,

Melony