Saturday, November 17, 2012

Gary Schmidt on Books and Reading

I love Gary Schmidt's books and he speaks a lot of sense here about reading "controversial" books.


1 comment:

Janet said...

I enjoyed that. Thanks.

I think they simplify the question of influence. Sure, kids don't get on a broom and jump out the window when they read Harry Potter. But isn't the real nature of the influence books can have more subtle than that?

I'm not sure I agree that as a parent I struggle with the idea of my kid reading YA lit and wrestling with the trauma of growing up. I do struggle sometimes with this culture's tendency to prescribe when it should happen.

I like what he says about responsibility for the statement your book is making.