I finished reading Chasing Charlie Duskinby Cath Crowley last night. I enjoyed it thoroughly. I like her voice. It is real. She captures the anguish of teenagers well and their realities and realisations, without making it too ‘adult’. It was also about grief and the loss of a parent as with Will by Maria Boyd. I loved her Gracie Faltrain character and recommend The Life and Times of Gracie Faltrain. Cath Crowley went to our school so I am always recommending her books to our kids. They are highly recommended by the students.
Lost Property by James Moloney was another book that was an honour book for the Childrens Book Council awards and it was great. My son (16)has also read it and he loved it too. James Moloney is getting better and better. I still love teaching ‘A Bridge to Wisemans Cove’ to my year 8’s. I think Lost Property is definately as was ‘No Worries’ for older readers.
The thing I loved most about these two books is that they showed how important families are to young people. So often I hear that teenagers are only interested in their friends and that their families are no longer important to them. I know my own children spend a lot less time at home now they have become ‘teenagers’, but young people really value their families. I think that is the biggest lesson I have learnt or realisation I have had becoming a teacher.
Latest YA Reading #2
Have just completed a couple of books quite quickly really. My son recommended to me Will by Maria Boyd. He loved it and I can see why. It was funny, current and dealt with grief. He (my son) quoted from it at a family dinner discussion when he felt I was stereotyping. I love it when he does that kind of thing. Makes me feel he is literate:-). I enjoyed it too.
The other book was Helicopter Man by Elizabeth Fensham, which won the Children’s Book Council of Australia award this year for younger readers. It had a similar theme as No Worries in some ways. I won’t go into it and spoil it for would be readers, but it too was enjoyable.
Once
I finished Once last night. It is a beautiful story and reminds me of the lovely Italian film ‘Life is Beautiful’. A bittersweet reminder that even in the most cruel circumstances, our perception of our experience is what defines us. We enrich others by sharing a positive view of the world, encouraging them to see a more magical and loving reality.