I'm reading one of my son's books: The Fire Within, by Chris D'Lacey. It is a tale of David, a college student, and the people of the house in which he rents a room, Liz and her daughter, Lucy. It is also a tale of dragons and squirrels (perhaps more squirrels than dragons!)
It's pretty easy reading for me, and seems suitable for a 2nd to 5th grade student. At times I find the prose awkward: There are some very neat sentences in the book, like when at one point two people 'exchanged a little eyebrow traffic.' But, the sentences appear more like gems in a desert than as part of a connected scene. D'Lacey alternately refers to the protagonist as David and 'the tenant' – for no apparent reason other than to avoid referring to him continually as 'David'. Switching between the familiar and the unfamiliar is plain awkward when the surrounding context has not changed.
However, we read stories for more than smooth prose. We read to learn what happens to the characters. As the story-worthy events of our lives change us from who we were to who we are, we read to see how the characters will gain and lose, grow, and change as the story unfolds.
On this level, The Fire Within does much better. David is a rocks and minerals college student (geologist), and through Lucy and the squirrels she wants to save, he develops an increased appreciation for animals. This leads to his meeting a girl his age, Sophie, who works at a local animal shelter that cares for wounded wild animals. Their budding friendship continues to change his views. And, although he apparently has no difficulty typing his college reports, again, Liz, Lucy, and the dragons nudge him to type stories of his own, something he contends he cannot do. David's skills and world are expanding before our eyes.
That's not bad for any book. It certainly lifts these (a trilogy) out of mediocrity, and makes them worthy of the Scholastic label. As a bonus, my son is enjoying them immensely (I caught him reading under the covers last night with his headlamp!)
Your son is reading under the covers! That is so cool. I remember reading when I was supposed to be asleep. He must be reading at an advanced level, though. Doesn't it make you want to write YA books?
ReplyDeleteI'm working towards that - this blog is a starting point to get me to write regularly, and evaluate why a book keeps me interested, or why not. I've got some ideas rolling around, hopefully I get them written before he heads off to college! And, yes, he's reading 3 grades up.
ReplyDeleteThose little LED headlamps are a boon for under the covers sorts of activities...:)