Summer Reading Lists:Contemporary vs Classics
Posted by Marsha on May 25, 2010
Summer is upon us and I am lining up my summer reading list. My list is always ambitious as I spend the year jotting down titles. It’s made up of everything from professional books and best sellers, to non-fiction (into where our food comes from & brain research lately) and brain candy! I also like to read at least one book my kids would like; one contemporary book that I’ve seen them carrying around or talking about. Or one they haven’t found so that I may be the one to recommend it next year. Needless to say, I never get through my entire list, but that’s OK. Making the list is as much fun as reading through it!
Picking a contemporary young adult book always reminds me about the debate as to whether we should teach classics or teach contemporary literature. Personally, I wish there was enough time to do both because although I hate the thought of giving up my favorites, I also have my favorite “new” titles.
The truth is, I like reading where my kids are reading. I like knowing what they are into reading. I like knowing what is important to them and how they relate to their world. I know the themes in my favorites are timeless, but my kids don’t know that and they are not in a place to believe me. So, I have to decide what is really important- that they read the books that are dear to me, or that they read?
What I really want my kids to get out of reading is to experience the pleasure of reading. The unconscious addiction, the getting lost in the pages, the wanting to get to the end but never wanting it to be over. I want them to experience the love of reading so much that they, too, take pleasure in creating their own summer reading lists.
BookSpot is a great website for book reviews, awards, literary criticism and recommendations. Click here to go directly to the young adult recommendations
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