BELOVED BOOKS
I intend these book recommendations for parents seeking to encourage their children toward stories that are rich in character and address themes that encourage the emotional development of children in mid/upper elementary school or middle school. Needless to say, the titles I share with you here are but a few of the many wonderful books that have influenced my life and my writing. They are presented here in no particular order.
A Boy Called Bat - Elana K. Arnold - 2017 - The first in a series of three books about a third-grader named Bat (actually, his initials). Bat is a lovable but strong-willed boy on the autism spectrum, a topic the author handles deftly. The three-book series chronicles Bat’s adventures as he struggles to turn a newborn skunk kit into an acceptable house pet, with the cautious guidance of his veterinarian mother. The stories bring the reader into Bat’s life at home and at school. The characters explore friendship and family dynamics, while introducing the reader to a child with clear but rather mild autistic tendencies. There are many topics for discussion here.
Bridge to Terabithia - Katherine Paterson - 1977 - Newbery Award winner in 1978. Leslie Burke and Jesse Aarons are neighbors who become close friends, creating an imaginary place they name Terabithia. It is a warm story about friendship, and it includes the death of one of these children. The two main characters’ friendship is atypical, and each of the children is carefully drawn and not burdened by stereotypes. The book has been criticized for featuring death as a turning point in the plot. More important, the book is a classic!
Zero Tolerance - Claudia Mills - 2014 - Seventh grader Sierra Shepard is, as usual, enjoying success in school when she accidentally breaks a rule for which her school principal has a zero tolerance policy. That is, any weapon brought into school will automatically involve immediate suspension and an expulsion hearing. The story follows Sierra as she tries to work her way
through this dilemma, involving her (and a paring knife and apple in her lunch bag) with the school administration and some of the school’s bad boys. The tone of the story is relatively light-hearted for such a serious topic, but the reader is presented with moral issues about rules and how they are enforced.
Because of Winn Dixie - Kate DiCamillo - 2000 - Opal Buloni is a ten-year-old girl who has recently moved to a small town in Florida with her father. From a visit to the Winn Dixie market in this new town, Opal comes home with a big old stray dog whom she names Winn Dixie. And, while Opal is lonely and missing her mother, her connection to Winn Dixie allows her to befriend a host of local characters. The author explores the power of friendship and family ties, as well as creating a lovable character in the dog-loving Opal. The book was a Newbery Honor book in 2000.
Chester and Gus - Cammie McGovern - 2017 - Chester (a dog) has always wanted to become a service dog, but he fails his certification test. A family decides to adopt Chester as the doggy-companion for their ten-year-old son, Gus, who has autism. The story is told - remarkably - from the dog's point of view, including amazing insights into Gus within his world of autism. No surprise, the author is the mother of a son with autism.