Recently, for another work related task, I needed to re-read some classic works of literature for young adults. Or, in some cases, to read them for the first time.
One of the titles I’d never read was Katherine Paterson’s Jacob Have I Loved . This, the 1981 Newbery winner, is the story of two sisters growing up on a crabbing island in the Chesapeake Bay. The book beautifully touches on first crushes, sibling rivalry, family dynamics, and each story is told with equal power and love, right up to the highly moving ending. Truly, my synopsis cannot do it justice.
Such a big part of the children’s literature canon is this book, that to be honest, I was convinced once I started reading it, I’d realize I HAD read it, and just forgotten, but I don’t think that was the case. I would have been in high school when it came out, and probably not paying too much attention to children’s books at that point. And then, as I began my children’s literature career, I went back and read so many books I’d missed as a child, but somehow, this one never found it’s way to my nightstand.
Honestly, the same thing happens with adult classics too. There are so many adult titles that I’ve just never had occasion to read - in the last year alone I’ve read A Confederacy of Dunces (also given an award in 1981, although it was the Pulitzer Prize.) and Atlas Shrugged. I know enough to have been able to talk halfway intelligently about either of these books, but until this year, they’d just never risen to the top.
Non-librarians are often thrilled to know they’ve read something I haven’t, and usually try to convince me to read them (The Great Gatsby will probably get read someday, Moby Dick, on the other hand, is doubtful.) But when pressed, nearly everyone will have a title in which they say, “I’ve always meant to read that.”
I’d love to know what titles have just always passed you by. Because even as technology becomes more and more important, those old classics still have their power as fabulous works of literature. Maybe we can all agree to read something that we “should have” read a long time ago. Make it your New Year’s Resolution!
One of the titles I’d never read was Katherine Paterson’s Jacob Have I Loved . This, the 1981 Newbery winner, is the story of two sisters growing up on a crabbing island in the Chesapeake Bay. The book beautifully touches on first crushes, sibling rivalry, family dynamics, and each story is told with equal power and love, right up to the highly moving ending. Truly, my synopsis cannot do it justice.
Such a big part of the children’s literature canon is this book, that to be honest, I was convinced once I started reading it, I’d realize I HAD read it, and just forgotten, but I don’t think that was the case. I would have been in high school when it came out, and probably not paying too much attention to children’s books at that point. And then, as I began my children’s literature career, I went back and read so many books I’d missed as a child, but somehow, this one never found it’s way to my nightstand.
Honestly, the same thing happens with adult classics too. There are so many adult titles that I’ve just never had occasion to read - in the last year alone I’ve read A Confederacy of Dunces (also given an award in 1981, although it was the Pulitzer Prize.) and Atlas Shrugged. I know enough to have been able to talk halfway intelligently about either of these books, but until this year, they’d just never risen to the top.
Non-librarians are often thrilled to know they’ve read something I haven’t, and usually try to convince me to read them (The Great Gatsby will probably get read someday, Moby Dick, on the other hand, is doubtful.) But when pressed, nearly everyone will have a title in which they say, “I’ve always meant to read that.”
I’d love to know what titles have just always passed you by. Because even as technology becomes more and more important, those old classics still have their power as fabulous works of literature. Maybe we can all agree to read something that we “should have” read a long time ago. Make it your New Year’s Resolution!