We started with our novel, Saving Winslow, by Sharon Creech. We had an interesting range of opinions on this short novel for young (probably grades 1-3) readers. One reader wanted to know more about Winslow, a newborn mini-donkey, who she felt should have been the main character, since his name was in the title, rather that the young boy, Louie, who devoted his energy to ensuring that Winslow would live. She also was a bit put off by the inclusion of 49 very short chapters, which she felt broke up the story too frequently. Others felt that this book, with its short chapters and very spare but concise writing which nevertheless included emotions and ideas, was very accessible to very young readers, who might be thrilled to finish a "thick" 165-page book for the first time. Many of us felt that the writing was perfect for this age group, and that there were several particular passages that were beautifully constructed. Some readers had questions about the actual time and place of the story, while others felt that didn't really matter, since the crux of the story was about perseverance, finding commonalities between people who seemed different, and dealing with loss. We all loved the care and concern that Louie had for his older brother, Gus, who was away in the military, even though we didn't know exactly where he was....on a nearby base or in an actual war. We also liked the relationship between Louie and his neighbor Nora, who seemed a bit strange at first, but, as the story developed, began to communicate more with Louie and share his feelings for Winslow. Many of us were put off by the fire at a grouchy neighbor's house near the end, and felt that it didn't really add much to the story. One reader, who had spent time on a farm as a young girl and had cared for sickly newborn animals, was completely enthralled by the story, to which she could completely relate. It was another example of how readers' own life and experiences inform their reactions to different stories.
We all agreed that the illustrations in The Undefeated, by Kwame Alexander and illustrated by Kadir Nelson, were gorgeous and astounding. We had mixed feelings regarding the text. Some felt that the marriage of the text and illustrations was perfect, while others felt that the text -- without the illustrations -- could not stand on its own. Many said that they liked how the book began, as it described, in poetic form, the trauma, passion, perseverance, and accomplishments throughout African-American history in the U.S., but some began to be a bit put off by the fact that the actual people mentioned later were athletes and music stars...where were the writers, scientists, political figures, philosophers, historians, etc. who had contributed so much to our culture? We felt that this was not a typical 'children's picture book,' and that it would be most useful for Grades 5 and above, as well as for adults, and we agreed that the 'Back Matter,' which identified in greater detail the historical figures and events depicted in either words or pictures throughout would be helpful for readers interested in doing further research to learn more.
