tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467906296798575973.post615828770496911234..comments2023-11-02T04:29:32.576-05:00Comments on YA Sleuth: Cliches in middle-grade books for reluctant readers, and why they need to go YA Sleuthhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12371132883359264412noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467906296798575973.post-25929027798741649192014-01-21T12:38:38.647-06:002014-01-21T12:38:38.647-06:00Since I don't seem to have an email for you I ...Since I don't seem to have an email for you I will put this here. I have an idea for a YA dystopian series but I am wondering if the market is just too flooded for another one. Before I get into it any further, I thought I would ask. I know you are in middle-school and not YA but I thought you might know. Thanks! My email is aa2579@wayne.edu when you have a minute. Pattipattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467906296798575973.post-49509657479884189302014-01-19T13:47:43.037-06:002014-01-19T13:47:43.037-06:00Humor is huge, absolutely. Though I think it somet...Humor is huge, absolutely. Though I think it sometimes masks the lack of story... The line between funny and offensive is fine--and definitely in the eye of the beholder :-) <br /><br />More mysteries, yes! :-) YA Sleuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12371132883359264412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467906296798575973.post-58315782603539933132014-01-19T13:13:52.080-06:002014-01-19T13:13:52.080-06:00I read the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid and I can se...I read the first Diary of a Wimpy Kid and I can see its appeal to kids, but I felt bad about the way the main character treated his neighbor and friend. I know a lot of kids who love the books and laugh out loud when they read them. I am glad there are books for all kids an personality types, but I would like to see more mysteries and books that show kids using their imaginations. :) <br /><br />Thanks for sharing. <br />~JessDMShttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04202502753961748992noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467906296798575973.post-21877016025295018262014-01-19T12:15:02.531-06:002014-01-19T12:15:02.531-06:00Boys seem to require humor in huge doses. Girls no...Boys seem to require humor in huge doses. Girls not at all. pattinase (abbott)https://www.blogger.com/profile/02916037185235335846noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467906296798575973.post-22697621635169399702014-01-18T16:13:49.205-06:002014-01-18T16:13:49.205-06:00I've had the same experience: kids instinctive...I've had the same experience: kids instinctively follow that three-act story structure, and come up with great character arcs. It's fun to watch how excited they get to come up with their own story.<br /><br />Thanks for sharing your experience here, Victoria!YA Sleuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12371132883359264412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467906296798575973.post-71318894355201477862014-01-17T08:12:02.388-06:002014-01-17T08:12:02.388-06:00This post hit the nail on the head. I taught at a ...This post hit the nail on the head. I taught at a school for gifted kids for several years and we used to plot out plays and stories all the time. What was so wonderful about the experience was how A) good their stories were B) they were always, very naturally plotted in a classic three-act structure C) how sophisticated and in tune with their emotions the kids were. The stories were always positive and followed a hero's journey. There were delicious bad guy and girl characters, but doing the right thing was a very important theme for them - and I gave them free reign. Even the older kids, who were interested in a grittier storyline - wanted their characters to do the right thing and definitely wanted to follow a plot. They just wanted high stakes and to bring their characters back from the brink in order to deliver that "dare to be great" moment. Thanks again for the post.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13330352148727273514noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467906296798575973.post-45903290245671320362014-01-16T09:55:49.425-06:002014-01-16T09:55:49.425-06:00Yikes, that's not a good moment... It's ha...Yikes, that's not a good moment... It's hard, because you want funny and entertaining, but not *that* way.YA Sleuthhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12371132883359264412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8467906296798575973.post-56888247557252484092014-01-16T08:13:33.682-06:002014-01-16T08:13:33.682-06:00But some of the attitude I see in these books is k...<i>But some of the attitude I see in these books is kind of... Disrespectful toward adults, or fellow kids that are portly/foreign/homely-looking.</i><br /><br />Thank goodness someone is saying it. My oldest is four, and right now everything is monkey-see-monkey-do. All of this dialogue from seemingly innocuous shows and movies takes on a new light when repeated by a small person in everyday life. For instance, the phrase "you old bag" from <i>101 Dalmatians</i> was randomly thrown at a stranger in Target. A female stranger. Much parental embarrassment ensued.Loren Eatonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12488412683340389286noreply@blogger.com