While in Michigan in March, grandson Malcolm excitedly told us about a book his teacher had just finished reading to his class. The book had a "cliff hanger" ending and is the first in a series called the Embers books. He is now reading the second in the series, called
THE PEOPLE OF SPARKS.
His interest in these science fiction books triggered a memory. Son Rob got "turned on" to reading when he began reading science fiction. At the time, I was taking a class at Baylor in Children's Literature. I read about a series by John Christopher called The Tripods, and so I checked out of the library the first in that series,
THE WHITE MOUNTAINS. Reading that book was the beginning of a passion for science fiction that lasted until Rob was about 14 or perhaps older.
When I got back home in March, I learned that the Christopher series has been in print continuously since they were written in the 70s. Naturally, then, I ordered them for Malcolm. Since getting back to Michigan this month, I read that book that Rob had loved so much. Not usually a fan of science fiction, I was captivated by this page-turner. Yesterday Malcolm and I had a long conversation about science fiction literature. I told him enough, I hope, about the Tripods series to inspire him to read THE WHITE MOUNTAINS, when he's finished with the Embers series. What fun to talk books with my grandchildren! And any of my followers with elementary-age sons or grandsons, I can highly recommend these two series!
thanks for sharing these books with Mally
ReplyDeleteGlad to have these titles in a place where I can find them some day. That is why I love blogs. One can revisit. It is so wonderful that you get to talk to the boys about their books, visit their classrooms and watch them hit homeruns!
ReplyDeleteI too loved science fiction as a child - after Nancy Drew and the Bobbsey Twins - and dog and horse books - they filled my days. I think I loved sf more than my own children did. I think the GRANDS will be glad to have these titles. Thanks, Alice.
ReplyDeleteI also read the Tripods series as a Reading Specialist in U City (for 4 years). By this time Sharif was too young and Wade was too old for them. Wade read everything in sight while he was in school. He still enjoys science and fantasy fiction among other things. I sent Zachary The Giver a couple of years ago, and he called me up to talk about the ending.
ReplyDeleteThe Giver is another all-time favorite of mine! I will soon write another blog about other favorite books for children or "young adults"--some books that were loves of mine in my own or my children's childhoods, and then others that I discovered while teaching Children's Lit one year at BU! Oh, and son Rob? He now reads almost exclusively non-fiction, in particular, philosophy! Great for his dad; not so good for me! I miss these book talks with Rob, but can now have them with Malcolm and Lia (and the other grandsons, as they get older!)
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