Mysteries

Mysteries seem to have become an extremely popular genre among the tween set. They have always held appeal, because mysteries are almost universally enjoyed, regardless of race, ethnicity, age or socio-economic status because everyone likes to be their own detective. In the case of tweens, this literary experience can be empowering since it allows them to solve the mystery as they read. Many of the books have tween or teen detectives to make it even easier for the reader to imagine themselves in the role and one-upping a bunch of clueless adults. What an awesome fantasy! This brand of escapism is especially important for self-esteem. The ability to picture themselves as a real detective, solving mysteries is a great way for them to start thinking about their real futures where they will ALL be solving problems of one kind or another. Life is a series of problems to be solved and especially in the workplace. Mysteries are great practice for the problems that may arise in school, a job or even personally. The methods used to slove them: gathering evidence, analyzing evidence and making connections are priceless skills that can be universally applied and fun to read about. This makes mystery reading educationally valuable and an easy sell to a reluctant reader.

When You Reach me

I found When You Reach Me to be somewhat confusing and I wonder if kids will be able to figure it out. I don't think that a book has to be completely understandable to be enjoyable but how much do readers need to understand in order to achieve enjoyment? How and when does this change as we get older? I think there are many more vague books published for adults than children and I realize that younger kids need a certain amount of clarity in their stories, but when can we begin to think in ways that allow us to enjoy books with loose ends, unclear plot lines or non-linear stories? I know many people who have never been able to enjoy those kinds of stories, and that is a literary preference that they've developed, but what books do kids read that could lead them in that direction? I believe there is little to no material available that treads the line into vague or non-linear that is appropriate for adolescents. If they aren't reading it as they develop their literary preferences, then when do they discover that kind of material? Maybe college or even high school, but it might be worth considering that tweens are capable of internalizing a lot more than society gives them credit. It wasn't my favorite book, but I think When You Reach Me serves a valuable function for kids just beginning to discover the vast diversity in literature and literary styles. I wonder what it could lead to in more sophisticated books.