What Are They Reading for Fun?
This article originally appeared in SLJ’s Extra Helping. Sign up now!
compiled by Marlene Charnizon -- School Library Journal, 2/27/2008
It’s a given: Word gets around, but who knows where it started? Everyone everywhere is reading “The Spiderwick Chronicles,” and with good reason beyond the release of the movie. Scott Westerfeld’s titles turned up again in our survey, and, no surprise, the “Alex Rider” books. Still, though, there are regional favorites.
Maryann Owen, Racine Public Library, WI:
In one word: Series. Our readers are drawn to books with a tie-in to movies and TV shows, such as “The Spiderwick Chronicles” (S & S). Also popular are fantasy titles, including Rick Riordan’s books about Percy Jackson and the Olympians, beginning with The Lightning Thief (Hyperion, 2005); Scott Westerfeld’s Uglies, Pretties (both S & S, 2005), et al; and Stephenie Meyer’s vampire novels (Little, Brown). Kids and adults alike are anxiously awaiting the third Christopher Paolini book, Brisingr, sequel to Eragon (2003) and Eldest (2005, both Knopf). Paul Langan’s realistic fiction series “Bluford” (Townsend) has a wide readership in this area, as do some of the old standards, The Boxcar Children, Nancy Drew, and the Hardy Boys. Biographies circulate well, including the “Hip-Hop” series (Mason Crest), which features brief information on popular recording artists.
Amelia Jenkins, Juneau Public Library, AK:
Among younger readers, a big favorite is Cindy Lou Aillaud’s Recess at 20 Below (Alaska Northwest, 2005). They also love the artwork of Evon Zerbetz in The Blueberry Shoe by Ann Dixon (1999) and Ten Rowdy Ravens by Susan Ewing (2005, both Alaska Northwest). Anything about penguins, a pig named Olivia, or by Mo Willems is also popular right now. In early spring, Alaska has dogsled fever. A number of picture books fuel the addiction. Favorites include Libby Riddles’s Storm Run (Sasquatch, 2002) and Barbara Joosse’s Wind-Wild Dog (Holt, 2006). Like young women everywhere, teenage girls in Juneau are all atwitter over Stephenie Meyer’s vampire romances. Graphic novels are always a big hit with the boys. Southeast Alaska even has its own. Strong Man by Ishmael Hope and Dimi Macheras (AASB/Alaska Ice) is based on a Tlingit legend with parallels to modern adolescence.
Pat Leach, Lincoln City Libraries, NE:
Throughout the branches, children are snapping up anything about fairies, princesses, dinosaurs, and vampires. We can’t seem to stock enough of Dora and her cousin Diego, despite our best efforts. Jeff Kinney’s Diary of a Wimpy Kid (Abrams, 2007) is developing a strong following. The popular “Spiderwick Chronicles” (S & S) is enjoying extra attention because of the movie. Adventure series, like James Patterson’s “Maximum Ride” (Little, Brown) and Anthony Horowitz’s “Alex Rider” (Philomel) continue to be popular. Our older readers can’t get enough of Stephenie Meyer’s “Twilight” series (Little, Brown). We see lots of action on the manga shelves, especially Masashi Kishimoto’s “Naruto” series (Viz Media). As ever, readers throughout our system are clamoring for the nominees for the Golden Sower Award, which is Nebraska’s children’s choice award, to be announced in April. Two titles on the list that have been especially popular are Janice Repka’s The Stupendous Dodgeball Fiasco (Dutton, 2004) and Janet Stevens’s The Great Fuzz Frenzy (Harcourt, 2005).
