Saturday, October 28, 2017

Adventures of a Part-time Bookselling Author

This will be a bit of a ranting session, though I have a feeling that many of you will agree with me in this subject matter.
Today has been a surprisingly busy day in the shop on this quite chilly, gray, rainy Saturday, which is wonderful! We've been able to give lots of great suggestions and had great conversations with our bookies. A sweet older couple from Cambridge, England stopped in the shop. 
Later this afternoon, a father approached the counter with a copy of The Original Adventures of Hank the Cowdog, which I loved as a child, and I told him so. He kind of sighed a bit and said, "Yeah, my son wasn't allowed to read The Three Musketeers, so I had to come get him this." Both my coworker and I gave him a bit of a look. Neither of us could believe that a teacher told a student to stop reading something. 
He sighed again and said, "Yeah, he's in second grade. She told him he shouldn't be reading that. But he understands it and has read it several times." 
I am completely baffled by this! I mean, my head is still reeling. The fact that an educator would discourage a child from reading, not taking into account that this child has the desire to read something like this content, let alone the discipline to read something of that length. This takes me back to Matilda. This little boy needs a librarian like in Matilda, who will encourage his love of reading beyond what test scores say his reading level is. He needs a Miss Honey to challenge him and give him harder work. 
It just steams me up that a teacher would say that. "No, you can't read that, it's beyond your reading level." It's amazing how dependent upon standardized testing education has become. This child is obviously not standard. He's clearly above average, and we should be encouraging his love of reading. A father shouldn't have to come in our store, sighing about reading a very good kids book that I love. I hope this little boy is still able to enjoy the Hank books, but that he also still is encouraged to read whatever he wants.
I'm beyond thankful for all the educators in my life who always, and continue to, encourage me to read beyond what I think my limits are. So I'm here to tell all the kids out there to read what you want. If you enjoy it, can comprehend it, and can get through it, you read the heck out of it. Embrace your inner Matilda. Fill up that little red wagon with the biggest books you can get your hands on and go on as many adventures as you can. 


Keep on reading little Bookies, 
       HER 

Tuesday, October 17, 2017

Southern Festival of Books 2017

Oh, my goodness! I met SO MANY amazing authors this weekend at the 29th annual Southern Festival of Books. It was an odd year in that I'm no longer in just the patron state of mind. I was there not only representing myself and Ascension, but also Star Line Books, advertising our awesome store to authors who want to come to visit. If you haven't made it to this festival in Nashville yet, I highly recommend! Seriously, don't miss out on it--there's something for everyone.
So that I'm done with that, here are my SoFestofBooks 2017 Book Recommendations, starting with the youngest readers:

I met two really great Middle grade authors, who are sweet and adorable and tell enchanting stories that deal with real world truths. Check them out!

1. The Ethan I Was Before by Ali Standish (contemporary fiction)
2. Tumble and Blue by Cassie Beasley (magical realism)
3. Almost Paradise by Corabel Shofner (contemporary fiction)

Young Adult...just so many young adult authors, guys. They're putting out amazing books. I don't care how old you are, good writing is good writing; and a good story is a good story.

1. Dear Martin by Nic Stone (debuted today!!!) (contemporary fiction)
2. Nyxia by Scott Reintgen (science fiction)
3. We Know It Was You by Maggie Thrash (mystery)
4. We Are Okay by Nina LaCour (contemporary fiction)
5. Dresscodes for Small Towns (contemporary fiction)

Literary Fiction/Adult Fiction - so many beautiful novels out this year!

1. Immigration Essays by Sybil Baker (nonfiction collection of essays)
2. If the Creek Don't Rise by Leah Weiss (Appalachian literature)
3. One Good Mama Bone (southern literature)

There were hundreds of other authors there; these are just the lovely people I had the pleasure of meeting. Check out their books, and stay tuned for more author-bookseller-student adventures as I claw my way through this semester!

Cheers,
    HER