Booklist for Young Readers
“I go back to the reading room, where I sink down in the sofa and into the world of 'The Arabian Nights'. Slowly, like a movie fadeout, the real world evaporates. I'm alone, inside the world of the story. My favorite feeling in the world.”
- Kafka Tamura (“Kafka on the Shore”, Haruki Murakami)
What would you do on Young Readers Day? Read your favorite children's book. This is in the mind of those who remember the occasion. But some have other ideas. In Indiana, for instance, the reward for making through the end-of-summer reading incentive program is a day on Webster Lake. In the distant shores, one young reader from India composed a piece on the future Nobel Peace Prize winner. It's not hard to imagine the hoopla surrounding Young Readers Day, held on the second Tuesday of November.
Some publishers know better, releasing the latest version of some bestsellers. They are more palatable to the young readers, which is a booming market these last ten years. And they take on a wider range of topics and literary forms.
“Not everybody wants to read about vampires and dystopia,” said Steve Sheinkin, who has written original children’s books about the Civil War and the atomic bomb. “Some kids want to read about World War II or spies, and that was an underserved area for young readers.”
Young-adult fiction came a long way. Most readers would still agree on certain titles. Are your favorite books included in this short list? Let's find out:
"The Heroes of Olympus" (2010-2014) by Rick Riordan. Now would be the perfect time to read this series again after the release of "The Blood of Olympus" last month. It began where "Percy Jackson & the Olympians" ended, about seven demigods who were part of a grim prophecy that brought them to the ancient lands (Mediterranean region). This would be another clash of the titans.
"Journey to the Center of the Earth" (1864) by Jules Verne. Children may be too young to grasp the obsession behind the Hollow Earth theory not long ago, but they would be enthralled by the description of an underworld where dinosaurs still exist.
"King Solomon's Mines" (1885) by H. Rider Haggard. Treasure hunt would lit up the children's eyes. This novel would be different, as Africa's exotic landscape would captivate them. Allan Quatermain was curious about Queen Sheba, who brought untold wealth to King Solomon. It's a great yarn, which is more than kids can ask for.
"Matilda" (1988) by Roald Dahl. It's about a little girl who overcomes her shortcomings by reading. Enough said.
"Oliver Twist" (1838) by Charles Dickens. This is an unromantic depiction of young orphans roaming the streets of London during the 19th century. These unfortunates tykes are at the mercy of unscrupulous adults. A grim picture not ideal for the kids, but the happy ending would make them believe in kindness.
What's your favorite books that didn't make the list? Share it with us.
