I am a kid, and i have definitely been called weird for reading so much. I first read the Land of Stories when i was 7, and i still identify wiith Alex. So many people are losing the ability to even read a book the way it is written, which i am not sure is noticed by many. They will read a page, and they will say, "This should be different". they're to far gone to be able to accept new ideas and new things.
People forget that books bring in more than just an escape from reality. In this ever changing world where tech has become more and more rampant people's attention spans are getting shorter and they can't focus on anything for long. Or maybe it's the way schools are designed that we have to read some books that are sucking the joy out of it. But as long as some people love reading this field will never die.
I have so many thoughts about this. About almost everything you've said. I love that you mentioned that religious schools used to be some of the most enthusiastic schools to hear you speak. I'm in Canada and book bans are NOT happening here, which is amazing! But when I look at what is happening in the US I notice that a lot of the people participating in getting books banned from school are Christian people. As a Christian myself, that is the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. I know people have said it a thousand times (or more) but the Bible has everything that these parents are trying to keep away from their kids. Why does the Bible include those types of stories? Because it is important to tell them! I've noticed that a lot of these specific Christians must not understand the concept of fiction. If someone has a problem with witchcraft being portrayed in books, it is probably because they think it is going to impact their child's behaviour. The better thing to do in that situation is to make sure the child understands that it is fiction, meaning it isn't real, and that the things that some of the characters do are not actually possible. Rather than banning books, people should be teaching about the infinite possibilities that come with fiction.
In addition to that, I understand your point of reading being one of the main ways for children to explore and develop their imaginations, but I think that Minecraft (which you mentioned briefly) is actually another way of doing the same thing. The great thing about minecreaft is that, if you can imagine it, you can build it. Am I saying it's ok for kids to stop reading? NO! But I think it would be really interesting to pair reading with Minecraft. What if you told a kid to read a book and then build the setting of the book in Minecraft? What if schools could do projects where every kid had to build something from the book they are reading as a class so that you could see the vast differences between what each person is imagining when they read the book? What if you told a kid to build something cool in Minecraft and then build a story around that build. The possibilities are endless. Yes, reading is one of the way to develop a child's imagination, but I think of this as reading is learning how many possibilities there are, and creation (whether it be writing or drawing or building in Minecraft) is practicing using your imagination without the limitations of what a book is telling you must be true.
I'm sorry that this message is so long, but I honestly think I've barely scratched the surface of my thoughts on this. There are infinite possibilities of how to engage with imagination, but those possibilities can only be explored if topics aren't being restricted.
Yes soman! Why not make a documentary on this very matter and use the power of the media in our favor? This hmmmm could be a spark you know. I could blow a gasket over this book tour reality but would prefer to fan the sparks into a flame. Drwhofreak image and books in the hands of as many kids as we can get their moms on board. We cannot let the world disintegrate before our very eyes while our kids are getting mindfracked by their electronic gadgets. Some kids still love books so lets spread the love. And i will channel a Coven - haha 👍💕
Oh many authors suffer much more than me, with one difficult parent. BUT I think a film showing the good authors are doing — and the challenges — might be helpful…
I totally agree with you- gen alpha seems to be a lot less inclined to read than most of us were as kids. Gen Z proved that books can hold their own against movies/tv and even video games, but it seems like short form videos are really killing gen alpha's attention spans and love of reading by extension. Everyone I know has at least one series (mine being SGE, ofc) that really affected them as a kid, and I worry about kids not having that comfort series that helped them grow up to go back to. I hope touring is going swimmingly and I CANNOT wait to see you in Chi tomorrow!
I recently had three high school teachers come to my college class and talked to us about literacy. Apparently, middle schools are teaching 1-2 books a year and most literature/texts are being read aloud. This is causing issues down the line into high school and college where students don't know how to read and interpret texts. So, if anything schools should be encouraging more authors to speak to their students and get them interested in literature! Another issue is that classrooms don't have personal libraries or silent sustained reading time anymore which is exacerbating the issue. I hope things turn around and author's keep getting invitations to schools!
I can't believe that a parent complained about you writing a book about witches! Witches are honestly the most interesting kinds of characters, especially if those witches are Hester, Anadil and Dot.
"My witches... don't die at the end." That put a smile on my face. This whole thing makes my wheels turn re: a documentary. Such a good premise.
I think people who do not tour/travel often assume the whole world works the way their local one does. Talking to people across the country, in an abbreviated time frame like a tour, really allows you to spot patterns and trends more easily. And this one is a scary one.
I would not be the person I am without my childhood (and adult) books. You have such a fantastic message. I love it.
I've seen kids not really engaged with even childhood classics such as Treasure Island, Magic Treehouse, etc. I did introduce my friend to SGE and her younger sister (middle grade actually!) started liking the book one at least! I haven't even seen kids even attracted to TV or movies per se-- mostly shorts, reels, tik toks, or trends.
One part that could help is using YouTube or TikTok to promote books which I already see authors doing, encouraging readers to treat their books with equal fandom/cos play value as a video game or a show, and even continue combining visual with books. I don't think illustrations should stop at first grade. (One reason I liked SGE and got into it via an old friend.) I also have seen people use graphic novels with classic books or even the Bible and I think it provides more color to encourage readers.
Unfortunately, I have also seen parents grow more sensitive about books and media and ruining it for everyone else. I totally understand parents have the right to decide what is okay for their kids and some things may actually trigger their kids but in these times, it's just being more and more ridiculous. (I have seen people attack wine drinking despite the fact nobody gets drunk and even lumping "what the heck" as CURSING)
I got scared for a second while reading the title, but I agree! I always try to convince people that not read, especially children that they can start with books that have some images and drawings (like Dork Diaries, because I started reading it and turned into a reader)
This is quite a sad commentary on where we are as a culture. Books are magic. My grandmother (a retired schoolteacher) taught me to read by age 4. I've never been able to use an e-reader for long because of my need to have the book in my lap, turn the pages with my hands, and know it will always be on my shelf... that the technology will not change and suddenly make the literature unavailable to me trapped on an extinct device.
I think your idea for a documentary is a good start. Video captures eyes and informs people who otherwise do not know because it gets viewed on multiple platforms, even in the most hostile household. The recent purging of university libraries, like that at the Naval Academy, of biographies of people of color, authors like Maya Angelou, and any work that offers a glimpse into a different perspective is part of this narrowing of imagination, of possibility, of potential... has GOT to be arrested and reversed, before everything that it means to be an American dies.
Kennedy Junior High is excited for your school visit in a couple of days. It does take a community to communicate from all angles that reading is valuable and "cool." Author visits are a prime opportunity to celebrate and elevate reading as a crucial component to developing empathy, perspective & imagination. Love what you have shared here and the documentary idea.
I am a kid, and i have definitely been called weird for reading so much. I first read the Land of Stories when i was 7, and i still identify wiith Alex. So many people are losing the ability to even read a book the way it is written, which i am not sure is noticed by many. They will read a page, and they will say, "This should be different". they're to far gone to be able to accept new ideas and new things.
We need books and we need you Soman!! Thank you for everything you do — you take being an author to the next level
People forget that books bring in more than just an escape from reality. In this ever changing world where tech has become more and more rampant people's attention spans are getting shorter and they can't focus on anything for long. Or maybe it's the way schools are designed that we have to read some books that are sucking the joy out of it. But as long as some people love reading this field will never die.
The books have to also rise to the level to be worth our shortening attention…
I think people forget banning books just make kids want them more because they want to know what scandalous about them.
I hope this is true!
I have so many thoughts about this. About almost everything you've said. I love that you mentioned that religious schools used to be some of the most enthusiastic schools to hear you speak. I'm in Canada and book bans are NOT happening here, which is amazing! But when I look at what is happening in the US I notice that a lot of the people participating in getting books banned from school are Christian people. As a Christian myself, that is the most ridiculous things I have ever heard. I know people have said it a thousand times (or more) but the Bible has everything that these parents are trying to keep away from their kids. Why does the Bible include those types of stories? Because it is important to tell them! I've noticed that a lot of these specific Christians must not understand the concept of fiction. If someone has a problem with witchcraft being portrayed in books, it is probably because they think it is going to impact their child's behaviour. The better thing to do in that situation is to make sure the child understands that it is fiction, meaning it isn't real, and that the things that some of the characters do are not actually possible. Rather than banning books, people should be teaching about the infinite possibilities that come with fiction.
In addition to that, I understand your point of reading being one of the main ways for children to explore and develop their imaginations, but I think that Minecraft (which you mentioned briefly) is actually another way of doing the same thing. The great thing about minecreaft is that, if you can imagine it, you can build it. Am I saying it's ok for kids to stop reading? NO! But I think it would be really interesting to pair reading with Minecraft. What if you told a kid to read a book and then build the setting of the book in Minecraft? What if schools could do projects where every kid had to build something from the book they are reading as a class so that you could see the vast differences between what each person is imagining when they read the book? What if you told a kid to build something cool in Minecraft and then build a story around that build. The possibilities are endless. Yes, reading is one of the way to develop a child's imagination, but I think of this as reading is learning how many possibilities there are, and creation (whether it be writing or drawing or building in Minecraft) is practicing using your imagination without the limitations of what a book is telling you must be true.
I'm sorry that this message is so long, but I honestly think I've barely scratched the surface of my thoughts on this. There are infinite possibilities of how to engage with imagination, but those possibilities can only be explored if topics aren't being restricted.
I love this. The book is just the beginning! Once a kid likes a book, they instantly want to make their own art, stories and so much more.
Yes soman! Why not make a documentary on this very matter and use the power of the media in our favor? This hmmmm could be a spark you know. I could blow a gasket over this book tour reality but would prefer to fan the sparks into a flame. Drwhofreak image and books in the hands of as many kids as we can get their moms on board. We cannot let the world disintegrate before our very eyes while our kids are getting mindfracked by their electronic gadgets. Some kids still love books so lets spread the love. And i will channel a Coven - haha 👍💕
Oh many authors suffer much more than me, with one difficult parent. BUT I think a film showing the good authors are doing — and the challenges — might be helpful…
I totally agree with you- gen alpha seems to be a lot less inclined to read than most of us were as kids. Gen Z proved that books can hold their own against movies/tv and even video games, but it seems like short form videos are really killing gen alpha's attention spans and love of reading by extension. Everyone I know has at least one series (mine being SGE, ofc) that really affected them as a kid, and I worry about kids not having that comfort series that helped them grow up to go back to. I hope touring is going swimmingly and I CANNOT wait to see you in Chi tomorrow!
Thank you for fighting the good fight 🙏🙏🙏❤️❤️❤️
I recently had three high school teachers come to my college class and talked to us about literacy. Apparently, middle schools are teaching 1-2 books a year and most literature/texts are being read aloud. This is causing issues down the line into high school and college where students don't know how to read and interpret texts. So, if anything schools should be encouraging more authors to speak to their students and get them interested in literature! Another issue is that classrooms don't have personal libraries or silent sustained reading time anymore which is exacerbating the issue. I hope things turn around and author's keep getting invitations to schools!
Something’s definitely happened. The idea of finishing a book just feels Sisyphean to a lot of young kids now unless it’s a graphic novel
Random person How dare you put witches in your book? What's next death?
Most of literature......
I can't believe that a parent complained about you writing a book about witches! Witches are honestly the most interesting kinds of characters, especially if those witches are Hester, Anadil and Dot.
"My witches... don't die at the end." That put a smile on my face. This whole thing makes my wheels turn re: a documentary. Such a good premise.
I think people who do not tour/travel often assume the whole world works the way their local one does. Talking to people across the country, in an abbreviated time frame like a tour, really allows you to spot patterns and trends more easily. And this one is a scary one.
I would not be the person I am without my childhood (and adult) books. You have such a fantastic message. I love it.
I've seen kids not really engaged with even childhood classics such as Treasure Island, Magic Treehouse, etc. I did introduce my friend to SGE and her younger sister (middle grade actually!) started liking the book one at least! I haven't even seen kids even attracted to TV or movies per se-- mostly shorts, reels, tik toks, or trends.
One part that could help is using YouTube or TikTok to promote books which I already see authors doing, encouraging readers to treat their books with equal fandom/cos play value as a video game or a show, and even continue combining visual with books. I don't think illustrations should stop at first grade. (One reason I liked SGE and got into it via an old friend.) I also have seen people use graphic novels with classic books or even the Bible and I think it provides more color to encourage readers.
Unfortunately, I have also seen parents grow more sensitive about books and media and ruining it for everyone else. I totally understand parents have the right to decide what is okay for their kids and some things may actually trigger their kids but in these times, it's just being more and more ridiculous. (I have seen people attack wine drinking despite the fact nobody gets drunk and even lumping "what the heck" as CURSING)
All very wise. Media have to interact with books to get people engaged. The book itself is often just the start for kids.
I got scared for a second while reading the title, but I agree! I always try to convince people that not read, especially children that they can start with books that have some images and drawings (like Dork Diaries, because I started reading it and turned into a reader)
Absolutely — provided they have an author or teacher or librarian to help them make that jump!
I can't believe you replied my comment! I'm so happy I'm almost crying, you are literally one of my favourite people on the world!!!
This is quite a sad commentary on where we are as a culture. Books are magic. My grandmother (a retired schoolteacher) taught me to read by age 4. I've never been able to use an e-reader for long because of my need to have the book in my lap, turn the pages with my hands, and know it will always be on my shelf... that the technology will not change and suddenly make the literature unavailable to me trapped on an extinct device.
I think your idea for a documentary is a good start. Video captures eyes and informs people who otherwise do not know because it gets viewed on multiple platforms, even in the most hostile household. The recent purging of university libraries, like that at the Naval Academy, of biographies of people of color, authors like Maya Angelou, and any work that offers a glimpse into a different perspective is part of this narrowing of imagination, of possibility, of potential... has GOT to be arrested and reversed, before everything that it means to be an American dies.
There’s something primal about reading language on a page and making imaginative sense of it. But 20 years from now… it might be a lost art.
Kennedy Junior High is excited for your school visit in a couple of days. It does take a community to communicate from all angles that reading is valuable and "cool." Author visits are a prime opportunity to celebrate and elevate reading as a crucial component to developing empathy, perspective & imagination. Love what you have shared here and the documentary idea.
I can’t wait! We will have a very good time. Thank you for having me.