Comments on: Review of the Day: Minn and Jake’s Almost Terrible Summer by Janet Wong http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/08/01/review-of-the-day-minn-and-jakes-almost-terrible-summer-by-janet-wong/ A School Library Journal Blog Tue, 21 May 2013 17:04:01 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Helen Frost http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/08/01/review-of-the-day-minn-and-jakes-almost-terrible-summer-by-janet-wong/#comment-10079 Helen Frost Fri, 08 Aug 2008 09:14:12 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/08/01/review-of-the-day-minn-and-jakes-almost-terrible-summer-by-janet-wong/#comment-10079 Thanks so much for your kind words about Diamond Willow, but I hate to see it set up against Janet's delightful work. The answer to why this book is written in poetic form is that Janet is a poet--that is her way with words. There's so much exploration of the intersection of poetry and narrative these days; we're all doing something a little different. I've thought that Diamond Willow might be thought of as a "novel-as-poem" rather than a "novel-in-poems"--that is, what makes it poetry is in the deep metaphor as it emerges and helps tell the story. It's more visual, perhaps, than Janet's work, which strikes me as closer to dance. Like Janet herself, as those who have met her attest, it has a vibrant energy, which fits perfectly with the form she uses. I hope to meet you someday, Elizabeth. Your reviews are always so careful and interesting. Thanks! Thanks so much for your kind words about Diamond Willow, but I hate to see it set up against Janet’s delightful work. The answer to why this book is written in poetic form is that Janet is a poet–that is her way with words.

There’s so much exploration of the intersection of poetry and narrative these days; we’re all doing something a little different. I’ve thought that Diamond Willow might be thought of as a “novel-as-poem” rather than a “novel-in-poems”–that is, what makes it poetry is in the deep metaphor as it emerges and helps tell the story. It’s more visual, perhaps, than Janet’s work, which strikes me as closer to dance. Like Janet herself, as those who have met her attest, it has a vibrant energy, which fits perfectly with the form she uses.

I hope to meet you someday, Elizabeth. Your reviews are always so careful and interesting. Thanks!

]]> By: Fuse #8 http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/08/01/review-of-the-day-minn-and-jakes-almost-terrible-summer-by-janet-wong/#comment-10080 Fuse #8 Sat, 02 Aug 2008 05:25:57 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/08/01/review-of-the-day-minn-and-jakes-almost-terrible-summer-by-janet-wong/#comment-10080 If she was a delight then she was the correct Janet Wong. She spoke to the children's librarians of NYPL this year and was fabulous. Which is probably the reason I wanted to read this book. If she was a delight then she was the correct Janet Wong. She spoke to the children’s librarians of NYPL this year and was fabulous. Which is probably the reason I wanted to read this book.

]]> By: Matt http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/08/01/review-of-the-day-minn-and-jakes-almost-terrible-summer-by-janet-wong/#comment-10081 Matt Fri, 01 Aug 2008 22:41:48 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/08/01/review-of-the-day-minn-and-jakes-almost-terrible-summer-by-janet-wong/#comment-10081 Thanks for that comment, Franki - I never considered the concept of young readers defining their literature taste as driving the popularity of series books. I am so with Elizabeth on this point - I have such a hard time finding quality books for 3rd graders. I always feel like I am trying to hurry them up to be mature enough for the higher level fiction. "Here, set that Judy Moody aside and let's hack our way through Inkheart..." (no offense to Judy) As a side note, (if I have the correct Janet) I met Janet Wong in Toronto and she is a DELIGHT! Thanks for that comment, Franki – I never considered the concept of young readers defining their literature taste as driving the popularity of series books. I am so with Elizabeth on this point – I have such a hard time finding quality books for 3rd graders. I always feel like I am trying to hurry them up to be mature enough for the higher level fiction. “Here, set that Judy Moody aside and let’s hack our way through Inkheart…” (no offense to Judy)
As a side note, (if I have the correct Janet) I met Janet Wong in Toronto and she is a DELIGHT!

]]> By: Fuse #8 http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/08/01/review-of-the-day-minn-and-jakes-almost-terrible-summer-by-janet-wong/#comment-10082 Fuse #8 Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:48:28 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/08/01/review-of-the-day-minn-and-jakes-almost-terrible-summer-by-janet-wong/#comment-10082 I don't know if they'll be a full series, but I certain hope that'll be the case. I have a weakness for tall girl protagonists, having known quite a few talls girls from my own youth. I don’t know if they’ll be a full series, but I certain hope that’ll be the case. I have a weakness for tall girl protagonists, having known quite a few talls girls from my own youth.

]]> By: Franki http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/08/01/review-of-the-day-minn-and-jakes-almost-terrible-summer-by-janet-wong/#comment-10083 Franki Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:27:44 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/08/01/review-of-the-day-minn-and-jakes-almost-terrible-summer-by-janet-wong/#comment-10083 whoops--sorry for the typo/errors above. I was in a hurry and didn't check until it posted! whoops–sorry for the typo/errors above. I was in a hurry and didn’t check until it posted!

]]> By: Franki http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/08/01/review-of-the-day-minn-and-jakes-almost-terrible-summer-by-janet-wong/#comment-10084 Franki Fri, 01 Aug 2008 21:24:51 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/afuse8production/2008/08/01/review-of-the-day-minn-and-jakes-almost-terrible-summer-by-janet-wong/#comment-10084 So glad to see that there is another Minn and Jake book coming soon:-) Thanks for sharing. I have worked almost all of my career with 3rd and 4th graders. For a long time, I was upset about the same issue--so many series books and not much else. But then I learned a lot about kids and reader at that age as I watched them every day and I realized that this is a great age for series. It is when many of us became hooked on a series. I think it is because in grades 2-4, kids are beginning to define their tastes as readers and to begin to learn about what they like as readers. Series books lets them do this. And it lets them experience of going back to characters you love. This seems to match their age, developmentally and emotionally well. So, now I still look for good chapter books but more importantly, I look for good series books that may hook readers and keep them engaged and lost in a character for a long time. Glad to see Minn and Jake are back --will they be a full series, do you know? So glad to see that there is another Minn and Jake book coming soon:-) Thanks for sharing.

I have worked almost all of my career with 3rd and 4th graders. For a long time, I was upset about the same issue–so many series books and not much else. But then I learned a lot about kids and reader at that age as I watched them every day and I realized that this is a great age for series. It is when many of us became hooked on a series. I think it is because in grades 2-4, kids are beginning to define their tastes as readers and to begin to learn about what they like as readers. Series books lets them do this. And it lets them experience of going back to characters you love. This seems to match their age, developmentally and emotionally well.
So, now I still look for good chapter books but more importantly, I look for good series books that may hook readers and keep them engaged and lost in a character for a long time. Glad to see Minn and Jake are back –will they be a full series, do you know?

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