Comments on: Review: From Cover to Cover

By: How Much Does a Reviewer Really Know? « A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy

Tue, 02 Nov 2010 12:02:18 +0000

[...] to know that we are right when calling something “inauthentic”? In K.T. Horning’s From Cover to Cover, she says “We have all had the experience of reading a work of fiction in which certain [...]

By: Is Your Review A Tool? « A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy

Is Your Review A Tool? « A Chair, A Fireplace & A Tea Cozy — Sun, 19 Sep 2010 15:11:21 +0000

[...] you’ve read From Cover to Cover, you may recall how Horning cautions reviewers not to turn into censors or to provide tools for [...]

By: Jennie

Jennie — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 16:27:27 +0000

Liz– I own and adore the 97 edition. Do you think it’s worth it to get the new one as well?

By: Liz B

Liz B — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 11:04:18 +0000

Janelle, because age & gender alone don’t dictate what children like. As a librarian, I need to see the forest, not the trees, in terms of children. Will most children like this book, not whether one child doesn’t like scary things (or, on the other hand, loves scary things). Will most teens like this book, not whether or not one teen only reads Austen so nothing but classics belongs in the library. Is this book fitting a need because there have been no other books like it recently?

Now, book talking? Which now isn’t about the books in the library for all but what book for one child? There, I see much more of a value in individual children’s reactions (either what you see in person or learn via blogs). A blog review that says a child likes action and this book works, in that context, is valuable.

But for spending my town’s money? I cannot rely on one person’s child when spending tens of thousands (or more for bigger systems). And for spending my town’s time, in researching those books? I also cannot justify looking at all those blogs of individual taste versus one reviewer that talks about the book, not the reader.

By: Janelle

Janelle — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 04:25:40 +0000

Even if I tried, I know I could never be Horning’s type of reviewer. I consider myself more of a book talker, spreading the word about children’s books. What I can’t understand is why a child’s response would not matter…ever. Who is the target audience here? When I read other kidlit/mom blogs, I certainly care about the response of the child because more likely than not, my child will have a similar response, especially if both kids are the same age and gender. So, you see, I’m having a little trouble understanding the statement, “If I’m looking to spend a library’s money, I don’t care about the reviewer’s child’s response.”

By: Liz B

Liz B — Tue, 14 Sep 2010 01:07:27 +0000

I think that even if we do retain our own personal voices and opinions, it’s good to know what “professional review” actually is or isn’t. If someone says “you’re not a reviewer” and they mean the types of reviews Horning writes about — well, yes, we’re not that type of reviewer. And that’s OK. And if you want to be that type of reviewer, well, then we know.

I think I’m a mix, in all honesty: some days very personal, other times very librarianish, sometimes more a critique. One of the things I like about blog reviews is the personal brought to the review.

By: Callie Feyen

Callie Feyen — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 14:05:42 +0000

This was a good post for me to read. I write from how I react to literature, as well as how my daughters react to stories on my blog. When I was teaching, I found that I took a personal approach to reacting to literature as well. I guess I didn’t know any other way to do it, plus, I like to bring myself (thoughts, feelings, experiences) into the story. But I think this book would be a good resource for me to read because I have a lot to learn about how to review a book in a professional way.