readingwithkids

[readingwithkids]

Personal Reflection

This blog is still open for asks or submissions if you are interested in contributing, but the bulk of my work for this final project is done. That being said, I wanted to pop in to write a short reflection about what I leaned throughout this project. 

I originally wanted to start this project because as a child my mom read me a lot of books. It was a reoccurring joke between us that in all the books she was reading me, the main character’s mother was dead, which as I got older, began to bother me a bit. Afterall, my parents were a big part of my life, so why was I only reading about orphans who were facing much different struggles for autonomy than me? 

I think this blog was able to capture my desire to create a resource about non-orphaned characters for guardians or teachers to refer to. If I had more time, I would have loved to read more books and add them to my list.

After reading some of the articles about the role that an orphan can play in a story, getting at our societal fears of loneliness, I understand why it can be a valuable tool for writers to use. However, I still feel that in books aimed at children who are struggling for independence under their parent’s watchful eyes, it can be valuable to read about characters facing the same struggles. 

Another thing I wish I had looking back would be more books that addressed the loss of a parent or the divorce process. While I didn’t focus on either of these topics in this specific resource, it is definitely something I could see as being a valuable compliment to what I researched. As a child, I grew up in a household with both my parents, but these books would have prepared me to have more empathy for my friends who were going though these events, and perhaps even helped adult me through them as well. 

I hope you are able to find some value in this resource and I’d love any feedback or suggestions that you have. Thank you for stopping by!

#my writing #personal reflection

[readingwithkids]

Scholarly Review

From Folktales to Fiction: Orphan Characters in Children's Literature

This interesting article follows the progression of the orphan trope as it transferred from folktales to children’s fiction. Many elements in the case study book The Secret Garden are taken from earlier folktale elements. All the main characters in the novel, but especially Mary, are mistreated and isolated. They must overcome their orphan status to find emotional fulfillment by the end of the novel. I recommend reading this article if you are interested in looking into the origins of the orphan character.

Kimball, Melanie A. “From Folktales to Fiction: Orphan Characters in Children's Literature.” Library Trends 47, no. 3 (1999): 558–78.

#scholarly review #article

[readingwithkids]

Scholarly Review

Are These Parents for Real? Students' Views of Parents in Realistic and Historical Fiction

This study was done to examine what students thought about the parents and guardian figures in a selection of six novels. Though the study was done on high schoolers, the following teaching framework can be relevant to a number of different ages. Interestingly, the study found that the students often found historical fiction novels to have more realistic parents than realistic fiction, largely due to different expectations of historical parents. The framework discussed near the end of the article offers a way to enter into a conversation with students or children about how they perceive the guardians in certain books. 

Harmon, Janis M, and Monica C Gonzales. “Are These Parents for Real? Students' Views of Parents in Realistic and Historical Fiction.” The ALAN Review 30, no. 2 (2003): 57. https://doi.org/10.21061/alan.v30i2.a.11.

#scholarly review #article

[readingwithkids]

Phenomena Explanation

Why are so many middle-grade protagonists orphans? From Harry Potter to The Secret Garden to The Thief Lord, it is easy to think of examples of main characters who have lost their parents. 

An orphan immediately garners sympathy from the readers and makes the protagonist into an underdog who must fight for everything they receive. A helpful bonus is that they don’t have to worry about breaking their parent’s rules or ignoring their advice.

This age group is looking for independence from their parents and trying to find their own identity in the world. The main characters they look up to are often completely free from parental control and are able to make their own way in the world, which can seem appealing. 

However, this ignores the reality for many adolescents who are expected to maintain a relationship with their parents as they gradually grow into adulthood. Books with strong parental figures, no matter how the quality of parenting is perceived, can provide some guidance for adolescents as to how their relationship with their guardians can change and evolve.  

#phenomena explaination #my thoughts

[readingwithkids]

The Candymakers by Wendy Mass

This book was one of my absolute favorites as a child! It is fun and adventurous, showing the power of friendship. Logan especially has very kind and loving parents. 

#the candymakers #wendy mass #book spotlight #book

[readingwithkids]

Pseudonymous Bosch

This author, best know for the Secret Series and Bad Books, celebrates all different kinds of families in his charming and witty novels.

#author spoghtlight #pseudonymous bosch #author

[readingwithkids]

Savvy Series by Ingrid Law

These whimsical books follow various members of the Beaumont family must deal with new magical powers as they also try to find their places within the family.

#savvy #ingrid law #book spotlight #book #series

[readingwithkids]

The Birchbark House by Louise Erdrich

This book is a wonderful story that follows Omakayas over a year as she finds her place in her family, her community, and her world. The writing is vivid and can help teach kids about Ojibwe culture. Watch out-- this is a tear-jerker!

#the birchbark house #louise erdrich #book spotlight #book

[readingwithkids]

Specific Lists!

If you want to get a bit more specific and find a book that focuses on a certain type of parent, here are some lists about moms and dads.

Best Middle-Grade Moms

Middle-Grade Books about Dads

#resource #list compilation #website

[readingwithkids]

Notable Resource Mention!

Wild Rumpus bookshop has middle-grade books sorted by all sorts of themes and is a great resource for finding any sort of specific theme!

#resource #list compilation #website

[readingwithkids]

Why Orphans?

Here are a number of articles I found online about orphans in books. Hopefully you can find something interesting in these links!

What’s With All The Orphans In Kids' Books?

Orphans in Literature

Why So Many Children’s Book Characters are Orphans

The Modern Orphan Figure

#list compilation #website #resource

[readingwithkids]

List Roundup!

Here are a number of lists that I found around the Internet that focus on family-oriented middle-grade fiction. Enjoy!

Books about Families (Big and Small) 

The Importance of Good Parents in Fiction

Chapter Books about Diverse Families

10 Terrific Middle Grade Families

#resource #list compilation #website

[readingwithkids]

Interesting Goodreads Thread!

The Dead Parent Society of Middle Grade Fiction

I thought this thread had some really interesting points and I’d recommend giving it a browse!

#resource #website

[readingwithkids]

Notable Resource Mention!

This website has middle-grade books sorted by all sorts of themes and is a great resource for finding any sort of specific theme!

#resource #list compilation

[readingwithkids]

Hi! Glad you’re here!

Organization: If you are looking for a specific theme, book, author, or category, the best way to find it on this blog is by searching. I try to tag everything with relevant organizational information, as well as categories like “author spotlight,” “book spotlight,” or “list compilation.” If there’s anything else you would like me to tag, feel free to send me an ask or a message. If you are just poking around for some ideas and suggestions, just keep scrolling past this post, and hopefully you will find something interesting! 

Note: there are multiple pages of content so you can use the arrows to continue onto the next page of posts.

Suggestions: My ask box and submissions are open, so if there is a particular book/ author/ etc. you think fits well into the theme of this blog, send it there. I would love for this blog to be an open conversation about middle-grade novels with strong parental figures, so any asks or questions about the subject are welcome!