With the start of the traditional school year quickly approaching, and many students in year-round, or early-start districts finding themselves already behind a classroom desk, this is an opportune time for a book talk. Gifted kids, in general, are voracious readers. Parents of gifted kindergarteners oftentimes find that their youngster has already read most of the books found on the classroom shelf. This usually is not a problem because a gifted kindergarten student reading at the second-grade level has a large number of content-appropriate books to choose from. As that gifted child moves up into the fourth or fifth grades, parents find that there are ample books available at the middle-school level with content that is both entertaining and appropriate for their still-in-elementary school child. So, with a little guidance from teachers and school librarians, parents can direct their children toward books that they will enjoy but won't introduce content that they (child and parent) may not be ready to handle.
In middle-school, gifted students find a variety of "new" books, in the form of classics, in their school libraries. Gifted seventh and eighth graders can get a good "first-read" of classics like Great Expectations, Romeo and Juliet, Frankenstein, To Kill a Mockingbird, Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy, and Huckleberry Finn from volumes found in libraries or bookstores. Many of these titles will be required reading in high school, and it's nice to read them purely for enjoyment prior to having them assigned. And, there are lessons to be learned from re-reading great books!
Your gifted child is now a ninth-grader reading at a twelfth-grade level or higher. Or, perhaps she's been reading at this level since seventh grade. The problem is, reading material written at a twelfth-grade level includes content for adults. As the parent, you must be willing to devote time to guide your gifted teen toward books that will hold his or her interest while maintaining your family's principles.
Following is a sampling of links to book lists and literary awards based on a broad range of criteria.
American Library Association "2006 Best Books for Young Adults," aged 12-18
American Library Association "Alex Award," given yearly to ten books published for adults that have teen appeal.
**be sure to check out other ALA lists.
Mystery Writers of America, "Edgar Allen Poe Award," given in several categories including "Best Young Adult" and "Best Juvenile."
Consortium of Latin American Studies Program, "Americas Award" for Children's and Young Adult Literature that "authentically and engagingly, portray[s] Latin America, the Caribbean, or Latinos in the United States."
"Coretta Scott King Book Award" given annually to an African American Author, and an African American Illustrator for outstanding educational works. Books are nominated for audiences in one of three grade ranges: preschool-grade 4; grades 5-8; grades 9-12.
Horror Writers Association presents the "Bram Stoker Award" works demonstrating superior achievement. Between 2001 and 2004, "Work for Young Readers" was included among the categories awarded.
Please contact me and let me know if and how any of these sites were helpful, or if you have additional sites to suggest.
Last words: Only you can be the final judge of appropriate reading material for your child or teen. The best way to assess the content of a book is to read it.
Linda Mocilnikar - I have nineteen years of personal and professional experience with gifted advocacy and other topics of interest regarding the best and ...
