Becoming Naomi León

This book made me want to read more by Pam Muñoz Ryan especially Esperanza Rising, a book I have heard a lot about, but haven't yet picked up to read. Becoming Naomi León is a meaty book which would be ideal for a book discussion group since it covers wide ranging topics such as alcoholism, child abuse & child custody. Naomi León is a character who grows in her sense of self as she discovers her father's heritage and the importance of her sculpting ability. However, this book is geared toward approximately fourth grade readers...it is a bit heavy thematically for this age group, and I, as a parent, am not sure that I would recommend this book for independent reading for this age group. I think some adult guidance is necessary to navigate this very sad, but very hopeful book.

Precocious Young Girls

What is it about precocious female protagonists that I find so very appealing? Some of my favorite characters in children's literature have been Harriet the spy, Claudia Kincaid from The Mixed Up Files of Mrs. Basil E. Frankweiler, Anastasia Krupnik and from today's book Margaret Rose Kane in E.L. Konigsburg's The Outcasts of 19 Schuyler Place. Margaret is typical of the rest of these girls--intelligent, misunderstood by less-than-sympathetic adults and willing to take risks. I often wonder if these aren't the characteristics of the authors themselves. Otherwise, where would they get the courage to write or worse, send off to a publisher, such wonderful books?

One of the arguments I heard a lot during classes is that children and young adults need to be able to identify with the characters in the books they read? So, do these books only appeal to precocious females? I would have to say no, because while I am female and, perhaps, intelligent, I would not describe myself as precocious, misunderstood or willing to take risks. Do these characters appeal, because they are who every girl wants to be (or for an adult, who she wanted to be as a child)? Or, and I sometimes suspect this, are they written for the adult women (as so many librarians and teachers are) who buy them?

But, these books are not all about the wonderfully clever characters who always seem to best the somewhat dense authorities that people them. I loved that Outcasts was about a girl who loves her eccentric, European uncles and who appreciates and is willing to fight for "outsider art." I loved the truffle hunting dog and the neighbors with the sourdough starter kit. Konigsburg's humor appeals to me as does her sense of beauty.

Another wonderful read from the the mind of E.L.Konigsburg