I didn't care how long Linda Holeman's Promise Song took me to read. This emotionally charged story about a fourteen-year-old home girl at the turn of the twentieth century hooked me from the opening scene. I could smell the salty sea air as the story opened off the east coast of Canada. I felt the burning panic rise up through her body as she realized that her sister was adopted without her. I heard the strange creeks of the new house that she was sent to work in. I was homesick, too. For the first time, a black and white page brought a new, colourful world completely into my view.
I owe this experience to a good reader's advisory conversation between my mother and a book store employee. After gathering information about the elements that I found interesting in stories, this book became a birthday present suggestion that, in essence, changed a major part of my life. My hope is that this blog will help other parents to encourage their children to find that quiet space in their minds where they can sit still and enjoy a book. But, we won't achieve this simply through a series of book reviews. My aim is to analyze not only the books, but also the movies, games, toys, and various artifacts that permeate modern childhood in the hopes that our reading of children will produce children who read, regardless of their preferences and abilities.
Speaking from experience, reading culture can be elitist, shunning those who prefer works outside of the contemporary literary canon. I believe this stigma needs to be broken in order for reading to become an inclusive activity. Instead of degrading those who love video games, for example, we can analyze what is appealing and valuable about this common childhood experience and match it to other activities (but that's a topic that deserves its own post which I will save for a later date). Yes, classic literature is often deemed important for good reason, but there is a broader literary world which the canon dismisses, one that even goes beyond text, and I believe that understanding these various sub-literary cultures will expand the breadth of young readers. This is not a competition between television versus books or video games versus the great outdoors. This is about expanding the child's world.
As this blog blossoms we will discover the unique value of a variety of storytelling mediums and themes, but there will always be a reading connection. Why reading, though? What is it about this act that is particularly important to a child's development? You will just have to tune in next time to find out.
If Promise Song has elements that you find appealing, take a look at these read-alikes:
Nory Ryan's Song by Patricia Reilly Giff
Set in 1845 Ireland, this moving story is about fourteen-year-old Nory who courageously strives to help her family survive the devastating Irish potato famine. If you enjoyed the rich details and gripping plot of Promise Song, Nory Ryan's Song won't disappoint.
The Secret Garden by Frances Hodgson Burnett
Following the themes of young female orphans, family relationships, and travelling to a new country, this classic tale of ten-year-old Mary and the mysteries of a locked garden is both moving and attention-grabbing.
A Faraway Island by Annika Thor
Like Promise Song, this book focuses on two sisters and their separate experiences of a new world. Twelve-year-old Sophie and eight-year-old Nellie are sent to Sweden in 1939 ahead of their parents, each adjusting to their new lives differently. This historical story is a compelling read of two young girls coming of age while fleeing from religious oppression.
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