Let me start by saying that I usually enjoy Shannon Hale's work. I own several of her books in my classroom library and encourage my students to read them. Rapunzel's Revenge is a fractured fairy tale and graphic novel set in the Old West. Rapunzel becomes an out-law and teams up with a man with the goose that lay gold eggs. Mother Gothel is the oppressive villain.
I didn't connect with the characters, the setting or the format of the book. I don't have a problem with graphic novels -- an issue I plan to address later on this blog. I found myself reading it because it was on my list. It's a book I plan to allow in my classroom, but I don't know that I would recommend it.
I started thinking more about when to stop reading a book. I can afford to abandon books. I read about a book a week or so. It's like when I don't prefer Brussels sprouts; there are plenty of other vegetables I will eat.
I have a difficult time letting students abandon books when they never finish a book, just as I keep trying to introduce vegetables to promote healthy eating. I keep asking them to try a bite. "Read the first chapter and come talk to me." Eventually I hope they find an author and genre that will hook them.
For an explanation of my rating scale, click here.
Find me at Goodreads.
I do a reading interest survey at the beginning of the year. If they're having a tough time finishing a book, we get out the reading survey and try to find books online in the school library that match their interest. They need to read at least one full book a month, so sometimes it's really about how close to the end of the month it is :)
ReplyDeleteI should try the reading interest survey this year. I usually assign short book reports to make sure my students are finishing a book every 4-6 weeks or so.
Delete