Freak the Mighty

I CANNOT have a reading blog without talking about Freak the Mighty. It is pretty much the best story ever written. 

Spoiler alert... you will be traumatized, but it is SO worth it. I am finding it difficult to put into words just how much this book moves me.

It was also made into a movie; title shortened to just The Mighty.

 One time I talked my oldest daughter into watching it with me, forgetting that I have to be in a certain headspace to watch it. I cried all night. Sobbed is a more accurate word... Sobbed loudly. Aspen, my daughter, was horrified and could not sleep the rest of the night because I was crying so loudly ALL DARN NIGHT.

Man... I am really selling you on this book, aren't I? Traumatization, loud sobbing, never fully recovering... I am doing such a great job.

The movie has since become a favorite of my youngest daughter and as much as I love it, I am a bit dismayed at her love for it because I just cannot go there sometimes.

All that aside, this book is the tale of an unlikely friendship. Max's father is in prison for murder. Max himself is huge for his age. He is a gentle giant, living with his grandparents, and is both bullied and feared at school. He also cannot read. 

Enter Kevin; boy genius with a physical disability and a smart mouth. Kevin, who believes Max was the culprit in knocking him down with a basketball, is not crazy about Max and Max isn't quick to correct him. As Kevin teaches Max to read, the unlikely bond forms.

This is all I am going to tell you, just be prepared for a good cry. I love this book so much. I am in the process of re-reading it.  

If you haven't read this book yet, you really must. You will have all the feels, good and bad. 

If you are a teacher or parent, I highly recommend this book as a read-aloud. My youngest (who is a huge fan of this story) is only seven, many schools read this in middle school, really any age would benefit from reading this book. It encourages empathy, brings about dialogue about disabilities and different family structures and also trauma and grief. 

Now, I know this is a book blog, but I ALSO highly recommend you watch the movie as well. The actors really do an excellent job of bringing these characters and their emotions to life. 

You will never be the same.

Freak the Mighty really is life-changing. 

A Light In the Attic

Ahhh memories... Was there any child in the late 80's early 90's who didn't read every Shel Silverstein book? The poems are equally whimsical and grotesque with just a dash of inappropriate... every kid's dream book!

Reading this book again took me back to my youth. I can remember my friends and I reading this book together during our reading time or recess. Most of the poems were slightly disturbing and those illustrations...

am I right???

So I have to wonder, while the poems and illustrations are a little creepy but not in a horror or Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark kind of way, why are they STILL so popular? What does Shel Silverstein know that we don't? As a writer, how did Silverstein know that this style would appeal to children?

There is something to the unexpected that appeals to readers. So many children's books and tween aged poetry is fluffy or there is a push for it to be remarkable and deep and life changing. Sometimes kids just want something light hearted and unexpected, and yes with a twist of ick. 

Some of the poems leave you with a cringy feeling and an "is it ok for this to be funny?" feeling and I  think that is part of what appeals to fans of Shel Silverstein.... that and those weird as heck illustrations.

....Example above.

What in the world is this??? 

Apparently it is genius... that's what it is, 

and children of all ages eat it up.

Now don't get me wrong, many of the poems are not disturbing, most are just fine, but there are always a few sprinkled in that just make you think, what the heck is going on here? 

That being said, I do love these books. While I cannot quite place my finger on WHY anyone would enjoy them, I do. And I think it is just that. They are so unexpected and just a smidge off, just enough to be interesting and not enough to be completely inappropriate or offensive or cross a line. 

AND most importantly... they get kids to read. They get kids to read POETRY! That is a successful book in my opinion.