Dear Author: Students Write About the Books That Changed Their Lives [Paperback]

Weekly Reader's Read Magazine (Compiler)

Book Description

Age Level: 10 and up

Picked from the Library of Congress and Read magazine's "Letters About Literature" contest, seventy-five letters written by adolescents explain how their favorite books have affected their lives. Original. National ad/promo. IP.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Dear Author: Students Write About the Books That Changed Their Lives, introduced by Lois Lowry, contains 75 of the more than 20,000 letters submitted to Read magazine's "Letters About Literature" contest for junior high and high school students. "I was angry with you for making me face the truth," a daughter of divorced parents writes to Judy Blume; "If you really are Holden Caulfield," a girl writes to J.D. Salinger, "you are not only a famous literary character, you are my hero"; "Niccolo," a boy tells Machiavelli, "I believe your views are right, and that is exactly why I cannot become what you were, a politician" (Conari, dist. by Publishers Group West, paper $9.95, 204p ISBN 1-57324-013-3 Sept.).
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

Grade 5-9?A selection of letters culled from a contest sponsored annually by Weekly Reader's Read magazine. For the purposes of the contest, readers in grades 6-10 were invited to "tell" an author, living or dead, how their book affected their lives. The 75 letters here have been divided into five broad categories: overcoming difficulties, the power of conviction, self-discovery, war, and lifelong inspiration. The distinctions between some of these categories, however, are not completely clear. Each letter is preceded by a brief introduction to the author. The letters vary as to how much they reveal about the letter-writers and the authors. A wide spectrum of writers, from Judy Blume to Upton Sinclair, is included. While some of the entries refer to single books by a relatively unknown or obscure writer, in most cases the choices are likely to be familiar to most students. The hyperbole of the subtitle is unfortunate, since while most of the letters reflect the writer's sentiments and intense feelings about the book, only a few declare or even intimate that it "changed their lives." Nevertheless, the letters themselves are well written, thought-provoking, and likely to stimulate curiosity about the titles mentioned. Teachers could use this collection to help motivate their students or to use as examples of letter-writing. Whether or not children are likely to pick it up on their own is another question.?Linda Greengrass, Bank Street College Library, New York City
Copyright 1995 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 10 and up
  
• Paperback: 200 pages
• Publisher: Conari Pr (September 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1573240036
• ISBN-13: 978-1573240031
• Product Dimensions: 6.9 x 6.8 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,470,695 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Gift for Young Readers, April 10, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Dear Author: Students Write About the Books That Changed Their Lives (Paperback)

This book is a very special collection of letters that are inspiring, funny, and touching. Great for reluctant young readers and avid kids as well - they will love reading the words of other young readers!

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Find this book for your young reader. It's brilliant., September 29, 2004

By 

Michele Cozzens "www.michelecozzens.com" (Cloud 8) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Dear Author: Students Write About the Books That Changed Their Lives (Paperback)

I picked up this little gem at a church book sale. I think it cost a mere 50 cents. But OH! it is worth so much more. The book is divided into sections where students write letters to renowned authors indicating how his or her book inspired or changed their lives. The entries include a series of heartbreaking stories and conditions by children suffering from extreme illness or as victims of crime to children dealing with divorce and/or the angst of youth. Other letters are sweet and innocent in spirit very simply tell the author what they liked about his/her book and write things like: "How the heck are you?" and "How do you like living in California?"

The letters are beautifully written--very pure in spirit and in message. One, a letter to author Toni Morrison written by a 15-year-old from Miami, FL was particularly poetic and thought provoking. And another letter by Brandi Hayes, 13, and suffering with Cystic Fibrosis, thanked the parents of Robyn Miller, the authors of "Robyn's Book: A True Diary," and asserted her resolve in fighting the disease. It brought tears to my eyes.

This book provides a brilliant reading list for young readers. I highly recommend it and intend to pass on to my fourth grader.

From the author of "I'm Living Your Dream Life" and "The Things I Wish I'd Said," McKenna Publishing Group.