We don't do stars...
We don't do thumbs...
We read children's books and grade them in 10 categories:
literary quality
plot
voice
originality
descriptive ability
humor (if attempted)
illustrations (if present)
believability of characters
believability of situations
overall reading enjoyment

There is no grading curve. There are no points for classroom participation. There is no extra credit.
If you disagree, come speak to us after class.

The Grading System

A+.....this means (guess what) we think it's great. So great it surprised even us.
A.....this means it's pretty darn good. A book we'd recommend to just about everyone we know.
B.....better than most. Not exactly Shakespeare for kids, though, if you get our drift.
C.....mediocre. Like the color beige, it didn't stand out.
D.....we didn't like it. There were more bad aspects than good ones.
F.....it reeked of badness. We read it over and over when we are in dire need of hysterical laughter.
F-.....We're pretty sure Dante had a circle of hell for the people who wrote these...and a lower circle for those who published them.

Sunday, April 19, 2009

Reporter's Review: The Locked Garden, by Gloria Whelan


Harper Collins, June 2009
Overall Grade: A-

The Locked Garden by Gloria Whelan was a beautifully written story. The characters--both primary and secondary--are real, and their trials are heart-wrenching. The language is perfect for the time period (Victorian) yet accessible for young readers. The plot is intriguing. But the last three chapters were missing.
Seriously, this book was great but for its (lack of an) ending.

Literary Quality: A-
Plot: A
Voice: A
Originality: A-
Descriptive Ability: A+
Humor: n/a
Illustrations: n/a
Believability of Characters: A+
Believability of Situations: A
Overall Reading Enjoyment: A-

Possibly objectionable topics*: secondary characters dealing with mental health issues.
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