Painless Reading Comprehension - Darolyn “Lyn” Jones Ed.D. 2021

I can’t find a good book to read!
Books, books, and more books

The book publishing world is on fire these days. More books are being published than ever before, which means you have more books to choose from than your grandparents or parents ever had when they were your age. And now you can read them in print or electronically, or listen to audiobooks!

Remember in Chapter One when I asked you what your favorite book memory was? What was your favorite picture book when you were young?

Now, name a book you have read within the last two years that you would say is your favorite. My latest and favorite book is Stamped: Racism, Antiracism, and You by Jason Reynolds. This book is a nonfiction remix of an adult book by Ibram X. Kendi. Reynolds breaks down the systematic and historical racism that has dominated the United States since its beginning. What I love about this book is that Reynolds makes it clear, and in fact he says it over and over, “This is not a history book!” And it’s not!

I admit that history was not my favorite subject in school, because I don’t like reading history books. But I do like reading historical fiction, which is fiction, or a not-true story, based on real history facts and people telling a story about a real historical event, like Laurie Halse Anderson’s book, Fever 1793, about a fictional teenage girl, Mattie, and how her family survived the real yellow fever that wiped out 10% of the population in Philadelphia in 1793.

I was skeptical about reading a nonfiction or true history young adult book, but I like Jason Reynold’s fiction books, like When I Was the Greatest and Long Way Down, so I gave it a try. Reynolds turns historical people and events into a readable story with characters, a plot, conflict, and even dialogue. I learned so much about the key players and events that led to racism in this country and even how someone can learn to be antiracist. Reynolds writes about history using contemporary vocabulary and storytelling techniques, which made it such a good read that I couldn’t put it down once I started!

Reflect on what you do!

1. How and where do you find good books to read?

2. Does that work well for you? Are you happy with your choices?