DEBBIE JACOB
WHEN I finished reading Kate Messner's children's novel Chirp, my first thought was that nothing is more important in the July/August school holiday than encouraging children to read. The long holiday gives children and teenagers time to explore their interests and learn more about themselves and the world around them through reading.
Books help young readers to articulate their thoughts and feelings. They sharpen readers' comprehension and analytical skills. Studies show that students who read in the long holiday return to the new school year about four months ahead of their non-reading peers.
The pandemic has made reading more important than ever. The physical, emotional and social isolation of the last two years has impacted on academic and emotional growth. Reading offers the comfort of working out these pandemic-related issues that have been difficult, if not impossible, to express. Children learn that others share their fears, anger, depression and insecurity. Reading develops communication skills muted in isolation. My students in prison will testify to that.
There's no trick to getting children and teenagers to read. Even reluctant readers will delve into good books if they're edgy and relevant to their lives. I saw this as an English teacher, a librarian and as an English teacher in prison. I have visited schools in Trinidad and read to children for NALIS and seen students' enthusiasm whenever I do readings from my books.
All the books students enjoy have characters around their age who are struggling with friendship, relationships, family or school. They like books that tackle real-life issues of confidence, marginality, drug abuse, crime, cultural identity or sexuality.
If parents are not squeamish about their children reading age-appropriate literature about topics they would prefer to shield their children from, then young readers will turn to literature for entertainment, comfort and knowledge. They will like books that are informative, but fun; action-packed, but thought-provoking with compelling characters who work through issues. A good children's novel or Young Adult (YA) novel is so well written, it appeals to adults.
Chirp reminds me of what readers ten to 16 love to read. Five years ago, I would have said Messner's books should be for readers 12 to 14. Now they are age-appropriate for children ten to 12 because children are exposed to more of the themes listed above at an earlier age. At the same time, Messner's novels qualify as high interest, low reading level for teens.
Mia, the main character in Chirp, struggles with her confidence after she suffers from an incident she can't talk to her parents about. She has just finished the equivalent of Form One, and she's heading to her grandmother's farm, where crickets are being raised as an eco-friendly food source.
Everyone - except Mia - thinks Mia's grandmother should do less work and sell the cricket farm because she is recovering from a stroke. The novel examines ageism as Mia and her grandmother em
