I am reading Funeral Ladies and it's great. I have also read all of Claire's 'kids' books and loved them. And I am an adult with a doctorate. They're all fabulous! Thanks again and God Bless!
Any author who can write a children’s book that adults can enjoy is definitely a “real” author in my book! Thinking specifically of the Bruce books by Ryan T. Higgins….they are hysterical. And there seem to be more of these books out there now than when I was a child.
As adults, I think we do need that occasional escape into a middle grade world or even a children’s world so we don’t forget what it was/is like. The adult world can get really heavy, and perhaps this is a way to reclaim a bit of innocence.
I get push notifications instead of emails so I have no email to reply to. But, my wife and I just finished Pride and Prejudice last night (her thousandth reread, and my first complete read through)! It’s a classic for a reason, and I just love the humor.
As a budding children's book author who just saw the publication of my first book last month, you have no idea how helpful and affirming this post was for me. I've found my inner critic accusing me: "When will you write a real book?" You've shown me the perfect answer to this false question: I do write real books because I write them for real people. Young people deserve good literature just as much, if not more, as any adult. Thank you Claire, for writing this piece.
So grateful for authors like you who wrote (and continue to write) "real books" for kids. Reading juvenile and young adult books as a kid is what began my lifelong love for books and writing (and so much more). And now as a parent I get to see my kids discover my old favorites and introduce me to new ones. <3
The best book I've read lately is The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (no email so wanted to share here). Happy book birthday!
As someone who promotes MG books I fully believe they are real books! And what a gift people have to be able to write books that appeal to both a 10 year-old and a 49 year-old!
I vividly remember rereading The Tale of Despereaux a few years ago and being blown away by an adult's ability to write for someone not their age. You're unlocking imagination and deeper meaning in words FOR THEM. PHENOMENAL. As a middle school English teacher, thank you for what you do. It matters.
I LOVE The Funeral Ladies! It’s the perfect contrast of real life struggle and grandma nostalgia. It actually inspired me to join a funeral ministry at my church! Any chance there will be another book about The Funeral Ladies?!
I recently finished Imagine Heaven by John Burke. It combines scripture with studies and accounts of near death experiences. It highlights how similar accounts about heaven are regardless of religious or cultural upbringing. Although it’s not specifically Catholic, when viewed through the lens of the church I believe it showcases Catholic theology in a profound way such as the consistent theme of outer levels of heaven/a paradise outside the walls of God’s city and the need to be cleansed before entering through the narrow gate (purgatory?) and it frequently mentions angels and busy, holy people in the city (Saints?) The descriptions of Heaven’s beauty will awaken even the most hardened of hearts. Anyway, I’ll end my book report here and just say I highly, highly recommend both books.
My children are now 3/3 for adoring Time for Bed by Mem Fox. We probably read it 3x/day with the current toddler and I also sit in the mystery of her delight. Why does she hate the snake page and love to stare at the puppy? What is it about the mother deer that makes her sigh? That book is more real than many I’ve read as an adult!
I don't get Substack in my email, but I'll reply here! I'm currently re-reading my way through The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and I recently finished The Hobbit. It's SO GOOD! I loved it as a kid, but the story is even richer for me now. It won't be long before my littles will be old enough to do a read-aloud with them, and I can't wait.
“If we want to raise children into being kind, compassionate, courageous, curious people, we must create art that’s worthy of them.” ❤️ that’s a good word!
This also makes me think of the years and years and years “mommy blogging” (HATE THIS PHRASE SO MUCH) was looked down upon as not “real” writing, and perhaps still is. Rachel Held Evans, may her soul rest in peace, wrote a piece I still think about to this day called “Hey Mommy Bloggers — Thanks” where she basically validated the impact that kind of writing had on her / her motherhood.
Happy to say Funeral Ladies has made it into our local library! Looking forward to the read!
The best book I’ve read lately is The Frozen River by Ariel Lawhon.
I am reading Funeral Ladies and it's great. I have also read all of Claire's 'kids' books and loved them. And I am an adult with a doctorate. They're all fabulous! Thanks again and God Bless!
Any author who can write a children’s book that adults can enjoy is definitely a “real” author in my book! Thinking specifically of the Bruce books by Ryan T. Higgins….they are hysterical. And there seem to be more of these books out there now than when I was a child.
As adults, I think we do need that occasional escape into a middle grade world or even a children’s world so we don’t forget what it was/is like. The adult world can get really heavy, and perhaps this is a way to reclaim a bit of innocence.
Yes, my children love the Bruce books so much!
I get push notifications instead of emails so I have no email to reply to. But, my wife and I just finished Pride and Prejudice last night (her thousandth reread, and my first complete read through)! It’s a classic for a reason, and I just love the humor.
As a budding children's book author who just saw the publication of my first book last month, you have no idea how helpful and affirming this post was for me. I've found my inner critic accusing me: "When will you write a real book?" You've shown me the perfect answer to this false question: I do write real books because I write them for real people. Young people deserve good literature just as much, if not more, as any adult. Thank you Claire, for writing this piece.
Thank you for bringing up Lager Queen! I loved it so much and likely would not have known of it without this letter.
So grateful for authors like you who wrote (and continue to write) "real books" for kids. Reading juvenile and young adult books as a kid is what began my lifelong love for books and writing (and so much more). And now as a parent I get to see my kids discover my old favorites and introduce me to new ones. <3
The best book I've read lately is The God of the Woods by Liz Moore (no email so wanted to share here). Happy book birthday!
Babysitters Club books are the reason I lost sleep as a kid. I could never put them down- I'm pretty sure I read all of them!
Well 🔥 Thanks for this, Claire.
As someone who promotes MG books I fully believe they are real books! And what a gift people have to be able to write books that appeal to both a 10 year-old and a 49 year-old!
I vividly remember rereading The Tale of Despereaux a few years ago and being blown away by an adult's ability to write for someone not their age. You're unlocking imagination and deeper meaning in words FOR THEM. PHENOMENAL. As a middle school English teacher, thank you for what you do. It matters.
I LOVE The Funeral Ladies! It’s the perfect contrast of real life struggle and grandma nostalgia. It actually inspired me to join a funeral ministry at my church! Any chance there will be another book about The Funeral Ladies?!
I recently finished Imagine Heaven by John Burke. It combines scripture with studies and accounts of near death experiences. It highlights how similar accounts about heaven are regardless of religious or cultural upbringing. Although it’s not specifically Catholic, when viewed through the lens of the church I believe it showcases Catholic theology in a profound way such as the consistent theme of outer levels of heaven/a paradise outside the walls of God’s city and the need to be cleansed before entering through the narrow gate (purgatory?) and it frequently mentions angels and busy, holy people in the city (Saints?) The descriptions of Heaven’s beauty will awaken even the most hardened of hearts. Anyway, I’ll end my book report here and just say I highly, highly recommend both books.
My children are now 3/3 for adoring Time for Bed by Mem Fox. We probably read it 3x/day with the current toddler and I also sit in the mystery of her delight. Why does she hate the snake page and love to stare at the puppy? What is it about the mother deer that makes her sigh? That book is more real than many I’ve read as an adult!
I’m reading The Journals of Emma M. Lion myself.
I don't get Substack in my email, but I'll reply here! I'm currently re-reading my way through The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, and I recently finished The Hobbit. It's SO GOOD! I loved it as a kid, but the story is even richer for me now. It won't be long before my littles will be old enough to do a read-aloud with them, and I can't wait.
I just read “A Fathers Tale”. for my book club. My favorite book from teen years is “Karen” by Marie killilea about a young girl with cerebral palsy.
“If we want to raise children into being kind, compassionate, courageous, curious people, we must create art that’s worthy of them.” ❤️ that’s a good word!
This also makes me think of the years and years and years “mommy blogging” (HATE THIS PHRASE SO MUCH) was looked down upon as not “real” writing, and perhaps still is. Rachel Held Evans, may her soul rest in peace, wrote a piece I still think about to this day called “Hey Mommy Bloggers — Thanks” where she basically validated the impact that kind of writing had on her / her motherhood.
I believe it was Nat the Fat Rat who said that if men wrote parenting blogs, there would be a Pulitzer Prize for daddy blogging. 💀