Aubrey Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 that describes river life or a river adventure, such as Huck Finn that would be appropriate for 9-12 year olds (closer to the young end of that spectrum than the old end). (At what age *does* Huck Finn become appropriate? Dh recently reread it & said simply, "Not now!" I have a tendency to think everything I read in highschool or college would be fine for dc at any age because...I guess I compartmentalize the objectionable things from the main story line. :001_huh:) A short story would be fine, too. Any river would work, but something by Twain would be cool. TIA! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
melissel Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Paddle to the Sea, maybe? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 that describes river life or a river adventure, such as Huck Finn that would be appropriate for 9-12 year olds (closer to the young end of that spectrum than the old end). (At what age *does* Huck Finn become appropriate? Dh recently reread it & said simply, "Not now!" I have a tendency to think everything I read in highschool or college would be fine for dc at any age because...I guess I compartmentalize the objectionable things from the main story line. :001_huh:) A short story would be fine, too. Any river would work, but something by Twain would be cool. TIA! "Paddle to the Sea" describes river life as well as that of the great lakes and then the sea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 If you'd like something off the beaten path, we quite liked Horns & Wrinkles. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
woolybear Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I did a search on Amazon. I typed river adventure and searched in books. Quite a few possibilities came up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 "Bold Journey" by Charles Bohner is a book that describes the Lewis and Clark expedition from the point of view of a young (teen) recruit. Much of it takes place on rivers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hedgehog Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 that describes river life or a river adventure, such as Huck Finn that would be appropriate for 9-12 year olds (closer to the young end of that spectrum than the old end). (At what age *does* Huck Finn become appropriate? Dh recently reread it & said simply, "Not now!" I have a tendency to think everything I read in highschool or college would be fine for dc at any age because...I guess I compartmentalize the objectionable things from the main story line. :001_huh:) A short story would be fine, too. Any river would work, but something by Twain would be cool. TIA! The Swallows and Amazons series. One of my personal favourites! :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tammyw Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I'm watching this thread and can't wait to try some of the suggestions! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Onceuponatime Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 (edited) Cold River was one of my favorite books when I was a child. It is a little intense in spots and there is a death, other than that it has similar content to My Side of the Mountain. It is a young person's survival story. http://www.amazon.com/Cold-River-Signet-William-Judson/dp/0451166493 Edited February 20, 2011 by Onceuponatime Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caroline Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 My kids have liked books by Will Hobbs. They are set in the PNW. I bet he has a river adventure one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Caitilin Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 that describes river life or a river adventure, such as Huck Finn that would be appropriate for 9-12 year olds (closer to the young end of that spectrum than the old end). (At what age *does* Huck Finn become appropriate? Dh recently reread it & said simply, "Not now!" I have a tendency to think everything I read in highschool or college would be fine for dc at any age because...I guess I compartmentalize the objectionable things from the main story line. :001_huh:) A short story would be fine, too. Any river would work, but something by Twain would be cool. TIA! Out of curiosity, why did dh say not now? We just listened to this in the car with all dc, and even my 6 yo enjoyed it. I don't mean that I think you should change your minds, I am just interested in his thought process, if you're willing to share...:001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kathleen in VA Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 The Buffalo Knife by William O. Steele. It's about a family that travels down the Tennessee River on a flatboat - spine-tingling adventure specifically for that age group. My boys loved it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Carol in Cal. Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 HF is a toughie, isn't it. I held off on it, too. My fairly classical GM from the Boston area gave it to me for my birthday when I was pretty young--10 or 11 maybe? I remember reading it and liking it. Then we studied it in 10th grade and I didn't like it nearly as much. The funny thing is, rereading it as an adult, thinking of studying it with DD in 7th grade or so, I saw things that I just slid past when I read it before. The relentless use of the n-word was even worse than I remembered, but I had completely forgotten the tremendous domestic and civil violence, or it had gone unnoticed. I look back on this and think that I thought it was kind of normal. Now I'm appalled. When I finally started reading it to DD, I told her that I can't say the N-word, and would substitute for it. Yet I wouldn't want them to change that text. I could obsess about this for quite a while. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 HF is a toughie, isn't it.I held off on it, too. My fairly classical GM from the Boston area gave it to me for my birthday when I was pretty young--10 or 11 maybe? I remember reading it and liking it. Then we studied it in 10th grade and I didn't like it nearly as much. The funny thing is, rereading it as an adult, thinking of studying it with DD in 7th grade or so, I saw things that I just slid past when I read it before. The relentless use of the n-word was even worse than I remembered, but I had completely forgotten the tremendous domestic and civil violence, or it had gone unnoticed. I look back on this and think that I thought it was kind of normal. Now I'm appalled. When I finally started reading it to DD, I told her that I can't say the N-word, and would substitute for it. Yet I wouldn't want them to change that text. I could obsess about this for quite a while. I haven't actually read it in nearly 20 years, & I tend to have a snapshot memory of a book. I loved it when I read it as a sr in highschool *because* I loved the symbolism, etc. Between the physical abuse, tragedy, etc--I can't remember specifically what he told me--HF was *completely* not for elem kids, in his opinion. I imagine highschool would be fine; middle school??? But certain things aren't open for discussion w/ him, &...since I tend toward dark taste, I try to go w/ his gut instead of mine when it comes to lit. :lol: Anyway, I'm looking for something for geography, so there's no reason it needs to flirt w/ the confrontational or dark. Just life on a river. Or adventure on a river. Or something to illustrate all the stuff they're learning about how rivers work. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 In the book, Rat does call Mole an "a&&" a time or two, which I just chalk up to the time it was written, etc. but others might not feel that way. Whoa. Ds read this years ago & loved it, but I had No. Idea. it needed pre-reading! :svengo: Well...it obviously went over his head. :001_huh: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Whoa. Ds read this years ago & loved it, but I had No. Idea. it needed pre-reading! :svengo: Well...it obviously went over his head. :001_huh: But it doesn't have the same connotations in Britain as in North America, and is found in much great British children's literature. This is easily explained to a child. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 But it doesn't have the same connotations in Britain as in North America, and is found in much great British children's literature. This is easily explained to a child. I still haven't read it, & he didn't ask, so I don't know what the connotation is in WiW--a Shakespearean insult? ;) If I'd known, I would have pre-read. Since I didn't...well...oh well. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I still haven't read it, & he didn't ask, so I don't know what the connotation is in WiW--a Shakespearean insult? ;) If I'd known, I would have pre-read. Since I didn't...well...oh well. :001_smile: It just means a donkey, not a body part. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TCB Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 In Britain, at least in times past, it really does or did mean donkey. The word you're thinking of is spelled quite differently there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 I still haven't read it, & he didn't ask, so I don't know what the connotation is in WiW--a Shakespearean insult? ;)No, "silly ass" is akin to "silly donkey" and was not considered a profanity. A different word is used entirely as the equivalent for our anatomical meaning, and I have yet to come across in in classic British kids' lit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helena Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 We also enjoyed Paddle to the Sea and Wind in the Willows I'll add Naya Nuki (Shoshoni girl escapes captors, and follows Missouri River to get home) We have, but haven't read The River, by Gary Plausen. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jean in Newcastle Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 We also enjoyed Paddle to the Sea and Wind in the Willows I'll add Naya Nuki (Shoshoni girl escapes captors, and follows Missouri River to get home) We have, but haven't read The River, by Gary Plausen. Ds liked The River (and it's precursor Hatchet) around 11 or 12, but you need to know that it does have a number of swear words in it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted February 20, 2011 Author Share Posted February 20, 2011 It just means a donkey, not a body part. Oh, see, that's in the Bible. In the context of a donkey, I wouldn't even think to warn someone about it. :001_smile: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
helena Posted February 20, 2011 Share Posted February 20, 2011 Ds liked The River (and it's precursor Hatchet) around 11 or 12, but you need to know that it does have a number of swear words in it. I love Hatchet, but I've been hesitant up till now to read it to the girls because of the mom cheating on the dad parts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Little Nyssa Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Is Wind in the Willows too young? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 The Broken Blade by William Durbin about a thirteen-year-old taking the place as a Canadian voyageur for a 2400 mile canoe paddle (set in the 1800s). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrappyhomeschooler Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Danger on Midnight River by Gary Paulsen Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kalmia Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Timely topic re: Huck Finn. A friend just sent me a newspaper clipping entitled "Censor Huck Finn?" (can't tell what paper--she cut that part off) explaining that Alan Gribben, a Mark Twain scholar, is trying to get a new edition of Huck Finn published with the racial epithets removed and replaced by the word "slave." Other scholars feel that this santitization would not only ruin the setting's authenticity and its historical significance but also obscure the growth of the main character as he gradually leaves the racist preconceptions of his fellows behind and learns to accept his companion fully. Also, Mark Twain fought any attempt at changing his prose. Here is a quote from him regarding the efforts of a proof-reader trying to change his punctuation: "I telegraphed orders to have him shot without giving him time to pray." I suppose, then, he would have an even worse fate doled out to those who suggested replacing some of his words and not just his commas and apostrophes! The consensus in the article seems to be wait until middle-school or high school for the book. I let my son read it in 4th grade--concurrent with American history studies of the same period. I explained the differences in how such a word would be received today as compared to the time period in the book. I am sure he was in no way "damaged" by this reading. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nmoira Posted February 21, 2011 Share Posted February 21, 2011 Timely topic re: Huck Finn. A friend just sent me a newspaper clipping entitled "Censor Huck Finn?" (can't tell what paper--she cut that part off) explaining that Alan Gribben, a Mark Twain scholar, is trying to get a new edition of Huck Finn published with the racial epithets removed and replaced by the word "slave." Other scholars feel that this santitization would not only ruin the setting's authenticity and its historical significance but also obscure the growth of the main character as he gradually leaves the racist preconceptions of his fellows behind and learns to accept his companion fully. I was torn about this (only because some districts have eliminated the book altogether to avoid the controversy) until I found out that "slave" was being substituted for all incidences of the offending word, regardless of whether it referred to slaves or freedmen. This "solution" now seems completely unworkable to me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Aubrey Posted February 21, 2011 Author Share Posted February 21, 2011 Timely topic re: Huck Finn. A friend just sent me a newspaper clipping entitled "Censor Huck Finn?" (can't tell what paper--she cut that part off) explaining that Alan Gribben, a Mark Twain scholar, is trying to get a new edition of Huck Finn published with the racial epithets removed and replaced by the word "slave." Other scholars feel that this santitization would not only ruin the setting's authenticity and its historical significance but also obscure the growth of the main character as he gradually leaves the racist preconceptions of his fellows behind and learns to accept his companion fully. Also, Mark Twain fought any attempt at changing his prose. Here is a quote from him regarding the efforts of a proof-reader trying to change his punctuation: "I telegraphed orders to have him shot without giving him time to pray." I suppose, then, he would have an even worse fate doled out to those who suggested replacing some of his words and not just his commas and apostrophes! The consensus in the article seems to be wait until middle-school or high school for the book. I let my son read it in 4th grade--concurrent with American history studies of the same period. I explained the differences in how such a word would be received today as compared to the time period in the book. I am sure he was in no way "damaged" by this reading. I agree--I'm *totally* against censoring or editing it. I love the book. I just want to wait until the kids are ready for that level of emotion & complexity. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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