Eat, Read, and Be Mommy

And since I rarely give my kids books that I haven’t read–if we’re going to own something, I like to be sure it’s worth owning–there’s going to be some mad reading and listening going on in the next couple of weeks. Last night I finished listening to Rodman Philbrick’s Wildfire, which I was hoping might suit my 9-year-old son; it was a thrill ride and a half, but I’m afraid the emotional context and development is going to be a bit beyond him still. Think of it as an older version of the “I Survived” books–he loves those, but he’s a very young fourth grade boy who prefers math to reading, so I’ll hold on to Wildfire for another year or three (depending). Sam and Delphy make for great protagonists and a Maine wildfire an impressive villain. At least one review mentioned a damsel-in-distress aspect, but I didn’t see it that way; both kids contribute skills and grit to their eventual escape. Their partnership grows into friendship without any element of romance, which is wise on Philbrick’s part; adding that in would have been a distraction. (And in case you’re wondering, I just decided to embrace my love of semi-colons today.) If you have a latter-elementary student who loves adventure, this is the book, especially if said student has been enjoying the “I Survived” books for a couple of years; I’m looking forward to my son reading it when he’s old enough to get more out of it than he will now. In the meantime, on to the next gift contender!