For this week’s Marvelous Middle Grade Monday I’m doing something a little different. My daughter and my niece came into my office so I thought I would interview them about their favorite book series. My daughter, L is 7 and my niece B is 11.
What is your favorite book series?
L (7) – My favorite book series is, um, Magic Treehouse. I like all the Magic Treehouse books – everything. I’ve listened to or read most of them.
B (11) : – I have a couple but let’s say Percy Jackson and the Olympians. I also like the Heroes of Olympus. Basically I like all stuff by Rick Riordan
What do you like about these books?
L –That they’re fun and I travel into the Magic Treehouse and have a fun adventure too.
B- They’re adventure books and about girls (and boys) kicking butt. And they’re fantasy. I love fantasy.
Which is your favorite book from the series or author?
L – My favorite actually is Tonight on the Titanic, because it is a sad story and it’s true. I really love it because it takes me on an adventure to a boat – on the Titanic.
B – I like a couple. They’re kind of all my favorite. But if I had to choose one to take to a desert Island it would be The Son of Neptune. I like it because it’s so long it took a long time to finish it. My mom and I read it together.
How do you like to read?
L- Silently by myself because I have some time to myself listening to music and reading.
B- I like to hear people read, people reading to me. Either a person or a recording, like an audio book.
Where do you get your books?
L- The bookstore or the library, but mostly from the bookstore or books that B gives me when she’s done with them.
B- The library or the bookstore, but mostly from the library.
Why do you like books?
L- Because it gives me time alone and I can listen to music and have ideas of writing my own book one day.
B – I don’t know, because if I have something troubling me I can just forget my problems and be transported into a different world.
Interviewer (me!): Tonight on the Titanic is very short, just 5300 words with a reading level of grade 3. The Son of Neptune is very LONG with over 117,000 words, and a reading level of grade 4 to 5.
As a writer, it’s great having real kid readers to consult. I talk to almost every kid I meet about what they’re reading and am always excited when I meet an enthusiastic kid reader. Frequently they leave my house with not just recommendations of books but actual books too! I can’t wait to get a few copies of my book WICKET SEASON to hand out.
For other Marvelous Middle Grade Monday posts check out these blogs:
- Joanne Fritz @ My Brain on Books
- Ben Langhinrchs @ My Comfy Chair
- Sherrie Petersen @ Write About Now
- Brooke Favero @ Somewhere in the Middle
- Myrna Foster @ Night Writer
- Ally Beecher @ Kid Lit Frenzy
- Barbara Watson @ Novel and Nouveau
- Deb Marshall @ Just Deb!
- Anita Laydon Miller’s Middle Grade Blog
- Michael G-G @ Middle Grade Mafioso
- Natalie Aguirre @ Literary Rambles
- Ms. Yingling @ Ms. Yingling Reads
- Jennifer Rumberger
- Pam Torres @ So I’m Fifty
- Mary @ Writer’s Butt Does Not Apply to Me
- The Accidental Novelist
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what a sweet MMGM surprise! love to hear it straight from the core audience 🙂
😀 Neat interview.
Maybe I should look into The Magic Tree House series too. 🙂
Fun interview! I have two middle graders living in my house too, and I so enjoy hearing their take on stories. It’s interesting, isn’t it, that one book can be so short and have a reading grade level of 3, and one is so long and only be a grade or two higher in reading level.
Yeah, I noticed that too. That’s a weakness with the whole idea of “reading level” which is based on computerized analysis of vocabulary and sentence length, and has nothing to do with the complexity of the plot or with the overall length.
It is so great to hear from the kids and what they like about books. Thanks for sharing this. I use The Magic Tree House books when tutoring ESL students. They love them!
I used to loooove magic tree house, and still grudgingly enjoy pj. I have never liked audio readings. I guess I sort of liked being read to when I was younger, but I still had to see the word. I just like physically reading stuff.