This column by David Brooks in the NYWT is all about giving school kids free books to take home during the summer:
Recently, book publishers got some good news. Researchers gave 852 disadvantaged students 12 books (of their own choosing) to take home at the end of the school year. They did this for three successive years.
Then the researchers, led by Richard Allington of the University of Tennessee, looked at those students’ test scores. They found that the students who brought the books home had significantly higher reading scores than other students. These students were less affected by the “summer slide” — the decline that especially afflicts lower-income students during the vacation months. In fact, just having those 12 books seemed to have as much positive effect as attending summer school.
This study, along with many others, illustrates the tremendous power of books. We already knew, from research in 27 countries, that kids who grow up in a home with 500 books stay in school longer and do better. This new study suggests that introducing books into homes that may not have them also produces significant educational gains.
Be sure to read the entire thing.
I’m linking to this today because I’ve been working on something behind-the-scenes for several months. In addition to slowly putting together a scholarship program (couple years away, I hope?), I’ve been working with funders and educators to develop a program that puts 10-12 books in the hands of a few hundred kids in rural areas of Kentucky. Normally don’t speak of things before the dotted line is signed, but I’ll buy the books myself if I have to. And Brooks’ column reinforces my belief that if you give kids the chance to read – not just from their school library (if they have one) – their lives can be changed for the better.
But enough of my rambling. I want your input on stories about Kentucky or books (fiction or non-fiction) by Kentucky authors to be considered for purchase.
What are your suggestions? Any great, interesting, exciting or essential reads for Kentucky youth? Probably high school sophomore-aged, so not stuff for kids.
It’s not too tough to find a few hundred folks who will read. Those young Kentuckians are likely to share those books they love with friends. At a minimum, no one can tell me that’s not a good thing. At a maximum, the literacy rates in Kentucky’s high schools could be improved by a millionth of a percent. (Don’t think it’s necessary? Read a few educational audits from high schools around the state – you’ll wet yourself in fear.)
So… give me the 411. Books? Authors? Get crackin.
Oh, and if anyone wants to give me money (there’ll be a full accounting, no worries) for the endeavor or if there are enterprising authors and publishers out there who want to give us great books, email me.
33 responses so far ↓
1 Shawn // Jul 9, 2010 at 2:45 pm
Stick with Kentucky authors – The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come.
2 zing // Jul 9, 2010 at 3:19 pm
the Hill-based fiction of Silas House (realistic, but HS kids can handle it). BIG STONE GAP and the other hill-based novels of Adriana Trigiani. CREEKER by Linda Scott DeRosier (to show kids the road can run from Pike County to Harvard). Essays and poetry of Garry Barker. More as it occurs to me. Great project. In “Freakonomics” the authors statistically establish that merely the presence of books in a home is what matters — usage not so much. Strange, isn’t that.
3 Lisa Graas // Jul 9, 2010 at 3:22 pm
Very good of you. You can guess what I’d recommend. Biographical books about Abe Lincoln and MLK, Jr.
With Malice Toward None: A Life of Abraham Lincoln
4 jake // Jul 9, 2010 at 3:24 pm
Thanks for the ideas, folks. Keep them coming!
And if you’re askeerd to comment, feel free to email me.
5 TP // Jul 9, 2010 at 3:25 pm
You don’t need any more evidence of the value of this program, but I’ll still mention the Dolly Parton program in Tennessee (with much younger children) to put at least one book in the hands of every 1st grader – in many cases, the only real book in the household. Fabulously successful. Good for you for taking this on.
6 MarionCountyLine // Jul 9, 2010 at 3:29 pm
All the Kings Men by RP Warren (obviously)
River of Earth by James Still
Wild Ride by Ann Hagedorn
Bluegrass Conspiracy by Sally Denton
Muhammad Ali’s 1975 autobiography
7 E // Jul 9, 2010 at 3:37 pm
October Sky
8 John Cheves // Jul 9, 2010 at 3:51 pm
Nobody has mentioned Nicholas County native Barbara Kingsolver yet?
Her most recent novels are her best. But for a high school age audience, some of her early books — “The Bean Trees” and “Pigs In Heaven,” say — would be appropriate, I’d think.
9 Strangeite // Jul 9, 2010 at 3:52 pm
Short of Glory. The biography of Edward Pritchard.
I read it my sophomore year in high school and it had a profound impact on me.
10 MarionCountyLine // Jul 9, 2010 at 4:13 pm
Oh, and every Sue Grafton book, especially “O is for Overdone”
and isn’t “Ahab’s Wife”s author from Louisville, too?
11 tbrauch // Jul 9, 2010 at 4:15 pm
Two books:
Offbeat Kentuckians: Legends to Lunatics
More Offbeat Kentuckians
Both by Keven McQueen, a native Kentuckian, educated in Kentucky and still teaching in Kentucky. Also, they are both published by a Kentucky publisher.
They are collections of short stories that are extremely interesting so I think it would keep their attention. And since they are set as short stories, you can read one or ten in a day, depending on how long you have free.
12 TP // Jul 9, 2010 at 4:20 pm
“Ahab’s Wife” – Sena Jeter Nasland, former Kentucky Poet Laureate. Has written seven or eight other novels.
13 TP // Jul 9, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Oh, and don’t forget to include Ed McLanahan on the short list of great Kentucky authors.
14 Larry West // Jul 9, 2010 at 4:27 pm
Agree with Shawn that you should emphasize Kentucky authors — if only to show that good things can come out of Kentucky — might even encourage some of the students to become Kentucky authors themselves. Anything by Jesse Stuart would be good, although some seemed geared towards middle-school age (Huey the Engineer, for example).
15 jake // Jul 9, 2010 at 4:30 pm
Thanks for all the suggestions.
I’m focusing on 100% Kentucky authors or published books. See above.
16 Strangeite // Jul 9, 2010 at 5:05 pm
Agreed. What I love about Short of Glory is the example of how a good old Kentucky boy can be the shining star on a national level and then crash and burn due to sheer hubris.
17 Yellow Dog // Jul 9, 2010 at 6:04 pm
Everything written by Wendell Berry, starting with Unforeseen Wilderness.
18 Terri // Jul 9, 2010 at 7:04 pm
The Gravity Soundtrack or Death Defying Acts, both by Erin Keane, would be perfect for Kentucky h.s.-aged kids. Seriously, dude.
19 Lilycat // Jul 9, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Two favorites: Gurney Norman and
Harriet Arnow and essays by belle hooks, Hopkinsville native now at Berea College– for older youth
20 CLRead // Jul 9, 2010 at 10:20 pm
Kentucky has more than its share of great children’s authors–many of whom are still living. Here are some to check out:
George Ella Lyon (from Harlan Co., lives in Lexington)-Together, Come a Tide
Anne Shelby (Clay County)-The Someday House, Homeplace
Tres Seymour (Hart County)-We Played Marbles, I Love My Buzzard
Marie Bradby (Louisville)-More than Anything Else, Momma Where Are You From?
Paul Brett Johnson (Lexington)-Farmer’s Market
21 Bruce Maples // Jul 9, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Wendell Berry, Sue Grafton, Thomas Merton. Maybe some Hunter S. Thompson?
22 Tiffany Nash // Jul 9, 2010 at 10:51 pm
What a great project! I, like Mr. Cheves, am a fan of Barbara Kingsolver. I really enjoyed her nonfiction, “Animal, Vegetable, Miracle.”
23 Kristie // Jul 10, 2010 at 7:32 am
Silas House’s newest book (“Eli the Good”) is for a YA audience and it’s one of his best, I think. Jennifer Bradbury, a WKU graduate, has “Shift,” which is quite excellent. She is working on a new book as well, I think. The previous poster was correct on Barbara Kingsolver’s books “The Bean Trees” and “Pigs in Heaven.” She also has some wonderful books of essays. Wendell Berry is another individual that you should definitely include. He may be willing to help on the project as well. There are many many more — I’ll e-mail you from my office on Monday. Books are what we do there, and Kentucky authors especially! What a wonderful project!
24 jake // Jul 10, 2010 at 8:35 am
CLRead: Definitely not after children’s authors.
We’re talking about adult authors. Books for kids that are about to be juniors in high school.
25 Davi // Jul 10, 2010 at 9:28 am
Bobbi Ann Mason definitely belongs in the collection.
26 Donna Mattingly // Jul 10, 2010 at 3:09 pm
Any Janice Holt Giles Kentucky historical novels would be great. I love Nelson Countian Fenton Johnson, and his “Crossing the River” might be appropriate. Johnson is at home in New Haven for a couple of months, caring for his aged mother btw. Louisville author Elizabeth Beattie and her two volumes of Conversations with Kentucky Writers, + Kentucky Authors by Sister Mary Carmel Browning (if you can find it). Lynwood Montell. Elizabeth Madox Roberts. Stones for Bread by Edwin Carlisle Litsey (Marion Countian and KY’s first poet laureate)sp?….
27 John B // Jul 13, 2010 at 2:46 pm
I understand the focus on Kentucky books, but I would include some of the essential progressive library like The Jungle.
Stephen Zimmer is an up and coming fantasy author in Lexington.
28 PT // Jul 14, 2010 at 10:37 am
A Bellsong for Sarah Raines by Bettie Waddell Cannon. I’m pretty sure Cannon is from Kentucky but can’t verify via google – if I remember right, she was my English teacher Ms. Nolan’s cousin.
29 DMA // Jul 14, 2010 at 1:21 pm
Anything by George Ella Lyon.
Please oh PLEASE give away copies of Gurney Norman’s KINFOLKS: The WILGUS STORIES. It might be hard to find but it is set in eastern kentucky and absolutely beautiful, funny, heartbreaking.
30 DMA // Jul 14, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Also Jake — hope you are talking to Frank X Walker and other Afrilachian Poets – Kelly Norman Ellis, Chrystal Wilkinson — they are all Kentucky writers and have books out.
31 DMA // Jul 14, 2010 at 1:24 pm
I’ll put in a personal plug for my Dad’s book —”Peril, Kentucky”– novel about an out-of-state English professor living in Eastern Kentucky. Email him or visit his website, I’m sure he’ll be happy to donate a few or sell at reduced price:
http://www.josephganthony.com/
http://www.josephganthony.com/books#Peril, Kentucky
32 XYZ // Aug 4, 2010 at 7:32 pm
“Creeker: A Woman’s Journey” by Linda Scott DeRosier… autobiography, an account of growing up in Martin County…
33 Roger // Aug 5, 2010 at 8:18 am
How ’bout Joe Creason?
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