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Every once in a while I meet a fellow bookworm. When a student comes to me having read every book in sight and asking for a recommendation for what to read next, I feel warm and fuzzy inside. More often than not, though, parents ask me what books their children should be reading. I am always happy to respond.
I am a firm believer in developing a love for the classics in students of all ages. There are reasons that some books are loved by people of all ages for hundreds of years, and there are reasons that some books find their way to the dollar store. So what makes a book worthwhile? Here are some basics that I look for in a good book that I hope will help parents and students alike choose books that are worth the time it takes to read them.
1. A Moral to the Story: Every book teaches something, whether the author admits it or not. Does the book inspire goodness, honor, and justice in its reader; or does it promote manipulation, selfishness, or pride?
2. Character Development: How well do the characters accurately reflect human experience? Whether the setting is the real world, a historic setting, or an imaginary world, well-developed characters will teach the reader about human nature.
3. Creativity: Though some might assume that every published work is creative in some way, I would argue otherwise. I have read a variety of novels with similar, predictable plots. Unfortunately, to “spice up” such lackluster plots, authors eventually resort to creating excitement with the use of objectionable material. Even Christian authors can fall into this trap.
There are, of course, other elements that make good fiction, but I have listed just a few of the basics. For any parents and students who would like some specific ideas, I am happy to say that BJU Press has published an excellent resource entitled Best Books which is now available as a free PDF download (click to download here: Part 1, Part 2*). This publication organizes its entries by age group from kindergarten through twelfth grade. Along with each book title is a brief description of the book’s plot, which can give parents insight into what books might interest their children most.
Summer is just around the corner; why not travel the world by exploring books?
*Used with permission from BJU Press.