[CALIBK12] Adopt an Author?

[Vickie Rabourn]

I just perused the Adopt-an-Author website. I was immediately turned off by the poor writing. How ironic that a website that purportedly promotes reading and writing contains a glaring error. "Less discipline problems"?!?!? Come on! Shouldn't a professional writer know how to use "less" and "fewer" correctly? Alten's claim should read, "Fewer discipline problems." If I could see data proving that Adopt-an-Author has a direct effect on discipline problems - or even on creating lifelong readers, for that matter - I might be convinced. For the time being, I'm not impressed. I do like the idea of adopting an author, though. I just might develop my own version of something similar.

Vickie Rabourn
Los Osos Middle School 
Teacher Librarian
San Luis Coastal USD
San Luis Obispo County, CA

"And he reads to them, as he does every night, as if watering them, as if turning earth at their feet."   --James Salter             


>>> Jo Avery <javery at eduhsd.k12.ca.us> 3/3/2009 8:28 AM >>>

I have been getting messages from my staff like crazy about this so I just did a little research.  So far, what I have found is that this program was started by a man who seems to me to be a mediocre author.  His first book, MEG about a prehistoric shark, may or may not be in the process of being made into a movie - depending on whose site you look at.  Reader reviews are mixed, but generally all agree the books are a quick exciting read, but that he isn't a great writer and his sci-fi is hard to buy into. One reviewer said the books are very bloody/gory with little to no character development. As far as I can tell, there are only six books in the selection.  These folks may have their hearts in the right place and this might be a good program for the Really Reluctant Reader, but I'm not sold yet.  It seems to me, they are more about selling the books, and possibly the movie if and when it is made.

Jo Avery, Librarian Media Teacher

El  Dorado High School

Placerville, CA 95667

530-622-3634 ext. 1026

http://cougar.eduhsd.k12.ca.us/Library/index.html 

'A library with a dedicated and professional staff should be at the very heart of any institution dedicated to learning,'  --Philip Pullman, best-selling author