How to Read Literature Like a Professor: For Kids Paperback – April 23, 2013

I read this myself (the mom) before reading it aloud to my 5th grade son. I think this book is brilliant, but there are a few parts we skipped over. In the Vampire chapter there’s mention of a couple fooling around in a car… or something like that. It’s easy to skip… and then in the Shakespeare chapter there’s a mention of sex—like a spinoff version of a Midsummer Nights Dream…. ANYWAY. This book is incredible if you can edit those parts out. It’s too valuable to skip. BUT I wish the author would write a newer version and have better editors who understand what’s age appropriate! I found some additional educational materials to use with this book on TPT. I disagree with other reviews that the author is using too many references to older works. I think kids should be familiar with these books/stories (Huckleberry Finn, Jungle Book, Charley and the Chocolate Factory, Frankenstein, A Christmas Carol, Greek Myths… etc) There’s still plenty of references to Harry Potter and more modern stories as well…

It's a very interesting book, it illustrates literature in a different way that is easy to understand.

The book's content is good and interesting. I bought it for my son. Most paragraghs is easy understand and feel good. Just some of the book feel not fit kids.

Umm, people, this book is clearly for adolescents and younger teens, which is why there are mentions of *GASP* "fooling around" and sexy vampires. (Not to mention the fact that "fooling around" doesn't necessarily mean sexual shenanigans.) If anyone has actually READ Stoker's Dracula, it's obvious that vampirism is sensuous and sexual, along with the parasitism of the upper class. Sheesh. Why else is Twilight so popular with today's teens?Part of understanding literature is understanding metaphor, tropes and allusion to older works, which is why the reading list at the end is not full of today's teen hits, dear ones. While The Hunger Games is thrilling and enjoyable on its own, it takes on a deeper resonance if you understand it sprang from the tradition of Quest stories, from the Arthurian legends and The Canterbury Tales to LOTR. It's the journey, not the destination.Parts of the book could have been clearer, I agree. The introduction is a bit disconcerting, as it seems to start in the middle of a class discussion, and it takes a moment to get ones bearings. That can be a great start for a novel, but maybe not for a book on literature where expectations are different. The opening story of Kip Smith does seem a bit dated, but as Vietnam was the last war underage teens could feasibly sign up for, what with today's checking of birth certificates in triplicate, it was probably unavoidable.Overall, a great guide to decoding literature for teens. Not for eight year olds, but they don't exactly clamor to read Shakespeare and Henry James, do they?

My granddaughter’s freshman class is using this book. I bought a copy in order to be able to help her with advice, if need be. One of the first thing’s my granddaughter said to me was, “This book is NOT for kids!” After I read it, I have to agree. While not specific, it does discuss sex in books and symbols that represent sex (e.g. marriage) and other topics beyond the experience of most elementary age children.It’s written in language an eight-year-old could easily understand, but some of the examples and discussions are on topics that are likely beyond the average student in 3rd or 4th grade. The last example in the book would bore them to tears. I’ve worked with children of various ages throughout the years, my daughter is a teacher, and I’ve heard students’ discussions with peers, all of which form the basis of my opinion.All of that said, I believe it’s an excellent book, and totally appropriate for ninth graders. It probably is too easy a book for upper classmen, but this is a book that likely has something new for many students. Instead of ages 8-12, I’d set the ages to 10-14.

Ordered this for my daughter's English honors class as it was recommended by her teacher. Was exactly as described and came on time, quickly. Good price good quality.

I give this book a solid 3 stars. I would have gone for 4, but for the repitition. It's almost as if the chapters were lectures spread over several years and, of course, he had to cover the same ground again. The fact that they are so disjointed is a give away. Either that or he has Alzheimer's.The first 2/3 of the book are aimed at writers. I know this because the sticky notes don't appear in my copy until about page 200. And even then they make only a brief appearance. And, speaking of sticky notes, I could list the key points on a small one. But, if you're a writer, there's a lot to be gleaned from that first two thirds. As a writer myself, it's worth a re-read or two.The take away is that novels are products of their times and none exist in a vacuum. So when you read Toni Morrison, say, you're reading a novel based on her experience in her time, plus all the novels she's ever read, and all the novels those writers read, and so on. He makes several other, thought-provoking points, but I don't want to be a spoiler.Still, generally speaking, it's a good read by an entertaining writer. A bit too entertaining at times, even a bit, er, jaunty - but then he warned us.Bottom line is that if you're a writer read the whole thing a couple of times. You may even want to take a few notes. Otherwise, jump in at page 200.