>Marvin Redpost v. Stanley Yelnats

by Roger Sutton
Jul 20, 2011 | Filed in Articles & Opinion
>This Guardian article about authors famous for the wrong book has me turning children's authors and titles over in my head. I do think Paula Fox's best book is One-Eyed Cat, not The Slave Dancer or Desperate Characters. I like Lois Lowry's Autumn Street more than The Giver, and Hilary McKay's The Exiles has it all over her books about the Cassons. In wake of my re-immersion in "Laura World" courtesy of Wendy McClure, I'm going with The Long Winter over any of the Wilder books with Little in the title.

Any iconoclasts feel like knocking something over?
Roger Sutton
Roger Sutton

Editor Emeritus Roger Sutton was editor in chief of The Horn Book, Inc., from 1996-2021. He was previously editor of The Bulletin of the Center for Children's Books and a children's and young adult librarian. He received his MA in library science from the University of Chicago in 1982 and a BA from Pitzer College in 1978.

Comment Policy:
  • Be respectful, and do not attack the author, people mentioned in the article, or other commenters. Take on the idea, not the messenger.
  • Don't use obscene, profane, or vulgar language.
  • Stay on point. Comments that stray from the topic at hand may be deleted.
  • Comments may be republished in print, online, or other forms of media.
  • If you see something objectionable, please let us know. Once a comment has been flagged, a staff member will investigate.

Genevieve

>YES to The Changeling and A Drowned Maiden's Hair as the best of those authors' books.

And while I like many of the other Little House books, The Long Winter wins by a mile. Elizabeth, I will never think of it again without worrying that I would've broken the grinder. Because I certainly would've.

Posted : Jul 26, 2011 09:24

gail

>I agree with Laura about Gregor the Overlander. I think that series is very good at what it is supposed to be--a kids' adventure/questing-type story. I actually prefer it to The Hunger Games.

Posted : Jul 25, 2011 11:20

eshinrichs75

>I love When the Wind Blew over many of Margaret Wise Brown's other titles.

Posted : Jul 22, 2011 06:26

Anonymous

>Hey, Anonymous, I couldn't agree more about A Drowned Maiden's Hair. I think Criss Cross is wonderful, but I could be persuaded about All Alone in the Universe.

And Roger, The Exiles are brilliant. I wonder if they don't get the love because of the book burning in the first book. SHE BURNT THE BOOKS. I think maybe we can't do that even in fiction. I loved the book but haven't been able to re-read it because I was sickened by the HORROR. The second is my favorite.

Anon2

Posted : Jul 22, 2011 07:11

laura

>Zilpha Keatley Snyder's The Changeling over The Egypt Game.

Seconding Jacob Have I Loved for Katherine Paterson.

I far prefer The Hobbit to The Lord of the Rings.

Posted : Jul 21, 2011 09:06

View More Comments

RELATED 

READ ROGER

Fanfare 2021 Booklist
by Roger Sutton
READ ROGER

January/February 2022 Horn Book Magazine starred reviews
by Roger Sutton
READ ROGER

Happy Birthday to Me (and Maybe You?): A Note from Me (Oct 26, 2021)
by Roger Sutton
READ ROGER

Jerry Pinkney (1939-2021)
by Roger Sutton
READ ROGER

A Note from Me (Oct 8, 2021)
by Roger Sutton
READ ROGER

November/December 2021 Horn Book Magazine starred reviews
by Roger Sutton
More
RECOMMENDED
ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?

We are currently offering this content for free. Sign up now to activate your personal profile, where you can save articles for future viewing.

ALREADY A SUBSCRIBER?