Tuesday, May 19, 2009
A Talent for Quiet (Picture/Photography)
Released February 2009
www.guardianangelpublishing.com
www.kimchatel.com
Reviewed by Tracy Farnsworth
Amazon places A TALENT FOR QUIET for the 9 to 12 age group. I think younger readers could handle it, especially children who have a new step-parent in their life.
After Reanie's mom remarries, she finds it hard fitting in with her new stepfather. He's into sports, she's not. He's loud and boisterous, while she's quiet and reserved. While he always tries to include her, she quietly rejects him and hides out in her room. However, his passion for cameras intrigues her.
One day, he asks Reanie if she'd like to go on a "photo safari." She agrees and soon finds that she and her stepfather have more in common than she could ever imagine.
Instead of using illustrations, the author's book is filled with beautiful photography of the wildlife you find in and around a river. I liked that change of pace. The book contains details on photography making it suitable for any child with an interest in taking photographs.
All in all, it's a well-written, emotional story that I hope leads to a series. I'd like to see more of Reanie as her relationship with her stepfather grows.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Thank you for the great review. You are right about the age range. Amazon places most new children's books at 9-12 as a default. I would suggest 6-12. I read it to this audience at libraries and schools, and they seem to take it in.
ReplyDeleteKim Chatel
Excellent review! Best of luck with the book Kim.
ReplyDeleteCheryl
I think some sequels are a great idea. I sent this book to my grandson, not because he has a step-parent, but because his grandma is a photogtrapher. He's only 5 years, but as he grows this book will help him understand me, and possibly become a photographer himself.
ReplyDeleteI really hope Kim does consider a sequel. My teens and hubby will tell you that I tend to be an emotional person. You know that Kleenex ad where the neighbor puts a Hallmark card in her lonely, elderly neighbor's mailbox-that ad always brings tears to my eyes. The book did the same thing.
ReplyDeleteMy daughter picked up the book this morning while waiting for her bus. She's out of the intended age range at this point, but she admitted once she started reading it, she couldn't put it down. The main reason for her was the information on photography.
The middle school here pushes the gifted children into photography programs, so for her photography is a growing passion. She especially liked the appendix in the end that discussed terminology associated with photography.
In the end, she asked if she could take my copy to the school and give it to the photography teacher to use in the future for the younger kids at Georgia Elementary-Middle School. So, having reviewed it, I'm hoping by passing it to the school that many children will get exposure to a really fun hobby!
Great idea to use Talent for Quiet in a school, Tracy. I believe there are many "quiet" kids out there for whom photography could become an abiding interest.
ReplyDelete