Up in the air…
Right now, I’m flying to Orlando, for the IRA Annual Convention. This is the first time Random House has ever “sent me” somewhere and I’m finding it THRILLING (the limo that picked me up this morning) and SCARY (the fact that I have NO CLUE what to expect).
Today I’m recording two podcasts, and then tonight I’m attending a dinner with a wonderful group of authors (including some friends I really like and admire) and educators (people I’m thrilled to meet, talk to, learn from). Tomorrow I’m speaking on a panel about middle school in the morning, and then signing books twice in the afternoon. I’ll be home (I hope) in time to tuck the boys in.
Can you say whirlwind?
The hardest part is that I’m finding it difficult to mull out exactly what I want to say about middle school, about how books like mine can be used in middle schools (can they? should they?) About how to balance what kids WANT to read with other things. I’m thinking a lot about the other things we do with books, the things we need to learn to do with books. Critical thinking, engagement, dialogue, etc. I’m thinking, as I fly, about how sometimes the books we enjoy are NOT the books we’re best able to study. And about why that is…