I seem to be noticing a new trend lately. Maybe it’s a bias because of the books I’m drawn to, or perhaps it’s my predisposition these days to notice this characteristic (this past year I’ve helped found a local organization for parents of gifted and advanced learners.) 
It all began late this summer with The Mysterious Benedict Society, which opens with children being given tests for giftedness. All four children who are selected are indeed gifted, though in very different ways. Kate is incredibly physically adept, strong, fast, with lots of stamina. Her acute spatial awareness lets her know the dimensions of any room she is in. Sticky is so nicknamed because everything sticks in his brain. He is perhaps what many people think of when they think of a gifted child — he remembers every fact he reads, sees or hears. Constance is constantly challenging, quite irritatingly so, with gifts not always appreciated, but they will come in handy. And in the end, the reader gains a new understanding of her abilities, which continue to be revealed in the second book of the series. Reynie Muldoon is the main character and perhaps the most well-rounded of the four — likable, friendly, sensible, and intelligent. Good at following directions. Brave. Loyal. And yes, intelligent.
More recently I picked up The Dunderheads by Paul Fleischman and my one 
sentence review was, “this is the Mysterious Benedict Society for the younger crowd.” Although this is a picture book, it reminded me of the Benedict Society for the way that each child uses their particular talent and together they are able to accomplish a very difficult feat against a hated/feared enemy.
I’ve been exploring graphic novels for the elementary age lately as my middle son has been quite excited by this format (see earlier post “Too Much of a Good Thing.”) And that’s how I encountered The Secret Science Alliance and The Copycat Crook by Eleanor Davis. Meet middle-schooler Julian Cameron, total geek/nerd and thrilled when his parents announce they are moving and he’ll have to attend a new school. He’ll have the chance to start over. And what does he do there? Tries to disguise his intelligence so he can fit in. It’s painful to watch. And he’s no good at it. Most fortunately for Julian, he manages to find kindred spirits — who would have guessed that sports star Ben is actually an inventor? He just doesn’t do well on tests . . . The pictures are amazingly detailed and extend the text in many ways. I especially loved the diagram of Julian’s brain and a little later the depiction of the secret hideout/laboratory/workshop . . . so detailed and clever and funny too. And when an evil scientist tries to steal their plans . . . well, watch out!
This trend of super-smart protagonists continues. After having lunch with an old college friend who now writes children’s books, I decided I had some gaps 
to fill in my YA reading, and on her recommendation picked up John Green’s An Abundance of Katherines. Fantastic book, wickedly funny, classic theme of finding oneself. And the main character, Colin Singleton, is a child prodigy/genius who is afraid he is washed up at 17. Valedictorian, fluent in many languages, headed off to Northwestern in the fall . . . and dumped by Katherines 19 times. So he sets off on a journey with his best friend, also quite smart, Hassan, and they end up spending time in Gutshot, Tennessee and learning about life, love, and loyalty. I’ve recently begun Green’s Printz award winner, Looking for Alaska, which features a smart 16 year old, friendless at public school, who chooses to try boarding school, looking for the “Great Perhaps.” Another smart kid!
In thinking back to the characters I was most drawn to as a child reader, I’ve discovered that many could actually be characterized as gifted. Super-sleuth Harriet the Spy. Anne of Green Gables – that incomparable imagination and love of fancy words? Definitely. Elizabeth Bennett — yes, she’s wittier and cleverer than she is pretty, to her mother’s chagrin. Jo March, independent thinker, writer, actor — definitely talented. At times they all have trouble fitting in, but there own sense of self is enough to overcome. There’s definitely more to think about.
No comments:
Post a Comment