The syllabus notes that you must write four reading responses over the course of the semester, and that they must adhere to the following distribution plan:

• at least one must be a response to a children's novel we read as a class
• The Alice books
• Wizard of Oz
• Harry Potter
• Charlie and the Chocolate Factory
• When Zachary Beaver Came to Town
• at least one must be a response to a young adult novel we read as a class
• Princess Diaries
• Black Book
• Stargirl
• Perks of Being a Wallflower
• at least one must be a response to an adult novel we read as a class
• About a Boy
• Geek Love

General Policies:

• Responses must be written prior to class discussion of the book
• Responses are due on the day scheduled for class discussion of the book to which you are responding.
• Example: if you write a response to The Princess Diaries, it must be handed in on November 19.
• Responses must be typed
• Respoonses  should avoid providing a summary of the book.

Responses may take a variety of forms, but they all should share a critical engagement with the text. That is, after reading your response, I should be able to tell that you (a) read the text and (b) spent time thinking carefully about the text and the issues it raises. Some possible topics include the following:

• What does this text seem to want its readers to talk about?
• What connections did you make when reading this text (connections to your own life and experiences, connections to other texts like books, films, etc., connections to your knowledge of the world). How did making those connections help you better understand the book and what it seems to be saying?
• What are the underlying assumptions about children and/or childhood does the book seem to hold? Do you share those assumptions?
• Assess the book's portrayal of the world of the characters. Does the text try to mirror reality, or does it delve into the realm of fantasy? Does the text's representation of "reality" for the characters resonate with you? Does it seem believable? Does its believability level affect the way you read the story?
• Consider the form the text takes. Why do you suppose the author chose this particular genre (novel, play, poem, picture book, &c.)? What does the text's form contribute to the overall effect it has on you as a reader?
• How does this text relate to other texts you've read before? In what ways does it support or challenge ideas other books have put forth?
• What seems to be the purpose for the book? Does it seem to fall into any of the categories that often are used when discussing children's literature (e.g. fantasy, new realism, historical fiction, didactic literature, &c.)? What do suppose the author wanted his or her readers to "get" from reading the text? What evidence can you find in the text itself that supports this?