The Ethics of Darkness
PART FIVE: RESOURCES
This is the epilogue to my “Ethics of Darkness” blog series. Check my earlier posts for the rest of the series.
To parents asking, “Where do we start? Where are the alternatives to what our children are reading now?” I provide you with this list, far from exhaustive: a small part of the wealth of literature suitable for children and readers of all ages. Many are classics, some are contemporary. Also included are a few resources for parents, educators, and writers interested in learning about darkness in children’s literature, and similar story-related topics.
Books for Children and Young Adults:(In no particular order: this is a list comprised more or less of books I have encountered over the years.)
The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien.The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis.The Prydain Chronicles by Lloyd Alexander.The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen and other books by Lloyd Alexander.The Redwall Series by Brian Jacques.Bridge to Terabithia by Katherine Paterson.The Tale of Desperaux by Kate DiCamillo.Because of Winn-Dixie by Kate DiCamillo.Mr. Popper’s Penguins by Richard and Florence Atwater.Peter and Wendy by J.M. Barrie.Rifles for Watie by Harold Keith.Hans Brinker; or, The Silver Skates by Mary Mapes Dodge.By the Great Horn Spoon! and other books by Sid Fleischman. Johnny Tremain: A Novel for Young and Old by Esther Forbes.My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George.The Eagle of the Ninth and other books by Rosemary Sutcliff.The Princess and the Goblin and other books by George MacDonald.The Phantom Tollbooth by Norton Juster.Charlie and the Chocolate Factory and other books by Roald Dahl.
Books and Resources for Writers, Educators, and Parents:
A Landscape with Dragons by Michael D. O’Brien. A book for parents on choosing the right books for children to read.On Stories by C.S. Lewis. A collection of essays by C.S. Lewis on storytelling, the philosophy behind stories, and certain of his own favorite stories.Plugged In Online, a website devoted to articles and blogs about entertainment and media.www.thrivingfamily.com, a division of the same organization as Plugged In, focused on book reviews.
Works Cited
Bunn, Christopher. “The Why of Stories.” Scribbles and Tunes for the Modern Human. Christopher Bunn. 29 September 2013. Web. 24 November 2013.Chesterton, Gilbert Keith. “A Defence of Penny Dreadfuls.” Essays in Context. Ed. Sandra Fehl Tropp and Ann Pierson D’Angelo. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. 10-13. Print.Farley, Christopher John. “Should Young Adult Books Explore Difficult Issues?” Speakeasy. Dow Jones and Company. 5 June 2011. Web. 24 November 2013.Grimm, Jacob and Wilhelm. tr. Margaret Hunt. “Brother and Sister.” Virginia Commonwealth University: Grimm Fairy Tales. n.d. Web. 24 November 2013.Gurdon, Meghan Cox. “Darkness Too Visible.” The Wall Street Journal. Dow Jones and Company. 4 June 2011. Web. 24 November 2013.Hoose, Bob. “Hitting the Books.” Family Room. Focus on the Family. February 2010. Web. 24 November 2013.O’Brien, Michael D. A Landscape with Dragons: The Battle for Your Child’s Mind. San Francisco: Ignatius Press, 1998. Print.O’Connor, Flannery. “The Total Effect and the Eighth Grade.” Essays in Context. Ed. Sandra Fehl Tropp and Ann Pierson D’Angelo. New York: Oxford University Press, 2001. 23-25. Print.Tolkien, John Ronald Reuel. The Two Towers. New York: Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994. Print.Whitmore, Meredith. “My, What Gory Tales They Read.” Plugged In Blog. Focus on the Family.
21 June 2011. Web. 24 November 2013.