Young Critics Book Club

Young Critics (Perrot Library) Book Club and Kate McClelland

I was Assistant Director and Director of Youth Service at Perrot Memorial Library, Old Greenwich, CT for 27 years until my semi-retirement in 2007. I was a New York Times Librarian of the Year in 2006 (nominated by a former Young Critic). I have served on the following ALA award committees: Caldecott (twice), Newbery, Printz as well as on ALA Notable Books for Children. I have also served on the 2003 NYT Best Illustrated Books jury. Currently I am on the Ezra Jack Keats New Talent Award Jury and the Board of the American Library Association's Association for Library Service to Children.

Photo by Kristina Berlin. Copyright 2004 Greenwich Post Hersam Acorn Newspapers LLC Used with permission. All rights reserved.


What are the must-haves in a review or critique of a book?


Young Critics (YCs) rate on a scale of 1 to 4 stars, 4 being the highest.

Since there are over 30 members, and many YC reviewers at each meeting, reviews are very brief (unless an argument ensues... which is always lively). We want to be very different from the school reading experience... no theme, vocabulary, plot summaries, written reports. Just their quick-and-dirty gut response as readers and some idea of where the book let them down or captured their heart.

They are very high energy, tend to talk over each other, but they regard this club meeting as a "party" (to quote one YC) and we'd like to keep it that way.


What has surprised you about the tastes and abilities of the young critics within your group?

1. They are very unpredictable. I rarely know what they are going to love or hate.

2. They are very tough on fantasy even though they still love it and always want more.

3. They have so little understanding and background on history that it is staggering. One YC this year asked what the "Civil War" was. Understand that these are self-declared AVID readers from arguably the best middle school in a very well-educated demographic in metro NYC. In my opinion, they are receiving the best education money can buy.


What excites you about the fiction being produced today?

That publishers, despite the financial risk, continue to publish new authors and new formats.


What concerns you?

The trend, which evidently started with Harry Potter, towards publishing many, many undistinguished fantasy series. It is standard for each volume to be 400 or 500 plus pages. If the AVID readers cannot read a 400/500 pp title in two weeks, then where is the audience?

If you had an unlimited audience of authors, what would you most love to tell them as a book lover, a teacher/librarian, critic or all of the above?

Apropos of the above, I would ask them to:

1. Never assume any knowledge and context when writing historical fiction.

2. If you have written what you intend as a stand alone novel, do not be persuaded to reflexively turn it into a series b/c your publisher wants to exploit your ability to make $$$ for the house.

3. When writing fantasy, pay more attention to sustained pacing. YCs report that these novels start off with a bang, end with a cliff hanger and s-a-a-a-g badly in the middle (i.e. even HP/7 was criticized by YCs for its endless camping trip in the middle)

4. Don't forget the true middle grade novel. If you can't capture 4th and 5th graders when their decoding skills are established and when they actually have spare time to read, you risk losing them altogether. Respect them; they are not all potty-mouthed.

What helpful hints could you share with someone who'd like to start a group of literary critics or a book club with teens or children?

1. Interview perspective club members so make sure that joining the group is their own desire, not that of a parent or a teacher. Members who are pushed unwillingly into the club, never work out.

2. Do not all read the same book at the same time. They already do that in school. It is more time/labor intensive, but booktalk several brand new books at each meeting and let them begin to cycle through the group.

3. Kids are just like adults, they want to read what's new and hot. Even better, booktalk your ARCs b/c kids love the cache of getting a book before the buying public does.

4. Your booktalk is crucial. It is "showtime." But never ever booktalk something you yourself do not like unless you level with them that you need their reaction to it. Your credibility is crucial and you can't regain it if it is lost.

NOTE: It is often said that you can't have a YA program without FOOD. We do NOT serve food. This is 100% about the BOOKS... they provide the focus and the excitement... they ARE the party!

How would an author/publisher submit a book to Young Critics for consideration?

ARCs are always mailed to me. I and 2 other librarians read and evaluate constantly to make sure we don't miss a potential "hit." It takes a lot of our time, but when you booktalk a brand new title, and the YCs return it to the group with a rave and 4 star rating, and everyone in the group is shrieking to get their hands on it, it is absolutely worth the time spent! And when you learn that they are passing it hand-to-hand in school hallways, that's the jackpot!

Selznick's "Hugo" grabbed a nod from the Young, Young Critics and a Caldecott. Have you had similar success in predicting winners in previous years?

We do not hold a "mock awards" session as such. We do try to booktalk the important books of the year, and sometimes we know that our readers have already read and loved the winner/s when the awards are announced.

Sometimes we know from readers response that they do not love the winner/s and will howl and complain when we come back from American Library Association and discuss them.

They absolutely know the difference between quality and popularity. So the short answer is, sometimes the YCs do predict winners, but not always. They will be delighted by the award for The Invention of Hugo Cabret, which they read in galley, of course!