I’m on vacation in New Hampshire this week, dodging the rain and taking my kids to lots of used book stores! I was originally going to do an open floor, but the younglings agreed to let me interview them around the dinner table tonight. Here is the transcript, with me as Mother-Thing, the 15 yo as Eldest Child, the 14 yo as Redhead, the 12 yo as Junior Mad Scientist (you should hear the evil laugh, it’s the MOST adorable thing ever), and finally, the 9 yo as The Little Man.

I thought it would be interesting to see what they had to say about their reading, what they like and don’t, and how school works with pleasure reading. Hopefully this will make you laugh, and maybe think if you plan to write any young adult books.

The Mother-Thing: So what do you like to read? You’re going to be a sophmore in Highschool this year, are you going to have time to read?

The Eldest Child: I will read very little, I have too many activities, I have band, drama, jazz band, pep band, art club, and homework.

MT: I didn’t know there were that many kinds of bands.

EC: I look for a title, how it looks, like… then I’ll read the back, if that catches me, then I’ll take it. I’ll read basically anything. But I have assigned reading all year, so I’m not going to have time to read unassigned anything.

MT: So, next-eldest daughter, you’re going to be a frosh. What about you?

The Redhead: Yes, I’m going to have time to read. Anything that catches my eye, if it’s suggested to me I’ll try it. Last summer I went through all the teen section shelves at the library.

Junior Mad Scientist: All of them?

R: All of them. I was there five days a week.

MT: What do you not like to see in a book?

R: Fantasy in a real place. Like a past time, like the 1800’s. Seriously, who does that? I read a book in Slovakia in the 1700s with a dragon in the cast.

MT: So, Junior Mad Scientist, you’re going to be in 7th grade. Will you have time to read?

JMS: most likely. I like to read at night.

EC: Dude, she has stayed up until like three in the morning reading.

JMS: I don’t like non-fiction. I will only read it if it’s suggested highly. Or assigned.

MT: So what kinds of things do you like to read?

JMS: Fantasy, until I run into where I don’t understand what they are talking about and I have to stop the book.

MT: Do you have a favorite author?

R: I know I do.

JMS: Not really, but i like Rick Riordan and Veronica Roth. I highly suggest Divergent, highly.

MT: So, Redhead, what’s your favorite?

R: John Green.

MT: So What is it about John Green you really like?

R: I read Fault in our Stars and it was like, powerful. It’s foreshadowing, and it brought me to the other ones by him.

MT: So, little Man, you will be in fourth grade, how about you?

Little Man: I like realistic fiction. My favorite is the Boxcar Children. I read realistic fiction because it kinda sprouts ideas. I don’t want to be fake. So I read to know what I’m gonna grow up to be.

MT: So, Redhead, what would you recommend for the readers of this blog?

R: I don’t know how well known it is, but An Abundance of Katherines. It’s about this guy who has only had Katherines for girlfriends. He ends up on a road trip, and they meet this girl who has only dated a Colin. She’s going to get with him, obviously.

MT: Junior Mad Scientist, what would you recommend?

JMS: I guess, other than Divergent, Percy Jackson and the Olympus, the second series, Heroes of Olympus, isn’t as good.

MT: How about you, Eldest Child?

EC: Um, the Mortal Instruments series. I just finished it and I really liked it.

JMS: I want to say something else. In the back of Divergent, there is this site called Epic Reads.com, you might want to check it out.

About then, our together time at the table came to an end… time for chores and maybe a movie tonight. If the rain holds off, we’ll go camping. If not, we have games, and plenty of books to read!