After all, they were practically my peers. It’s set in the summer of 1973 and, as I read the book in the late fall of 1974, I could completely relate to the characters. One of the things I liked best about TRYING HARD TO HEAR YOU was how contemporary and real this novel felt. In the fall of 1974, I ordered three books off the list and, amazingly, all three turned out to be life-changing favorites that I have continued to read over and over again through the years: William Sleator’s HOUSE OF STAIRS, Ellen Raskin’s FIGGS AND PHANTOMS, and Sandra Scoppettone’s TRYING HARD TO HEAR YOU. Mostly I borrowed the books from the library, but occasionally I’d save up a little of my paper route money and order one or two from the bookstore. I’d always try to read as many of the nominated titles as I could. Previously in this blog I’ve spoken of an experiment that the American Library Association conducted in the early 1970s, publishing lists of books that were nominated for each year’s Newbery and Caldecott award. Many people send fan mail to their favorite writers, but has anyone ever written a letter to a CHARACTER in a novel?
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