Podcast281: Brisinger Book Release, Home Run Books, Flow, and Reading Advice from 10 Year Old Alexander

This podcast is a recorded interview in the car with 10 year old Alexander. Two years ago, as a third grader, Alexander read the book Eragon after he saw the movie and it become his “home run book.” Literacy scholar Jim Trelease coined the phrase “home run book” to describe a book which someone reads that hooks them on reading and propels them to thereafter be a member of the literacy club. Since Eragon and Eldest (Christopher Paolini’s sequel to Eragon) are two of his favorite books of all time, today’s book release of Bristinger, the third book in the series, was understandably a day of great excitement for Alex. In the car to and from the Hastings bookstore the first time we tried to purchase the book this morning (before the store actually opened in Brownwood, Texas) I interviewed Alexander about his home run book experience, why reading for him is now a “flow” experience. (In his words, “like a movie playing in my head.”) He discusses his favorite book series titles to date: Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Artemis Fowl, Harry Potter, and the Eragon series. Alexander also discusses the differences between listening to someone else reading him a book, and now being able to directly read and experience a book by reading it.

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