Kids are encouraged to write about the details of their life in this book. The author introduces key terminology such as memoir, biography, autobiography, character, setting, and plot. The text addresses many of those questions kids are sure to ask such as "Don't You have to be Famous to Write Your Life Story?" and "Who will Read My Story?"The author suggests great ideas for brainstorming such as creating a neighborhood map (an actual map of the neighborhood where your house is located) or a heart map (an emotional map of what matters to you). The text is filled with examples of stories that illustrate the concepts the author is teaching.
There are also interviews with famous authors such as Jack Gantos (of Joey Pigza fame) and Jerry Spinelli (of Maniac Magee fame). Many different forms are presented and special attention is paid to telling both good stories and bad, meaning those stories that are sad, painful, or may not paint you in the best light.
Overall this is a fantastic book on an important topic. This text would be useful in programming for writing programs or clubs. This text would be ideal for 3-5th graders, but the activities can be broken down into simpler tasks or embellished to captivate older audiences making this an essential tool in school age programming. Highly recommended!
Genre: Nonfiction
Fletcher, R. (2007). How to write your life story. New York: Collins.
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