Learning to Find Good Books

How do we find good books? We get this question often at Redeemed Reader. Many of you are on the hunt for books: to satisfy a voracious reader, interest an apathetic reader, find a new read aloud —the list goes on and on.

But how do we find good books? And how can you do it?

Honestly, this is a question we often discuss as we’re reading ahead for you. The more we’ve talked, and the more I’ve thought about it, there are some guidelines to help you find good books, and they tie together with our Redeemed Reader Companion (which is free for our Gold Key members, too!).

1. Find Authors You Trust*

In the vast realm of books published each year, there are some authors we hunt out. Jeanne Birdsall is a perfect example. We loved The Penderwicks and each further book in the series proved to be a treasure.

Authors are human, and we recognize that authors can change. Some authors are rock-solid and nothing short of a cataclysmic earthquake would shake them. (We’re looking at you, N. D. Wilson, Andrew Peterson, and our own Janie Cheaney, to name a few.) However, we recognize that some writers veer into new paths. *We do our best to highlight the excellent, but our trust is laced with wisdom and caution.

How does this apply to you? Start compiling a list of authors you like. If you like their work, find more of it. (This is especially pertinent when they are a new-to-you dead author.)

Use caution —sometimes a genre shift will bring completely different writing and themes. Again, this is true of both old and new authors.

Example: I love Andre Norton’s historical fiction (reprinted by the wonderful Bethlehem Books) and subsequently discovered her science fiction. All I’ve seen of her writing so far would be appropriate for an advanced MG or YA teen. While I’m not so certain of her co-authored books (not enough exposure yet), I’ve started carefully recommending her to friends looking for YA or MG sci-fi. 

Flipside: I also love Diana Wynne Jones, but I’ve discovered her adult fantasy would NOT be suitable for a YA reader. The same goes for Charles de Lint. His MG fiction Seven Wild Sisters is lovely fantasy (and needs to be reviewed here) but his adult fiction can be downright gritty with heavier themes.   

When an author you like releases a new book/or addition to a series, try not to assume that it will be good, but learn to hope. 

2. Teach your children to read wisely

—Maybe even ahead of you. My younger sister is a voracious bookworm and has read books ahead of me. She knows that sometimes they are not vetted, and there is an expectation that she will warn me if the book takes a turn in an unexpected direction. By trusting her, I am helping her learn to read with discernment. 

3. Identify Promising Signs/Warning Markers

I spend a lot of time standing in front of the new releases in the children’s section of our library. Often the first thing I will notice is a title, or an author. (See above!)

I unapologetically scrutinize book covers, and I watch for author blips —where some author is highlighted on the cover, recommending the story. 

If an author I trust or enjoy recommends a book, I am much more likely to take it home.

Back to Jeanne Birdsall. If she likes something, I’m checking it out! Or, maybe someone like Ingrid Law —author of Savvy— recommended it. She falls into the genre of magical realism Janie has written about at Redeemed Reader (and is mentioned in our upcoming guide.) 

Knowing Ingrid Law, I know the book will probably involve magic, and while it might not be deep, it will probably be fun.

Watch for awards and know which ones are flags: My example is backwards here: I recently started a YA audiobook BEFORE noticing on Amazon that it had received the Printz award. It was for personal enjoyment, and I was trusting the author to a degree. However, that award tipped me off that while the story might be good, it also might have themes we’d not agree with on RR. (Eg., The Stonewall Award is a perfect example since it is “sponsored by the American Library Association’s Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual, and Transgender Round Table.”) 

4. Build Your Book Knowledge

I can just hear you asking: but how can I know all these things? How do you? Honestly, I know because for the past 8 years, I’ve read a ton of the posts on Redeemed Reader. (And I’ve spent countless hours reading and more hours than I care to think at the library!)   

I’ve listened to the team analyze ALA awards, and analyzed awards myself, and I know where our views on books can intersect or veer away from the ALA choices.

I know which authors we love and which authors have lost our trust. I’ve also learned which authors can have themes we’d disagree with at RR.    

I’ve listened to you, our readers, and when you’ve liked a book and compared it to another, I’ve learned to pay attention. (And sometimes hunt out that book!)

This can all translate into your own life and your quest to find good books. A great place to start gaining your knowledge would be to read our Redeemed Reader’s Companion. It’s the best of the first 5 years of Redeemed Reader condensed into a great, readable format.

The Companion’s essays, booklists, and reviews will introduce you to authors, good and bad, and help you understand themes we see and interact with in children’s literature.

We are here to help you, our readers, and equip you as you in turn equip your children. 

We’re reading ahead for you.  

*Post originally published 10-5-18