Andrea--

I was thinking a lot yesterday about those years and what I read and saw at the movies and caught on the tube growing up far away from major museums in a cow town--way before the internet thing invaded. And what blew me away and how I hold a lot of those books, the music--like dear little friends who I would defend against anyone--family friends in the fight against all that came through my life when I was a kid.

And then today I read this and it made a lot of sense about what books can do for the young-- whether they have rotten lives or charmed lives or something in between.

I've not been a big fan of Alexie but maybe I'll read this most recent book.

http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/06/09/why-the-best-kids-books-are-written-in-blood/