IN THE MARIANAS:
When we think of “reading legends” in the Marianas, we think of reading the myths and legends of our region. In this context, we think of legends as stories from the past. They explain the origins of life or the old ways of peoples and cultures before us. We have two excellent collections of these: The two-volume collection from the Trust Territory of the Pacific Islands, LEGENDS OF MICRONESIA by Eve Grey (1951); and MICRONESIAN LEGENDS by Nancy Bo Flood, Beret Strong, William Flood, illustrated by Connie Adams (Bess Press, 2002). You can find these at the Joeten-Kiyu Public Library. They help us connect with the past and feel the unique power of a world dominated by ocean and sky.
FOR MILLENIALS:
We also live in a newer world connected by technology. To some Millennials, “Reading legends” starts with Levar Burton, a man who dominated children’s television with READING RAINBOW. He provided an exciting exposure to children’s books through the medium of television. In this context, we use legend as a famous and influential person with near super-human powers. Reading in an engaging and inspiring way is a super-power! Levar Burton is a reading legend!
FAMOUS AUTHORS:
We might also consider authors as legends who should be read. “Reading legends” in this context means reading the legendary authors’ works. Legendary authors include the famous and influential, those popular and classic, and those who forge new paths and invent new ways. Any number of authors could be labeled as legends. Most lists of legendary authors include William Shakespeare, Leo Tolstoy, Charles, Dickens, Ernest Hemingway, and Stephen King. However, my favorites include Jane Austen, Agatha Christie, J.K. Rowling, Judy Blume, Toni Morrison, and Beverly Cleary.
English authors
*Jane Austen wrote the earliest romances and established the power of a woman’s voice in story-telling. PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, SENSE AND SENSIBILITY, and MANSFIELD PARK are among her classics.
*Agatha Christie is the queen of murder mysteries, and the best-selling author of all times, with such a prolific output and strong, likeable characters that pushed the genre into ordinary homes throughout the world. Her detectives include Hercule Poirot of THE MYSTERIOUS AFFAIR AT STYLES, MURDER ON THE ORIENT EXPRESS and Miss Jane Marple of SLEEPING MURDER and THE MURDER AT THE VICARAGE.
*J/K/ Rowling brought us the most successful series featuring HARRY POTTER and revitalized the fantasy genre (despite her later controversial anti-trans opinions).
American authors
*Judy Blume was an early voice in juvenile and young adult literature that tackled taboo subjects like menstruation and masturbation. Some of her books face challenges, but the ALA has supported keeping her books on the shelves, including TALES OF A FOURTH-GRADE NOTHING, ARE YOU THERE, GOD? IT’S ME, MARGARET, and SUPERFUDGE.
*Toni Morrison brought us the evocative and authentic voice of a woman of color in America, with stunning novels like BELOVED and THE BLUEST EYE. She opened the door in major publishing houses, both as an editor and as a writer, for other black authors we all want and need to read.
*Beverly Cleary broke new ground writing stories about middle-class children like RAMONA QUIMBY and HENRY HUGGINS with respect and clarity, set in and around Portland Oregon, and showing with respect their real problems that adults so often ignore or dismiss as childish. We recall Beverly Cleary, a librarian, with D.E.A.R. month every April. Drop Everything And Read!
APRIL 2022 PLEDGE
This April, make a pledge to enjoy “Reading Legends,” in any and all of the contexts that the phrase can mean.