Older kids want longer books.

“That book is too short, you can’t even get a real story in such a short book.”

In researching the books in the upcoming Li & Lu series, I asked my 12-year old what he was reading and how that compared to our first book, The Secret of Kite Hill.

That book, written way back when he was 10, seemed like a short story to him. A little comic book almost with just a quick plot and a few scenes. In less than two years, we’re already seeing change happen before our eyes. “The stupid book project” is already seeing the kids grow through books, stories that they’re the stars of and books on their nightstands.

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I asked him for his help to write something more like books that he’s reading now (on his nightstand is Ghost Hawk, by Susan Cooper–I don’t even know where he got it, it’s a hardcover, BTW).

This is part of the greater plan to write books together with the kids from age 10 to age 18. I want to grow with them, I want the stories to grow with them, but I want the boys to grow with the books and the stories as well. Li wasn’t as involved in the last of the Markree Castle series, but I have a feeling that he’s going to be making a comeback in upcoming books.

In any case, he doesn’t have much of a choice with me as his dad. He’s in it for the long haul. Hey, he’s the Li in Li & Lu after all.

Now maybe I’ll go crack open Ghost Hawk and see what he’s reading.

• Possible: read what your kids are reading
• Impossible: write what your kids are reading
• Repossible: ask what your kids are reading

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