Ten Years Later

Like most Americans, I remember where I was 10 years ago the morning of September 11, 2001. I also remember the feelings of shock and horror in the following days along with the feelings of unity and patriotism that came for months afterward. Horrific events like this will remain etched on our lives forever. What I wish was still present 10 years later, however, are the intense feelings of unity and patriotism expressed not only in this country, but by so many others across the world. It's for those feelings I long the most. That's probably one reason I don't like books with sad endings. In fact, I loath them and wonder why so many adults like them. Most kids I know might read a book with a sad ending once, but they won't reread it. It doesn't become something that is loved by generations of children. Parents and academics might like such books and push them on their kids, but my experience is that these types of books aren't something most kids want to reread. They want happy endings. The good feelings one gets from reading a story matter. This is one reason I write children's books. Books for kids almost always have happy endings, for the good guys and gals, that is. Most kids I know seem to be drawn to the hope they feel toward the heroes or heroines at the end of books after their characters have gone through the proverbial wringer. I'm sure that there are some out there who have counter examples of kids who like tragedies, but I'll stick with the majority of kids on this one and go with the happy endings. I want my books reread more than ten years later.