May 31, 2006
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The Summer Reading Challenge begins tomorrow, and several participants have their reading lists up (including someone who is going to read Her Privates We, and man, is that ever an unfortunate title).
#2 son has a summer reading list. $40 worth of reference books, plus seven novels, only one of which is available in a cheap edition. They are to own the books so they can write in them, so we are talking about $150 for a 10th grade summer reading list. This is as bad as a college class.
We also have college classes to pay for — #2 daughter’s tuition for eight weeks is just about the amount of money I take home in five weeks. Fortunately, she has something to contribute, but we are still definitely on austerity measures for the summer.
So I went to Frugalreader, where it turned out that they had all but one of the novels listed. I listed nine of my books, and so far have had four requested. As soon as my requesters receive their books, I get to request #2 son’s books — if they are still there. I am optimistic. This will get most of those novels to us for $1.59 (the cost of sending the books) apiece, instead of $16.95.
Whatever I cannot get that way, I will then check the local used bookstores for. Amazon has used books, but the shipping of $3.95 makes them expensive for used books, even if the seller is only asking for pennies. I may use that method for the reference books, though.
I am not sure whether it seems more unreasonable that the high school should ask us to spend $150 for a summer reading list for one class, or that publishers should offer classic novels only as $16.95 trade paper, rather than $3.95 mass paperbacks. Shouldn’t the masses get to read The Grapes of Wrath on the cheap?
Comments (6)
If the child doesn’t wish to write in the book, can s/he not own them? This could be an important question because if your son did not want to write anything or was willing to write in a separate notebook, you wouldn’t have to buy them.
I’m the daughter of a librarian. I wrote in a grand total of ONE book until college. And it was so hard to get myself to do that one! In college, I think I was a junior or senior before I wrote or highlighted in a textbook and even then it was only in my major’s books. (I also bought used books and always looked for ones that were unmarked.) If someone in highschool had told me I had to write in a book, I would have been utterly askance. And I still wouldn’t have done it. You just don’t write in books!
I plan to teach my daughter to not write in books either. So I hope she’s never told my the school that that’s an okay thing to do!
Check out half.com. They may or may not be able to help. But it’s worth a try.
Okay – you made me do it – I signed up on frugalreader. I’m so weak! I can’t resist a bargain!
If anyone else gives in to the temptation to do so, tell them I referred you and I will get a free book credit. Or that Jamie did, for that matter, and she’ll get a free credit.
Summer Reading Challenge. Now that’s what I can do to stay sane. Only I need recommendations. Maybe I will go to Frugal Reader and see what’s listed, then post some books we are ready to pass on. Thanks!
And if you let me know the books you need, I will look on our shelves and see if we have any of them. You have sent me two books already, so I would like to help if I can!
We are spending Summer on the cheap at Chez Kali, too.