NORWAY — The Norway Memorial Library will host a book discussion series,
“Delights and Challenges: An Adult Discussion of Children’s Fiction,” beginning at 7 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 1. The series will provide participants with an overview of children’s fiction and focus on four subjects: survival, justice, journey and home. Two books will be discussed at each of four sessions, both relating to the topic of that week’s discussion.

Beth Kane, adult services coordinator at Norway Memorial Library will lead the discussions. Of the books she said, “Readers will find that themes overlap, that a book selected because it relates to justice or survival may also largely relate to journey or home. What is common to them all is that they take on big life challenges with delightful and heartwarming stories. Many have kind and courageous characters who learn lessons about life through trial and hardship, but who retain their hope that all will be well in the end.”

The readings include a broad range of children’s fiction, from historical to contemporary, with both male and female main characters and authors. Selections include five Newbery Medal books, two Newbery Honor books and two Maine authors. They were written as long as 49 years ago and as recently as five years ago.

The first two titles are “Island of the Blue Dolphins,” by Scott O’Dell and “Hatchet,” by Gary Paulsen. Both are stories of survival. The first is based on the true story of a young woman who lived alone for 18 years on an island off the coast of California and the second is about a 13-year old boy who must survive in the Canadian wilderness while he hopes for rescue. The hatchet referred to in the title is the only tool he has to assist him in his perilous adventure.

On Thursday, Oct. 15, justice will be the subject. The titles discussed will be “Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry,” by Mildred D. Taylor and “Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy,” by Gary D. Schmidt.

On Thursday, Oct. 29, journey, as it is presented in “Homecoming,” by Cynthia Voigt and “Walk Two Moons,” by Sharon Creech, will be the topic of discussion. The series will conclude on Nov. 12 with a discussion of home and the books “Bud, Not Buddy,” by Christopher Paul Curtis and “Maniac Magee,” by Jerry Spinelli.

The series will provide much to talk about over the course of eight weeks and offers an experience of reading that may challenge assumptions about children’s fiction. Books may be borrowed through Minerva, the library’s online catalog, or purchased at the library. For more information, call the library at 743-5309 or go to www.norway.lib.me.us.