Children's books for adults?

■ 推薦書：青少年及兒童讀物（偵探歷史小說、短格言圖書）

What have you been reading recently? I have never been a habitual¹ reader, but am taking steps to build this habit, as a way to take my mind off work and avoid fixing my eyes on devices². To do that, young adults fictions and short stories have become my go to³. Allow me to share a few today.

Young adult fiction are easy to read and digest for language-learning purposes. They are excellent for building confidence, solidifying⁴ and diversifying⁵ vocabulary for intermediate level students.

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Sophia’s War: a Tale of the Revolution, Avi, 2012.

• 難易度：★★★☆☆

• 頁數：295

• 故事種類：historical 歷史, juvenile fiction 青少年小說, spy 偵探

From a perspective of a teenage girl in 1776 in New York City, the readers follow Sophia on a quest⁶ to save her country and her brother. She is recruited as a spy, traveling miles carrying news that would shock the colonies⁷. It is a riveting page turner with some historically accurate truths about the US revolution against the British.

Sophia’s War: a Tale of the Revolution, Avi, 2012.

這本二手書被我撿回家後發現裏頭有學生的筆記，口吻像個小學生，賦予這本書一種獨特的個性！

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Up Down Inside Out, JooHee Yoon, 2019.

• 難易度：★☆☆☆☆

• 頁數：64

• 故事種類：aphorisms 格言, fairy tale & folklore 童話與民間故事, picture book 圖書

A witty⁸ and playful book that is mentally stimulating and suitable for both children and adults. Each page carries an aphorism and is open to all different kinds of interpretation⁹. If you want to have a fun conversation with your children, start here! (Mr. S and I do not have kids but we still enjoy this book. Very interesting! It is a gift from his family.)

The author is also the illustrator of the book.

Do you have any book recommendation?

1. habitual (adj) 慣性的

2. device(s) (n) 泛指科技裝置如手機平板等

3. go to (n) 俗話用法指方便最愛物，參考這篇文章解釋go to用法

4. solidify (v) 紮實化

5. diversify (v) 多元化

6. quest (n) 任務

7. colony (-ies) (n) 此指美國獨立前的數十個殖民地

8. witty (adj) 聰明、巧妙且詼諧的

9. interpretation (n) 解釋、釋義、解說