Runemarks, published this year by Knopf, is her first novel for kids some passages may be too disturbing for very young children, but what makes this novel special and appealing to readers young and old is its retelling of classic Norse tales, its gifted prose and captivating dialogue. Novelist of Chocolat fame, Joanne Harris is a fine storyteller. Far from seeking out a children's title written by a favorite author, readers seem to think that that the book is not intended for them. Never is this dilemma more evident then when a usually "adult" writer pens a book specifically written for children, or vice-versa. While many titles cross over genre and age lines (Harry Potter, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time, and Stephenie Meyer's Twilight series come to mind), many more great books never get the recognition and larger readership they deserve. What is frustrating about this inevitable classification is that often a book goes undiscovered by an audience that would most certainly appreciate it. One of the enduring paradigms in publishing is the categorization of a book to focus publicity and marketing efforts and give booksellers a clear spot to shelve it.
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