I know, I know, I missed yesterday’s post!

Sorry about that.  I’m job hunting and someone I sent a resume to called me two seconds later for an interview.  Prepping for that threw off my whole afternoon and I completely forgot about the Challenge until I was ready for bed.

Pleez to forgib me?

Image: Carlos Porto / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

I love:  juvenile fiction.

DISCLAIMER:  I do not write kids’ fiction.  This is a specialized genre and not everyone can do this.  I speak as a reader ONLY.

Juvenile fiction typically has a child protagonist, and can run the gamut from light comedic fare to dark fantasy, sci-fi or even horror.  Dystopian fiction such as The Hunger Games has been popular in recent years, especially in middle grade and young adult books.

The books and stories are aimed at different age groups.  Picture books for very young children and beginning readers have big print, lots of illustrations and simple language. Middle grade refers to ages 9-12, and stories start to exhibit more complex themes along with more chapters.   Books for kids aged 12-14 and up are termed young adult, and in recent years have embraced some edgy content including divorce, drugs, sexuality and mental illness.

I like them all.  I still have all my picture books, and my brimming Kid Shelf contains everything from Peter Rabbit to the Adrian Mole books by Sue Townsend.   See the first link for a GoodReads list of excellent juvenile fiction.

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I hate:  jargon.

There are many professions that have their own language.  Technical terms in medicine, computer programming, science and other professions convey important information. Many of them refer to equipment and procedures that are typically confined to the field

Some of them have escaped into the vernacular.  Examples include the medical term STAT, from the Latin word statum meaning “immediately,” and above board, a nautical term meaning on deck, not hiding anything, with a corresponding everyday meaning.

Some jargon has a negative connotation.  It’s more like slang, and I don’t like it because it tends to be exclusionary and snotty.  Business-speak is the most notorious type.  Touch base, going forward, branding, and other words sound insincere.   Reach out bugs me the most as in “We are reaching out to the customer to establish a resolution to the problem.”

Image: Ambro / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

 Just talk to me, people!