Book Review of Young Writers' Toolkit by Susan Foncell, retired teacher

September 15, 2009

I taught high school English for 37 years, and I considered writing the most difficult skill to teach and for students, the hardest to master. Some youngsters are naturally gifted, mostly because they are serious readers. The majority of students struggle. Your book is just what is needed. It is incredibly user friendly and not so intimidating as a dictionary or thesaurus. The lists are practical. I especially liked "Word Groups" and "Better Words." No matter which writing program a school or teacher is using, this book will enrich the writing experience for students. I also see a use for these tools in writing about history and science. I think the book can actually make writing fun. Of course, the book made me think like a teacher again. I could imagine some lively discussions in class as students added to your lists. I think arranging the book as you did encourages students to be creative. The tools you offer teach many things about how language works. I think a student would gain confidence in his or her writing by choosing from the strong, vivid words in your lists.