I've always wondered how my son managed to miss reading Mark Twain, but he's remedying that now with a little prodding from Mom, and of course he likes it. The problem is that it's below his reading ability, which apparently matters in this educational standards era.

He has just a few months left before he outgrows "Catcher in the Rye" and he's way beyond John Steinbeck's "Grapes of Wrath," which is recommended for advanced fourth-graders, despite having a high school interest level, along with the "Twilight" and "Gossip Girl" books. Does content count for anything now, while quality is left behind?

When she's not being a reporter, Treena Shapiro is busy with her real job, raising a son and daughter. Read her entire blog entry at www.HonoluluAdvertiser.com/Blogs.