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SMACK: Age limits...
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From: Karen L. Simonetti <karensue>
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 17:16:47 -0500
At 01:56 PM 6/11/98 00, Lisa wrote: group. One of our members was very concerned about the lack of positive adult characters. this list recommend Smack to a mature fourteen year old? Is there an age limit to this book? What is the cut-off?
As a rule, I am opposed to age limits...there are always so many bloody exceptions! However, I do believe that lack of positive adult characters notwithstanding, this book can be read by 8th grades and up. (It is a well known fact around Booklist that I tend to give YA readers all the credit/allowance they can handle. Booklist's review, in the April 15th issue, page 1435, by Debbie Carton has the Grade Level of 10 and the last sentence is "A book for mature readers.")
In this particular instance, the lack of positive adult characters is key to the story. And I think putting in a positive adult figure could end up being false, too preachy and artificially interfering for the milieu/plot line that Burgess intended. Gemma and Tar are teens without (by circumstance or by choice) close relations to adults. And this is happening everyday (although maybe not to such an extreme).
It is no secret that heroin use exists in a YA population portrayed in the book. Sixth grade drug use is not all that uncommon. I don't believe that Burgess glamorized the characters or their ultimately becoming addicts. Books are wonderful tools to talk to kids about topics that maybe we, as adults, are "frightened of" or "timid about" when we should be especially up front and direct on the very difficult issue. Of course, my underlining assumption is that no one (not even adults!) should read a book in a vacuum. An integral part of the reading experience is to discuss the books!
In short, the book contains no gratuitous sex, violence or abusive acts and therefore I would have no problem with an 8th grader reading this book.
From the reaction of the YAs we've heard from, they can relate to this book...and maybe if we can "give" YAs books they can relate to, then they will be able to relate to us when similar issues or problems come along and they really do "need" our perspective/advice/whatever.
By the way, I finally found one average 14 year old who just graduated from a rather elite private 8th grade school system and he is now reading the book (with his parents' knowledge, of course). The parents were actually delighted that they and their son will be discussing the book together.
Karen Sue...who perhaps is a bit optimistic about the power of books...but I hope not...
PS: Does anyone know what VOYA, School Library Journal and The Horn Book graded it at? And Michael, what was the recommended grade/age for the reviewing journals abroad?
Karen L. Simonetti email: karensue at mcs.net phone: 312.337.7114
"Walk gently, breathe peacefully, laugh hysterically."
Nelson Mandela, 1994 Inaugural Speech
Received on Thu 11 Jun 1998 05:16:47 PM CDT
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 1998 17:16:47 -0500
At 01:56 PM 6/11/98 00, Lisa wrote: group. One of our members was very concerned about the lack of positive adult characters. this list recommend Smack to a mature fourteen year old? Is there an age limit to this book? What is the cut-off?
As a rule, I am opposed to age limits...there are always so many bloody exceptions! However, I do believe that lack of positive adult characters notwithstanding, this book can be read by 8th grades and up. (It is a well known fact around Booklist that I tend to give YA readers all the credit/allowance they can handle. Booklist's review, in the April 15th issue, page 1435, by Debbie Carton has the Grade Level of 10 and the last sentence is "A book for mature readers.")
In this particular instance, the lack of positive adult characters is key to the story. And I think putting in a positive adult figure could end up being false, too preachy and artificially interfering for the milieu/plot line that Burgess intended. Gemma and Tar are teens without (by circumstance or by choice) close relations to adults. And this is happening everyday (although maybe not to such an extreme).
It is no secret that heroin use exists in a YA population portrayed in the book. Sixth grade drug use is not all that uncommon. I don't believe that Burgess glamorized the characters or their ultimately becoming addicts. Books are wonderful tools to talk to kids about topics that maybe we, as adults, are "frightened of" or "timid about" when we should be especially up front and direct on the very difficult issue. Of course, my underlining assumption is that no one (not even adults!) should read a book in a vacuum. An integral part of the reading experience is to discuss the books!
In short, the book contains no gratuitous sex, violence or abusive acts and therefore I would have no problem with an 8th grader reading this book.
From the reaction of the YAs we've heard from, they can relate to this book...and maybe if we can "give" YAs books they can relate to, then they will be able to relate to us when similar issues or problems come along and they really do "need" our perspective/advice/whatever.
By the way, I finally found one average 14 year old who just graduated from a rather elite private 8th grade school system and he is now reading the book (with his parents' knowledge, of course). The parents were actually delighted that they and their son will be discussing the book together.
Karen Sue...who perhaps is a bit optimistic about the power of books...but I hope not...
PS: Does anyone know what VOYA, School Library Journal and The Horn Book graded it at? And Michael, what was the recommended grade/age for the reviewing journals abroad?
Karen L. Simonetti email: karensue at mcs.net phone: 312.337.7114
"Walk gently, breathe peacefully, laugh hysterically."
Nelson Mandela, 1994 Inaugural Speech
Received on Thu 11 Jun 1998 05:16:47 PM CDT
