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From: Michael Thorn <achuka>
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1998 21:59:15 +0100
TEACHERS OUTRAGED BY LIBRARIANS CHOICE
Heroin addiction, brutality and prostitution: It's the new children's book prize winner
by Bill Mouland
Once upon a time there was a book about child sex, heroin addiction and prostitiution. One school, asked to judge the novel refused to let its 13-year-olds anywhere near it. ANother sent it home with a health warning to parents. But yesterday Britain's librarians voted it the best children's book in the country-The Booker Prize of the Playground, in its associations own words. 'Oh God' moaned teacher Sheila Hales as the 9000 word Junk, written by Melvin Burgess, was awarded the Carnegie Award. Children at her school, Leiston Middle in Suffolk, had been asked to 'shadow' the real judges and come up with their own verdict on the eight short-listed books.They chose something by sci-fi writer Terry Pratchett, wo was placed thrid by the panel of 13 librarians.
'We did not recommend Junk to our children,' said Mrs Hales. 'We are not that irresponsible. I found it very very depressing and I did not like the way the main character was OK in the end, despite all the drug-taking.' Another teacher from the schoo, Tricia Andrews, said, 'I did not think it should win. I did not think it was particularly well written. It's just horrendous brutality. There's one part when the character called Lily, who is a prostitute, has a client who almost strangles her. Is that really what we want children to be reading about? etc. etc.
Daily Mail Thursday July 17 1997
from Michael Thorn ACHUKA Children's Books UK achuka at webplus.co.uk http://www.webplus.co.uk/~achuka
Received on Tue 09 Jun 1998 03:59:15 PM CDT
Date: Tue, 9 Jun 1998 21:59:15 +0100
TEACHERS OUTRAGED BY LIBRARIANS CHOICE
Heroin addiction, brutality and prostitution: It's the new children's book prize winner
by Bill Mouland
Once upon a time there was a book about child sex, heroin addiction and prostitiution. One school, asked to judge the novel refused to let its 13-year-olds anywhere near it. ANother sent it home with a health warning to parents. But yesterday Britain's librarians voted it the best children's book in the country-The Booker Prize of the Playground, in its associations own words. 'Oh God' moaned teacher Sheila Hales as the 9000 word Junk, written by Melvin Burgess, was awarded the Carnegie Award. Children at her school, Leiston Middle in Suffolk, had been asked to 'shadow' the real judges and come up with their own verdict on the eight short-listed books.They chose something by sci-fi writer Terry Pratchett, wo was placed thrid by the panel of 13 librarians.
'We did not recommend Junk to our children,' said Mrs Hales. 'We are not that irresponsible. I found it very very depressing and I did not like the way the main character was OK in the end, despite all the drug-taking.' Another teacher from the schoo, Tricia Andrews, said, 'I did not think it should win. I did not think it was particularly well written. It's just horrendous brutality. There's one part when the character called Lily, who is a prostitute, has a client who almost strangles her. Is that really what we want children to be reading about? etc. etc.
Daily Mail Thursday July 17 1997
from Michael Thorn ACHUKA Children's Books UK achuka at webplus.co.uk http://www.webplus.co.uk/~achuka
Received on Tue 09 Jun 1998 03:59:15 PM CDT
