CCBC-Net Archives
"Junk" in Daily Mail
- Contemporary messages sorted: [ by date ] [ by subject ] [ by author ]
From: Kathleen Horning <horning>
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 11:42:38 -0500
Michael, thanks for all the effort you put into giving us all a true sense of some of the newspaper reporting in Britain when "Junk" won the Carnegie Medal in July 1997. Not having had an opportunity to read about "Junk" when it was big news in Great Britain, I appreciate being able to read some of the reports first hand.
The article you quoted is an excellent example of a report by a journalist who knew exactly what he wanted to say before he actually interviewed anyone: the entire report seems driven by his clever opening line.
Was this type of coverage typical? Or were there other journalists who tried for a more balanced report by interviewing Carnegie Committee members or more than two teachers or, gulp! actual teenagers?
Kathleen T. Horning (khorning at facstaff.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education University of Wisconsin-Madison 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 North Park St. Madison, WI 53706
(608)&3930
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 aprents. 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 Wed 10 Jun 1998 11:42:38 AM CDT
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 1998 11:42:38 -0500
Michael, thanks for all the effort you put into giving us all a true sense of some of the newspaper reporting in Britain when "Junk" won the Carnegie Medal in July 1997. Not having had an opportunity to read about "Junk" when it was big news in Great Britain, I appreciate being able to read some of the reports first hand.
The article you quoted is an excellent example of a report by a journalist who knew exactly what he wanted to say before he actually interviewed anyone: the entire report seems driven by his clever opening line.
Was this type of coverage typical? Or were there other journalists who tried for a more balanced report by interviewing Carnegie Committee members or more than two teachers or, gulp! actual teenagers?
Kathleen T. Horning (khorning at facstaff.wisc.edu) Cooperative Children's Book Center School of Education University of Wisconsin-Madison 4290 Helen C. White Hall 600 North Park St. Madison, WI 53706
(608)&3930
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 aprents. 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 Wed 10 Jun 1998 11:42:38 AM CDT
