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when is an edgy YA book over the edge?
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From: Maryann Schneider <marysmuse>
Date: Sun, 04 May 2003 20:27:48 -0400
(http://www.pabbis.com/badbook.html). For them this book will be totally over the edge-- and into a deep abyss. It's probably too much to hope that they will actually read the book before they shoot-- well, I had better scurry off and do so myself!
Barbara Tobin (barbarat at gse.upenn)
This is my first post to the list, so I hope you'll forgive any unintentional violation of ettiquette rules.
I've been following this discussion with interest, and I'm honestly curious.
What is it about the Pabbis site that you found objectionable? While I did find the few pages of text describing the reasons for the existence of the site a bit on the hysterical side, I checked out their list of
'objectionable' books, and found that they include excerpts of the material.
The excerpts I read were far beyond 'edgy'. If I found a book with this type of graphic language and situations in my child's library, I certainly would want to know why. That's not to say I'd rouse up a ravening mob of torch bearing villagers to burn the school, but I'd certainly question the wisdom of exposing children, even young adults, to graphic violence and sex.
YA's deserve our very best. Yes, sex and violence both exist in society and in life. Yes, our kids might one day encounter them. Does that mean they should be steeped in it for the sake of 'education'?
While we must always be on guard against censorship, both as writers and as parents, I fear the trend is swinging in the other direction. We are too afraid of outside censorship and stifling the 'creativity' of our peers. Certainly, these authors have the right to write what they will, and publishers have the right to publish. Does that mean that we, as authors, should laud them for writing and publishing books that we would not feel comfortable reading and discussing with our own children?
Thank you. This discussion has left me with much to ponder and many valuble links.
Smiles
-Mary Schneider
"I am only one - but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do." -Helen Keller
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Received on Sun 04 May 2003 07:27:48 PM CDT
Date: Sun, 04 May 2003 20:27:48 -0400
(http://www.pabbis.com/badbook.html). For them this book will be totally over the edge-- and into a deep abyss. It's probably too much to hope that they will actually read the book before they shoot-- well, I had better scurry off and do so myself!
Barbara Tobin (barbarat at gse.upenn)
This is my first post to the list, so I hope you'll forgive any unintentional violation of ettiquette rules.
I've been following this discussion with interest, and I'm honestly curious.
What is it about the Pabbis site that you found objectionable? While I did find the few pages of text describing the reasons for the existence of the site a bit on the hysterical side, I checked out their list of
'objectionable' books, and found that they include excerpts of the material.
The excerpts I read were far beyond 'edgy'. If I found a book with this type of graphic language and situations in my child's library, I certainly would want to know why. That's not to say I'd rouse up a ravening mob of torch bearing villagers to burn the school, but I'd certainly question the wisdom of exposing children, even young adults, to graphic violence and sex.
YA's deserve our very best. Yes, sex and violence both exist in society and in life. Yes, our kids might one day encounter them. Does that mean they should be steeped in it for the sake of 'education'?
While we must always be on guard against censorship, both as writers and as parents, I fear the trend is swinging in the other direction. We are too afraid of outside censorship and stifling the 'creativity' of our peers. Certainly, these authors have the right to write what they will, and publishers have the right to publish. Does that mean that we, as authors, should laud them for writing and publishing books that we would not feel comfortable reading and discussing with our own children?
Thank you. This discussion has left me with much to ponder and many valuble links.
Smiles
-Mary Schneider
"I am only one - but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something. I will not refuse to do the something I can do." -Helen Keller
_________________________________________________________________ Tired of spam? Get advanced junk mail protection with MSN 8. http://join.msn.com/?page?atures/junkmail
Received on Sun 04 May 2003 07:27:48 PM CDT
