From: Ann Marie Gordon <agordon>
Date: Wed, 29 Jun 2005 12:32:53 -0400

On Tuesday, June 28th, Maia wrote:
 "It seems to me that adherence to law and "order" regardless of the rightness of that law and order is much more strongly observed than the more social taboos such as "underage" drinking, sex, etc. The which makes sense, I suppose -- sex and drinking are legal and encouraged for adults, while thinking for oneself and taking action against local/national/global "powers" are not. Opinions? Or books that prove me wrong?"

I think there are many books in which teens take ?action against local/nationa/global powers.? In Nancy Farmer?s ?The House of the Scorpion? readers are forced to look at their own conceptions of what makes a ?human,? and at the ethics of cloning and other biological possibilities of the near future. Isabel Allende?s YA trilogy about Alexander Cold and his globe-trotting grandmother (which begins with ?City of the Beasts,?) encourages readers to think about western civilization?s treatment of indigenous peoples and the environment. Carl Hiaasen?s
?Hoot? is a real treat, with its hilarious look at the way big business evades and circumvents environmental protection laws. And* hurray!*Hiaasen has another book due in September, entitled ?Flush,? that also addresses an environmental concern. Other books in which young adults struggle against cultural ?truths? include: The Secret Under My Skin / Janet McNaughton; Whale Rider / Witi Ihimaera; The Giver / Lois Lowry.

 Gordon

Anne-Marie Gordon, Librarian Livonia Primary School Livonia, NY agordon at livoniacsd.org http://www.livoniacsd.org/primaryschool/gordon/index.htm

The Three Rules of the Librarians of Time and Space are: 1) Silence; 2) books must be returned no later than the last date shown; and 3) Do not interfere with the nature of causality.
 Pratchett, "Guards! Guards!"
Received on Wed 29 Jun 2005 11:32:53 AM CDT