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religion in ya books
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From: Denice Martin <deepaul>
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 08:34:35 -0500
Re: how far too far...I can't help but share that while attending a parochial school in the Midwest, my junior high teacher, a young man, gave us copies of Dalton Trumbo's JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN.
Obviously this was timely as it was the Vietnam War era. However, my main recollection is the quantity of empathy I developed for the narrator in this shocking, horrific anti-war tale. While this reaction was not the sole intent of the author, I believe this "over our heads book" served us young, naive teens well. (Oh that I could remember our classroom discussion! )
Denice Ryan Martin Dousman, WI
----- Original Message -----
From: Steward, Celeste
To: JDUPRAU at aol.com ; Subscribers of ccbc-net
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2005 11:31 AM
Subject: Re: [ccbc-net] religion in ya books
Amen to that...My kids are switching to public school next year. After six years at a Catholic school, my older child has some serious questions (that I have no answers to) about being indoctrinated into an organized religion in which one MUST follow (and not question) just to fit in. I think these questions need to be asked and the answers carefully considered before a person commits to a faith.
I love books that explore faith and spirituality, especially those written for children and teens. This is the time kids question what they've been told. I see it as a sign of intelligence.
I too have noticed that when politicians tuck God into their speeches, the applause is frequently louder--the words are hitting folks at an emotional level, the same device that some advertisers use to sell their products. Celeste Steward
-----Original Message---- From: JDUPRAU at aol.com [mailto:JDUPRAU at aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 9:38 AM
To: Subscribers of ccbc-net
Subject: Re: [ccbc-net] religion in ya books
Donna writes:
I would also like to see books who show young people
who truly evaluate and, in some cases, reject the
religion of their parents and communities.
I'd like to see this, too--in fact, I'm working on such a book right now. I am disturbed by the pressure in our country these days to be a believer, the sort of pressure that causes politicians of every stripe to tuck God into their speeches, lest they be thought unreligious (which seems increasingly to be equated with unpatriotic). Where is the support for those whose religious stance is "I don't know"? Those who look around at the wonders of the world and think there is probably something very great and mysterious behind them but do not have the least idea what it is and would rather stay with the wonder than choose a belief? This is probably the attitude of most children, I would guess, before they're told what to think.
Jeanne DuPrau
THE CITY OF EMBER
THE PEOPLE OF SPARKS
CAR TROUBLE (coming Sept. 1)
Received on Tue 28 Jun 2005 08:34:35 AM CDT
Date: Tue, 28 Jun 2005 08:34:35 -0500
Re: how far too far...I can't help but share that while attending a parochial school in the Midwest, my junior high teacher, a young man, gave us copies of Dalton Trumbo's JOHNNY GOT HIS GUN.
Obviously this was timely as it was the Vietnam War era. However, my main recollection is the quantity of empathy I developed for the narrator in this shocking, horrific anti-war tale. While this reaction was not the sole intent of the author, I believe this "over our heads book" served us young, naive teens well. (Oh that I could remember our classroom discussion! )
Denice Ryan Martin Dousman, WI
----- Original Message -----
From: Steward, Celeste
To: JDUPRAU at aol.com ; Subscribers of ccbc-net
Sent: Monday, June 27, 2005 11:31 AM
Subject: Re: [ccbc-net] religion in ya books
Amen to that...My kids are switching to public school next year. After six years at a Catholic school, my older child has some serious questions (that I have no answers to) about being indoctrinated into an organized religion in which one MUST follow (and not question) just to fit in. I think these questions need to be asked and the answers carefully considered before a person commits to a faith.
I love books that explore faith and spirituality, especially those written for children and teens. This is the time kids question what they've been told. I see it as a sign of intelligence.
I too have noticed that when politicians tuck God into their speeches, the applause is frequently louder--the words are hitting folks at an emotional level, the same device that some advertisers use to sell their products. Celeste Steward
-----Original Message---- From: JDUPRAU at aol.com [mailto:JDUPRAU at aol.com]
Sent: Saturday, June 25, 2005 9:38 AM
To: Subscribers of ccbc-net
Subject: Re: [ccbc-net] religion in ya books
Donna writes:
I would also like to see books who show young people
who truly evaluate and, in some cases, reject the
religion of their parents and communities.
I'd like to see this, too--in fact, I'm working on such a book right now. I am disturbed by the pressure in our country these days to be a believer, the sort of pressure that causes politicians of every stripe to tuck God into their speeches, lest they be thought unreligious (which seems increasingly to be equated with unpatriotic). Where is the support for those whose religious stance is "I don't know"? Those who look around at the wonders of the world and think there is probably something very great and mysterious behind them but do not have the least idea what it is and would rather stay with the wonder than choose a belief? This is probably the attitude of most children, I would guess, before they're told what to think.
Jeanne DuPrau
THE CITY OF EMBER
THE PEOPLE OF SPARKS
CAR TROUBLE (coming Sept. 1)
Received on Tue 28 Jun 2005 08:34:35 AM CDT
