The word of the day is “Scrotum”

I hope I didn’t offend anyone with my pornographic title.  But, then again, this isn’t a children’s book, where anatomical words for body parts are taboo.  Even if it’s a dog’s body part.

..there it is on the first page of “The Higher Power of Lucky,” by Susan Patron, this year’s winner of the Newbery Medal, the most prestigious award in children’s literature. The book’s heroine, a scrappy 10-year-old orphan named Lucky Trimble, hears the word through a hole in a wall when another character says he saw a rattlesnake bite his dog, Roy, on the scrotum.

The inclusion of the word has shocked some school librarians, who have pledged to keep the book away from elementary school students, and reopened the debate over what constitutes acceptable content in children’s books. – Julie Bosman, Chicago Tribune, February 18, 2007

read the rest of the article here

This isn’t an article from The Onion folks, people are actually upset that a child’s book used the word scrotum.  That leaves little breathing room for problem novels since they use sexual slang, talk about drug use as well as the perils of mental illness.

I read Stephen Chbosky’s “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” a few weeks ago.  There is almost every possible problem novel theme/concern in this book.  I’m not sure what else could be in this book.  But, it is not bombarding.  It is a beautiful story.  It deals with a lot of heavy subject matter without being preachy.  I thought the book was smart and relatable.  I almost don’t even want to call it a problem novel, even though it deals with about 15 teen issues in it, because it is not just a book for teens.  Perhaps this is why the book is as successful as it is because it really can’t be pigeonholed into one category.  It’s such a delightful, and at the same time upsetting book.

But, not everyone likes the book.  It’s realistic portrayal of teen life is an issue.

School librarians have an inherently behind-the-scenes profession, but what happens when they are thrust into a very public controversy over a challenged book?

Donna Smith, library media specialist for the Arrowhead Union High School in Hartford, Wis., can answer that question personally. In 2004, her school faced an informal and later formal challenge to the book “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” by Stephen Chbosky, due to its language and sexual content. And in her 15 years of experience, little prepared Smith for what followed:

Stinging attacks on a local talk radio program … accusations that the book is “borderline pornography” … school voice-mail boxes overflowing with comments from listeners of a national Christian radio network … a police presence at the book challenge meeting … an organized, independent group of 200 students supporting the book … a general feeling among teachers and staff of being “under siege.”

It was the information — primarily reviews, book awards and other professional assessments of the book — that helped the school board make its decision, by a 5-3 vote, to keep the book in the library.- Brian Mattmiller, February 14, 2007, www.wisconsinidea.wisc.edu

get the entire article here

There are over 1,000 www.amazon.com reviews of this book.  Here a few of the good, the bad and the ugly.

What a NIGHTMARE!, November 24, 2006
A Kid’s Review
I read this book at age 15, the age of Charlie, the main character. That fact alone led me to assume that I would be able to relate, or understand what he was going though, and probably love the book. I guess not. This story was severly lacking in the plot, and I found several moments when the plot nearly set me to sleep. The characters did have depth and were throroghly described, but their problems were so exaggerated and completely wrong I just couldn’t relate. Many issues dealt with in this book are true today, but not to the extreme Chbosky takes it. “The Perks of Being a Wallflower” is such a disgrace to teens everywhere… it made me sick.

The only problem with problem novels is that not all teens have problems.  I myself thought the book was dead on.

Perks, November 19, 2006

Reviewer:

K. wiley (Indiana, USA) – See all my reviews

I read this book in a single night and as i was reading it, i was both shocked and amazed at how well the author described the life of a high school teenager (which i am.) The part that amazed me the most was i found myself thinking “this author gets it!” for unlike most adults, he wasn’t writting from the adult point of view… He was writing through the eyes of a teenager and mastered it brillantly! I dont recomend this book as “a parents guide to what might be going on in YOUR childs life” but for a teenager as a “your not alone in highschool” I hope you enjoy the book as much as i did!

Perks of Being a Wallflower, November 7, 2006
A Kid’s Review
The book I’ve just finished is The Perks of Being a Wallflower, by Stephen Chbosky. The book gives a perfect example of a teenager’s experiences in school and in life. After reading this book, I thought of my own experiences and could relate to Charlie on many of the different occasions.I think its important for a book like this to be out for teenagers to read because all of these things have or will be experienced by most if not all teenagers. The things in this book are seen by all kids by the age of 14 so it is a perfect way for kids to read about some of their problems through a different perspective.

Perks of being a Wallflower, October 30, 2006
A Kid’s Review
This book was amazing. I read it in less than one day. I stated it one morning at school and all the time that I had free (changing classes, after I finished tests or quizes, ect.) I would read this book. I finished a french test and I actually sat there and cried while reading this book and I had weird looks from everyone (i’m a 17 year old guy) but I didn’t care. This is my favorite book of all time and I think that everyone should take a day and read this book.
-Zac

Over exaggerations, pure garbage, and no perks, August 26, 2006

Reviewer:

Austin W. – See all my reviews

I had to read this book as required summer reading. It is the WORST book I have ever had to read. The details of some topics were very graphic and inappropriate. The main character Charlie is a 15 year old boy just entering high school. In just a couple of months he’s already faced with a plethora of troubles and problems. I know that there are definitely many problems faced throughout high school but his are ridiculous. He faces just about every big problem possible including death/suicide, homosexuality, prenuptial sex, drugs, smoking, etc. His response to every problem is crying hysterically. My “favorite” part about the book is that the book never reveals any perks, the only thing we find out is that being a wallflower is a bad thing.

Yes, amazing…, August 10, 2006

Reviewer:

Meme “Me” – See all my reviews

I am amazed at the people who favorably rated this piece of trash. Just to give parents an idea of what this book is about, here is an excerpt:

“… she grabbed his p**** with her hands and started moving it…. the boy pushed the girl’s head down, and she started to kiss his p****…. she stopped crying because he put his p**** in her mouth….”

Yes, pretty amazing, ain’t it?!

The above excerpt of the book is a brief scene of date rape.

Shockingly Honest and True, July 6, 2006

Reviewer:

Amanda(kentucky) – See all my reviews

I am 15 years old, and cannot believe how much i realte to this book. There were parts when i went back a re-read it and because i always wondered if i was the only one who thought this way {“i walk around the hallways..”}.
If you listen to the song “Asleep” by The Smiths, you can tell why Charlie is so drawn to it. When I first heard the song, it was after i read the book, and the image of Charlie in the tunnel in the truck popped into my head. and you can understand him a a little more.
This is the best book i have ever read. and i’m not exaggerating. and i’ve read alot of classics & not so classics.
this is definitely a book that EVERY teenager should read. and parents, the “adult themes” are handled VERY well, and i feel that the book wouldn’t be as good without them just because it’s a big part of Charlie’s lifeand a big influenece on him.
i’m DEFINITELY going to read this again, because i’ve found out some other things about the book..and i want to go back and evalute every detail. ..

{and i have never read a book twice.}

PLEASE MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION. BUY THIS BOOK. IT IS WELL WORTH IT.

Younger reviewer., May 20, 2006

Reviewer:

Kaleigh (Florida) – See all my reviews

I want to start off by saying that while I am only 14, and many people would say that I did not fully grasp the meaning of this book, that I think that I completely understood it and felt like it was my own life being told through the pages. Charlie is going through things that many people have in their life. Seeing people they love dating other people. The suicide of a close friend. Not everyone has been molested, though. It is true that Charlie is not an ordinary 16 year old boy. He has dealt with many trials in his 16 years that many teenagers do not face. And he is always honest. He says what he is feeling. My favorite part was when he said he felt “infinite”. I can understand that feeling, and that made me feel closer to Charlie. All in all, I would recommend that every teen read this book, but this book is now so close to my heart I feel jelous when I see other people reading it.

Check out the rest of the 1,000+ reviews here

“Crank” hits close to home

I read “Crank” by Ellen Hopkins a few weeks ago. I’ve been trying since then to figure out how to present it, and I feel the best way is to simply review the book. The book deals with crystal meth and the repercussions it has on a young girl’s life. I found plenty of information about meth statistics that I could add. I come from a rural area that is heavy with meth labs. But, for this book, I didn’t want to take away from the emotions of the book by adding cold statistics.

Ellen Hopkins’s semi-autobiographical verse novel, Crank, reads like a Go Ask Alice for the 21st century. In it, she chronicles the turbulent and often disturbing relationship between Kristina, a character based on her own daughter, and the “monster,” the highly addictive drug crystal meth, or “crank.” Kristina is introduced to the drug while visiting her largely absent and ne’er-do-well father. While under the influence of the monster, Kristina discovers her sexy alter-ego, Bree: “there is no perfect daughter, / no gifted high school junior, / no Kristina Georgia Snow. / There is only Bree.” Bree will do all the things good girl Kristina won’t, including attracting the attention of dangerous boys who can provide her with a steady flow of crank. Soon, her grades plummet, her relationships with family and friends deteriorate, and she needs more and more of the monster just to get through the day. Kristina hits her lowest point when she is raped by one of her drug dealers and becomes pregnant as a result. Her decision to keep the baby slows her drug use, but doesn’t stop it, and the author leaves the reader with the distinct impression that Kristina/Bree may never be free from her addiction. In the author’s note, Hopkins warns “nothing in this story is impossible,” but when Kristina’s controlled, high-powered mother allows her teenage daughter to visit her biological father (a nearly homeless known drug user), the story feels unbelievable. Still, the descriptions of crystal meth use and its consequences are powerful, and will horrify and transfix older teenage readers, just as Alice did over 20 years ago. –Jennifer Hubert www.amazon.com

At first glance, the book seems like a hefty tome, coming in at over 500 pages. But, the book is written in free verse poetry, creating a quick but emotionally driven read. As Sharon Korbeck of Waupaca Area Public Library, WI states,

Hopkins writes in free-verse poems that paint painfully sharp images of Kristina/Bree and those around her, detailing how powerful the “monster” can be. The poems are masterpieces of word, shape, and pacing, compelling readers on to the next chapter in Kristina’s spiraling world. -From School Library Journal at amazon.com

Here are a few reader reviews:

I really enjoyed this book, because it put a new perspective on my life. I am glad that I read this book, because I was so close to doing drugs. This book shows exactly what can happen to your life if you do drugs. What happened to Kristin was just so devastating. Getting raped, falling in love with two guys and then being dumped and not being able to get over her addictions. It ruined her life, and because of this book, it saved mine!!! I am glad that this book is available in almost every school, and I definitely think that if you do drugs or wanna do drugs you should definitely read this book.- Tiffani at www.buildingrainbows.com

www.amazon.com reviews:

A Must-Read for Parents, February 12, 2007

This is the scariest book I’ve read in a long time. Perhaps I need to qualify that by admitting I don’t seek out thrillers or horrors, but I was (and am) terrified by how easily the protagonist fell into the arms of meth. That some readers are put off by the prose-in-verse format surprises me. The text is completely accessible and a plausible reflection on the intelligent narrator. Crank is a fact of life these days, and this book is a powerful lesson for those of us who think we and our children are somehow protected from its grasp. As

Hopkins notes in her introduction, nothing in the story is impossible. That’s what should be putting fear into all of us.- LBR Lucas (San Diego, California USA)

From the Eyes of a Teacher, May 17, 2006

I am a high school English teacher dealing with 9th graders in particular. Students these days are encompassed by an unseen drug world, one that we do not necissarily know about. My students have been forced to read The Odyssey, Romeo and Juliet, and other classics that they are not interested in. They are not stories about kids facing the same issues and problems as them.

I got a class set of Crank and am currently teaching it with my average classes. While the subject matter can be raw and shocking, it is also something that I feel students should be introduced to. They do not seem to understand the dangers associated with drug use, and they see it as all fun and games. Kristina/Bree’s downward spiral into drug use is something that shocks my students systems. For once, they finally see the scary side of drug use, and how it affects someone in their own age group. What really gets my students is that it is based on the author’s own daughter’s experience. It’s not just some story that was written to scare them. It’s the truth, and it just happens to show them the scary, dark side of drug use. I think it is important for students and parents alike to read this book. It is a harrowing account of a young girl struggling to find her place in society…just in the wrong ways.- AlySedai “Target Rounder” (NN, VA)

been there, September 12, 2005

This book really hit home for me as I live in a community very close to Reno and am familiar with the places mentioned in the book. My son has battled meth addiction for the last 3 years and is clean at the moment but I never know how long that will last. Parents badly need to educate themselves and their children about this insidious drug. Crank does not discriminate and ravages the mind, body and soul of anyone who falls into its trap. This book is very real.- Life Writer (Fallon, Nevada USA)

couldn’t put it down, March 16, 2005

I recently had a good friend go through rehab for an addiction to Crank so I had to purchase this book. The way the author describes the affects of Crystal Meth on the personality of the main character are amazingly accurate. I recognized my friend in so much of the book.- K. Gillum (Topeka KS, United States)

Attention Parents!, November 4, 2004

Have your teen or preteen read this book. The size of the book makes it look challenging, but the first page reaches out and grabs you for a fast, powerfully frightening read. I had my girls read it and they were both deeply impressed with Kristina/Bree’s downhill slide into drug abuse. It’s hard edged and realistic, so it’s scary. Ellen conveys the emotion of the roller-coaster ride called Crank with honesty, vivid imagery and a style that will keep you asking for more.- Tagurit (Texas)

all Crank reviews at Amazonhere

My review:

When I began reading this book I first read the forward by the author. Ellen Hopkins stated that the book was based on a true story about her daughter. I think this gives the book some relevance and takes away the notion of the book being “preachy.” Of course, the book is a warning about drugs, but it is more an account of one girl’s journey. The images in the book were very accurate as Hopkins knows what crystal meth looks like first hand. She herself did not go through the experience, so she might not know the actual emotions that a user goes through. However, based on my own knowledge, I would say they are accurate. But, more importantly, the images of seeing a loved one spiral into the “monster” are chillingly true.

As I have stated before, the real reason I have an interest in problem novels is because of the idea that they can be used as a tool for help. I can’t help wondering, “What if?” What if this book can really change a life? This book really hit me hard. Someone very close to me is essentially a parallel to the character “Kristine/Bree” in this book. It was quiet eerie reading this story because of how chillingly similar it was to my experiences with a person that I love. She was a National Honor Society member, on the honor roll, in the choir and in the drama club. During high school she began smoking meth. She told me about how she and her friends would smoke it on their lunch break and go back to school high. I warned her and talked to her about this behavior, but I never told anyone. I didn’t want to betray her trust. I thought if I told her father she would never trust me again and would never come to me for help when she needed it. Perhaps this wasn’t the right decision, but I have known a lot of people with drug problems and sometimes it isn’t as cut and dry as “telling” on them. Sometimes, this makes the problem worse.

This girl, talented and smart, was eventually kicked out of school for having “drug paraphernalia.” I went to her school hearing with her, pleading with the school board to not expel her. She had a troubled childhood and was in desperate need of psychiatric help. But, they expelled her and she moved out of her father’s house in rural Michigan to Chicago, where her inept mother lived. The same mother that abandoned her when she was a child. She continued doing drugs. She got pregnant. After her baby was born, a few moths before she was to turn 19, I continued to support her. She told me she was doing well. She said she did some drugs on occasion, but overall, she was a mother now, she had a responsibility. I believed her. About a month ago I found out she was lying. She was being evicted from her apartment because she hadn’t paid the rent. She sold her car and her engagement ring for money because she owed a drug dealer over $2000. She had been lying to everyone and had been smoking meth. On her son’s first birthday, she left, abandoning him. The call of the monster was more powerful than the love of a child.

I’m a wreck. I’m worried, disgusted and betrayed. This book really showed me that this happens to “normal” people. Kids always think they are invincible. They never assume that these things can happen to them. This book and my own story are two examples of smart able kids whose lives fall apart because of a drug. After reading this book, I was a bit heartbroken knowing that this girl that I love so much is off somewhere courting the devil. But, I started to think, “What if she had read this book?” Maybe it would have made a difference. Maybe not. What if another student reads this book and it makes them aware enough to stay away from meth? What if a student experimenting with meth stops after reading this book? Even if it only helps one teen in a million it is worth it. I would give anything to go back and give it try. Maybe that one person could have been my niece.

The coolest library ever.

I just ran across this blog by Tasha Saecker, director of the Menasha Public Library in Menasha, WI.  It’s not really about problem novels, but I think it’s cool so I am sharing it.

I know, I know, I’m the last blogger in the bunch to post that the Last Potter Book is to be Released July 21st. Sigh. Such is the life of a blogging library director.

Anyway, our library is planning a library sleepover where a copy of the book will be opened at midnight and read aloud from. Hurrah! read the blog

Is that not the coolest thing ever?  I want to go to the sleepover!  I think the thing that is most amazing is the idea of kids going to the library, and it being cool!  The library in my school and in my town was a place you went to if you were forced to go because of some school project.  And we all know how the Harry Potter Series itself has gotten so many kids and adults to read.  And read and read.

I work at a mass retail store in my “spare” time.  When the Sony Playstation 3 and the Nintendo Wii came out, there was an ample sized line of people camped out at the store waiting to buy one.  But, when Harry Potter comes out, the lines are out of control.  It’s so great to think of a book beating out a game.

I think it goes without saying at this point that I am a lover of the Harry Potter franchise.  It borders on obsession.  But, I got into the books rather late in the game.  All of my friends had read them and gushed about them, but I felt for some reason that I should be reading books of a “higher” caliber.  I was immersing my self in Rand’s “Atlas Shrugged” and Joyce’s “Ulysses.”  But, I finally gave in and decided to read the books.  And then life as I knew it changed forever.

So, what makes a book a “literary classic?”  Because the Potter books are young adult, fun, assessable and popular does that exempt them from being classics?  Aren’t classics supposed to be tomes of difficult phrases and symbolism that must be dissected and analyzed?  Well, that’s how I used to view “classics.”  Books that aren’t popular because they are complex.  Kind of like classical music.  Beethoven is revered for his genius, but how many people really crank out Beethoven on the stereo?  I love classical music.  I have a music degree.  But, even I don’t listen to classical music all that much.  I can give a good argument as to why I think the music I listen to daily, like Bjork and Tori Amos are actually “classic” and high caliber, but are they really?

I guess I’m just throwing this out there to hearsome comments.  For the future teachers out there, would you be opposed to teaching Harry Potter in the classroom?  Assuming that there weren’t any problem with teaching books about the “occult” of course.  Why should we force “The Scarlet Letter” on kids when there are other books out there that they might actually enjoy reading? (No offense Mr. Hawthorn)  My alma mater Western Michigan University offers a Harry Potter Literature class.  I am so jealous I was never able to take that class.  So what do you think?  Does this series have real value other than getting kids to read?  Take a look at jamie’s blog, she’s got a lot of good stuff regarding this question.

Michigan schools “Speak” out for problem novels

Traverse City, MI seems to be on the up and up concerning problem novels.  According to the Traverse City Record Eagle, the Traverse City area schools are learning that problem novels can help their students.  The idea came about when a local boy was killed in an automobile crash, and his elementary school classmates read a fictional book to help them grieve and deal with their loss.

“There’s always been reality fiction, but in the last five to 10 years it’s certainly been more (prevalent), I think because of our society,” said Patricia Parsons, K-6 library media specialist for Traverse City Area Public Schools. ”As a society, we’re more ready to discuss these issues and we realize the importance of discussing them and of children being able to vent — and children’s authors have picked up on that. They’re filling that need.”

And I agree.  I really believe that these books can help.  I was discussing my blog with my mom the other day and telling her why I had an interest in these books.  She told me she thinks kids have much tougher issues to deal with today then they did when she was a young.  I would agree with that.  We also talked about when I was younger and having problems and how I didn’t tell anyone.  My mom said she did the same thing when she was growing up.  It’s often difficult for adolescents to talk to adults about their problems, and school’s like those in Traverse City are realizing all of these things.  They are seeing that books can help.

“In fiction for the junior high level, what I see now are books that deal with peer pressure, family, stress and addictive situations,” says Dawn Farley, the library department chair for Traverse City Area Public Schools and professor of a children’s literature class at Central Michigan University.  Farley went on to say that ”teachers and counselors at the school often ask about books dealing with certain issues, especially the loss of a parent or sibling.”

The school’s in Traverse City are making the concepts of these books known to teachers and school psychologists.  Librarian’s are using their knowledge of problem novels to help students.  When librarians know of a problem, they are ready with a book that can help students cope.

Parson states, “If a situation would be happening in a particular child’s life that they were made aware of by the child, a teacher, a social worker or a school psychologist, they would step in and through their own knowledge of the book recommend (a title)”

This concept seems so promising because it shows that children are reaching out for help.  I am also pleased that teachers and school counselors are also seeing the validity of these books and seeking librarians to help them attain these materials for children.

But, some area school’s aren’t waiting for kids or councelor’s to speak up before introducing novels about topics that many kids face.

According to Lois Orth, a children’s specialist for Horizon Books in Traverse City, “Some area schools even assign books like Laurie Halse Anderson’s ‘Speak,’ about a teenage outcast, as summer reading for incoming students.  It gives them a chance to talk about peer pressure.” read the entire article here

So, what of school’s assigning these books?  I actually just finished “Speak.”  I absolutely loved this book.  I thought it really got into the psyche of the “outcast” kid.  It does deal with some heavy issues, but there is also a lot of humor in this book.  I found myself saying, “Yes!  That is so what it’s like!”  when the main character Melinda would reflect on her impressions of high school as well as the world around her.

I have heard many people speak highly of this book even before I had read it.  I know it is highly received and acclaimed.  But, because of it’s content (I don’t want to say too much about what the book is about.  You need to read it to discover the answers) and occasional language, I know that some people might disapprove.  So, below are my compiled comments regarding “Speak,” both positive and negative.  I think these are especially important seeing that some schools, like those in Traverse City are requiring their students to read this book.

Listed on the SIBBAP “Bad Books” list.  Listed below are a few samples the SIBBAP listed as evidence of the books inappropriateness:

“..closest we come to worship is the Trinity of Visa, Mastercard, and American Express. ..cheerleaders confuse me because I missed Sunday School. ..has to be a miracle. ..How else could they sleep with the football team on Saturday night and be reincarnated as virginal goddesses on Monday? ..2 realities.. In one.. Pride of the Trojans.. In.. 2.. wild parties.. rent beach houses.. get group rate abortions..”

“..open paperclip and scratch.. inside of my.. wrist. ..Pitiful. If a suicide attempt is a cry for help, then what is this? A whimper, a peep? I draw little windowcracks of blood, etching line after line until it stops hurting. ..looks like I arm-wrestled a rosebush.”

“..Home of the Trojans didn’t send a strong abstinence message, so they [renamed us] Blue Devils.” go here for the complete reference

“Speak” is listed as YA book dealing with “edgy subjects,” according to the Amercian Center of Cultural Renewal.  Below is the opening paragraph of their article “How the ALA (American Library Association) Pushes Porn on our Children”

Here’s a well-researched article revealing the pornography that is now prevalent in what is called “Young Adult” literature. It’s what is being recommended to children – and they are taking the recommendation. And parents aren’t aware of the trash being pushed on their children. These books even get the top literary awards from the ALA, so unless you actually read them, you won’t know the appalling content. Here we have given the most unobjectionable account possible; there is much more contained in the books and all of it very disgusting. read the rest

The following are a few reviews posted on www.amazon.com regarding “Speak”

Beware of offensive language and adult subject matter, May 3, 2005

Reviewer:

Cathy “Middle school media specialist” (Ohio)

Melinda, a freshman, is considered an outcast at Merryweather High School because she supposedly busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. The rejection and a traumatic episode give her a bad attitude about school, and her grades suffer as well. The traumatic experience is something she has hidden from everyone, but at an important opportunity, she talks about it and everything changes for her.
This book should be for mature readers because of offensive language and adult subject matter.

One of the worst books I’ve ever read…, February 21, 2005
A Kid’s Review
Speak is about a freshman in highschool who had gone to a party the previous summer, and called the cops for some mysterious reason. There are hints through the book, to what the “mysterious” thing is.

I was very dissapointed with this book. It was bizzarre, not well written, and even worse, I was forced to read it in my 7th grade English class. It was upsetting to me, personally, and it’s ridiculous that it should be allowed for ages “13 and up”. Parents/Teachers…before you allow your 13 year old daughter read this book…keep in mind that there is a very graphic/upsetting scene in the book. Not recommended for 13 and under.

What was worse about this book? The ending….I won’t give it away, but I can warn you that it took away from what the story was about. Completely ridiculous violence added to “excite” the reader.

All in all, this book is garbage. Sick, twisted, violent, innapropriate, for kids in my age group. I don’t understand how any writer could write a book like this, and aim it at kids my age. It’s sad…

Reviewer: A reader
This Book was a book that I could not even finish! It was too descriptive and had terrible language. I can not believe that any YOUNG ADULT should be reading it.

read more Amazon reviews here

I have read on many sites that “Speak” has been challenged in many schools, but I haven’t been able to find a list of those schools.  However, I found while researching this book there is an overwhelming positive response toward it.  I could list hundreds of those responses, but below are a few samples of positive responses to this book.

If teachers are not allowed to share books like Laurie Halse Anderson’s Speak with students, how will students ever feel comfortable enough to ask questions?  How will they ever feel safe enough to tell us about a problem they’re having?  How can they ever approach an adult to confess or open up about a real event if we cannot acknowledge these issues exist?- Julie Hughey @ Secondary English, Banned Books

From www.degrassi-boards.com

I recommended it to a friend of mine …… It made her realize that she has a voice, all she has to do is speak. (Her words, not mine) I felt so proud after, knowing that a book I heard of, off of a Degrassi site, helped one of my closest friends get through this horrible time.

I absolutely love this book! I read it two years ago, and it definately impacted my life. And not very many books can do that to me. I love how the main character was depicted, and what happened to her was greatly writen. Like how she delt w/ it and everything. I would have to say that this is most definately one of my favorite books!

I feel a bit dorky saying this, but I actually relate to this book alot. I’ve been through tough times and kids at school don’t understand about it. I picked up this book which was required by my friend at another school to read, not me, and I instantly felt like the author had written it from my point of view. It’s an amazing book that goes to show it isn’t always what it seems. see complete forum here

More www.amazon.com reviews:

Should have won the National Book Award., March 22, 2000

Reviewer:

Marc E. Sterling (Washington, DC) – See all my reviews

Zachary Beaver was good, but this one has stayed with me longer. I bought this for my 14-year old daughter, who loved it, so I tried it, and was blown away. Ms. Anderson sent me back 30 years and put me right back in high school. I felt so much for the main character and her struggle as an outcast. The author masterfully lets the story unfold slowly, drawing you in. My daughter agrees it was a very accurate depiction of high school life, and we’ve had some good discussions about the book. I’d recommend this to parents who have girls in high school, to refresh your memory of what it was like, and to give you a window on their world… This is a powerful novel that actually says something, and it deserves a wide readership. Pick it up and follow the main character through her freshman year- I guarantee you’ll be moved no matter what age you are.

an honest look at the difficulties of adolescence, April 18, 2000

Reviewer:

christy (Tennessee) – See all my reviews

…..Adults and teens alike should read this book. As for those who may say the topic is too “adult” for teens, I say you have no idea what being a teen ager these days is really like.

Speak – I think all young girls should read this book, March 20, 2000
Reviewer: A reader
I am the father of a young woman who recommended this book to me. I don’t usually read books aimed at teenage girls, but after reading “Speak”, I am recommending it to to my friends who are parents of young girls entering high school.

Outstanding writing, June 6, 2003

Reviewer:

readerjbeach@aol.com “readerjb” (Delaware) – See all my reviews

….I would like to think that some high school students would read this book and change their attitudes; I would like to see this book discussed in our high schools. It should be mandatory reading.

Awards for “Speak”

• A National Book Award Finalist
• An ALA Quick Pick
• An Edgar Allan Poe Award Finalist
• Winner of the SCBWI Golden Kite Award
• An ALA Top Ten Best Books for Young Adults
• A BCCB Blue Ribbon Book
• A Horn Book Fanfare Title
• A 2000 Printz Honor Book
• Speak was nominated to the Siver Book Award

WOO HOO!

Final Harry Potter book on shelves July 21

Stores taking preorders for J.K. Rowling’s ‘Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows’

February 1, 2007

By MARTA SALIJ

FREE PRESS BOOKS WRITER

July 21, at 12:01 a.m. – that’s when the next and final installment of the Harry Potter book series will be released.

“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” by J.K. Rowling and illustrated by Mary GrandPre, will be priced at $34.99 for the standard hardcover edition and $65 for a deluxe edition, the U.S. publisher, Scholastic, announced today. No page length has been set, though Scholastic acknowledges that it has a manuscript in hand from Rowling.  read the rest

Cutting, “It used to be thought of as something the freaky kids did in the bathroom”

I recently ran across an article from January, 15 2007 in the MetroWest Daily News out of Boston, titled “Cutting on increase in teens, say experts.” When I started this blog about issues discussed in problem novels, mental health issues were one of my primary areas of interest.  I really wanted to know how books aimed at teens portrayed teen depression.  I had heard of some books on cutting, one of them being the YA book “Cut” by Patricia McCormick.  I had never read it, but I was fascinated that there was a book about self harm aimed at adolescents.  This is because I used to be a cutter.  I don’t want to make this blog entry my “scabs to scars” story, but I feel it is an important fact to reveal.  I know the mind of a cutter.  I know what it’s like to be a teenager dealing with this issue.  When I started cutting, I didn’t even know it was something people did.  I knew nothing about it.  I just did it because it somehow made me feel better.  It wasn’t until I was in college that I found out I wasn’t alone, and that there are a lot of other people dealing with this issue.  And the most important thing I learned about opening up and talking about it was how to stop. This statistic appeared in the MetroWest Daily article:

“A study commissioned by the Samaritans, a British nonprofit group that provides confidential emotional support to people dealing with depression in the United Kingdom and Ireland, found that 10.3 percent of 15- and 16-year-olds in the U.K. had reported deliberately harming themselves.”

10% doesn’t sound like an astounding number.  But, think of a typical high school classroom.  They hold about 30 students.  Odds are 3 kids in that class are cutters.  Of course, this statistic is only on 15 and 16 year old kids in this particular study.  Self harm statistics are hard to come by because it such a taboo subject.  Kids just don’t want to admit it. So, I decided to read Cut.  Going into this book I wanted to know:

• How accurately does it portray the mind of a cutter?
• Does it glorify cutting at all?
• Does it offer solutions?
• Does it discuss deeper issues, like the root of the cutting problem?

A brief synopsis of the book is there is a 15 year old cutter named Callie.  She is in an institution with other girls, some have eating disorders and some have unnamed illnesses.  Eventually another cutter named Amanda comes to the institution.  Callie does not talk.  At all.  The book is a 1st person narrative of what she is thinking.  Eventually she does talk, reveals her problems and decides to stop cutting. I thought the book effectively got into the real way a cutters mind works.  It dealt with the secretiveness and shame very well.  It also captured the way a cutter can see the world in terms of potential weapons one can use on themselves in case of an emergency.  The idea of cutting being used as both an emotional release and a form of self punishment was also discussed.  Finally, the root of the problem, the real and often unknown reason of the self harm behavior is eventually addressed.

What I didn’t like about this book was that the girl was in a mental institution.  This is not common procedure.  Self harm is not a suicide attempt.  People that self harm do not go to institutions based on that reason alone.  I was worried that young cutters reading this book would assume that if they revealed their behavior, they too would be sent to a hospital.  Overall, the idea of cutting is not glorified.  It is presented as true as possible.  However, one character, Amanda, is a cutter that sees it as an art form and creative expression akin to tattoos or piercings.  This issue is never really resolved.  We never find out if Amanda realizes the problems she really has.  The main character Callie does get in touch with her problems.  She is having some family issues that have caused her to become a sort of perfectionist, a very common symptom of cutters.  The book moves rather quickly through her problems, but they are addressed.  There is some interaction between her parents; overall they seem worried but unwilling to discuss her behaviors.  Her friends in the institution seem genuinely concerned, but the primary input is through her own eyes and through her therapist’s.  However, she seems to be able to give up cutting rather easily.  Cutting is an addiction.  It is not simple to stop.  Cutters cut to punish and relieve pain.  Then they feel ashamed and sad that they cut, so they cut again.  It is a vicious cycle.

Overall, I am happy that this book is out there.  Cutting is a very taboo subject.  I think the book could have done more to show that cutting is a very real problem that takes a real amount of time, therapy and support to overcome.  I would have liked to see more happen with Amanda, the “creative cutter.”  I don’t like that the book leaves her issues hanging.

I combed some blogs to find other people’s responses to this book.  I wanted to know how both adolescents and adults felt about this book; is it healthy reading or inappropriate?

“…Cut, which sold nearly 400,000 copies, is the first-person story of Callie, a girl who has been institutionalized for cutting herself. Not everyone likes McCormick’s gritty approach. Some librarians have declined to buy Cut, fearing copycat behavior.” – Time, “Tough Subjects and Teens“ Andrea Sachs, Oct. 22, 2006

Banned and Challenged Books in Texas Public Schools, 2002-2003

Cut, Patricia McCormick

School District- Bandera Independent School District

School Involved- Bandera Middle School

Use- Curriculum

Reason for Challenge- Other: Inappropriate subject matter

ACLU Foundation of Texas

For me, the most important critics of problem novels are young adults.  I found a site called Degrassi-Boards Forums where adolescents talk about a variety of material over message boards.  There was one about “Cut.”  There were a lot of entries regarding the book.  Below are some of the comments that I felt gave the most input about this book.

(I copied the entries, spelling errors aren’t mine )

I’ve wanted to read it for so long, but my parents would completely freak out if they dound out I have it. It seems really interesting, I love things on topics like that.

It’s a great book, I really enjoyed reading it. I actually read the entire thing in 1 day. I loved how the book portrayed the serious issues in such a realistic way. There are many people out there who just don’t understand self mutilation and/or eating disorders and it’s great to see it portrayed in such a real way that these people can actually understand.

i love that book i read it 2 or 3 times. i relate to it alot and alot of the details and stuff are really realistic. i gave it to a friend i thought it would help her. anyway its a really good book and everyone should read it.

I’ve wanted to read this book so much! It’s too bad to have at our library [they're like really strict with the books they have] and it’s not at the city library. I’m probably gonna buy it soon :biggrin:

This was an amazing book. I think it’s important that teens, especially during this time period, learn as much as they can about these important issues, and this book was very informative.

I’ve wanted to pick the book up for some time, but I just don’t want to be questioned by my parents and all…But anywaaaaay….My friend told me it was a great book, and recommended it to me. I want to read it bad… :eyespop:

I read it, but I also was uneasy about my parents questioning me. It’s like they take everything to the extreme, like they would say, “You are what you read.” So, I just read it when I was home alone, that way I could read and love without the questions!  I recomend this book. It deals with intense issues, but, Hello? Can you say Degrassi?

It’s a book that really makes you think. I got it from the library, and i ended up reading it the whole day at school. It kind of captivates you. I definitely reccomend it to anyone to read. But please, don’t mimick any of the girl’s “problems”. The idea of the book is to inform you, not give you any ideas. I know i sound like i’m preaching, and for that i’m sorry. Anyway, yeah. it’s a really good book. Definitely would reccomend.

I read that book. I loved it. It really made me feel like I wasn’t insane, and that people go through the same things that I do. This was back when absolutley no one knew about my cutting problems but me.

I read this book a year ago. I thought It was really good. Its sad why she cut and the things she did. Eventhough in the end she didn’t go back home or anything I love the way it ended because it showed that she was going to get better in the future. I didn’t get questioned by my parents because they think its great that I explore problems of that sort. They didn’t mind. I find nothing wrong with this book because Its just teaching you something informing you in a interesting way.

Hey, i just went out and bought this book, and read it after reading about it on her, and i dont agree, i thought for the most part the book was very realistic, especially the first chapter, how she didnt talk, and all the thoughts in her head were very real, how she would just sit in the room and count the walls on the ceiling. I think some parts of 2 and 3 were a little unrealistic, just because all of the sudden she wanted help, i think it shuold have been even slower and more gradual then it was. I liked callie tho, alot, and same as the other characters. Even Amanda was kind of interesting, it shows the difference between the “oh look i cut for attention” cutter..and the person that does it for themselves, to make themsleves feel better, and is truely frightened to find out. I thought Amandas whole theory of how cutting is all the different from going out and “getting tattoos” was really interesing. …in a wierd way she had a point…calling it “body art”, and if people could get holes thru themselves..its not all the different.

I didnt like this book at all because I felt like it was really unrealistic. I read it because I though I would be able to relate to the character because I’m a cutter myself. No. I felt like the author really didn’t have a grasp on what its like to self-mutilate. There’s a view you cant get if you dont do it yourself, she probably didnt get the right view of a cutter by researching it.

I actually just finished this book. I thought it was excellent.The portrayal was excellent. I was amazed that the author could get the descriptions and actions of the characters down to a tee.I would recommend this book to anyone, on the condition that they are ready for some sad feelings. But it was a very powerful book…we need more books like this one.