Comments on: Cutting, “It used to be thought of as something the freaky kids did in the bathroom” http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-freaky-kids-did-in-the-bathroom/ problem novels in young adult literature Sat, 22 Aug 2009 01:18:55 +0000 http://wordpress.com/ hourly 1 By: What I had to say... « It’s Your Pulse, Your Heartbeat, and Your Rhythm of Life http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-freaky-kids-did-in-the-bathroom/#comment-346 What I had to say... « It’s Your Pulse, Your Heartbeat, and Your Rhythm of Life Tue, 17 Apr 2007 17:36:06 +0000 http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-freaky-kids-did-in-the-bathroom/#comment-346 [...] Comment #4 to Virginia’s “Cutting, ‘It used to be thought of as something the freaky kids did in the bathroom’” [...] [...] Comment #4 to Virginia’s “Cutting, ‘It used to be thought of as something the freaky kids did in the bathroom’” [...]

]]> By: My comments « Every Day is a Winding Road… http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-freaky-kids-did-in-the-bathroom/#comment-333 My comments « Every Day is a Winding Road… Tue, 17 Apr 2007 00:28:35 +0000 http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-freaky-kids-did-in-the-bathroom/#comment-333 [...] Comment 3 [...] [...] Comment 3 [...]

]]> By: Comments « tree house rock http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-freaky-kids-did-in-the-bathroom/#comment-192 Comments « tree house rock Tue, 10 Apr 2007 18:29:25 +0000 http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-freaky-kids-did-in-the-bathroom/#comment-192 [...] http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-frea... [...] [...] http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-frea... [...]

]]> By: nathan http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-freaky-kids-did-in-the-bathroom/#comment-11 nathan Wed, 07 Feb 2007 16:26:36 +0000 http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-freaky-kids-did-in-the-bathroom/#comment-11 I really like the way you are doing your entries, by addressing somewhat taboo/controversial novels and then the greater issues surrounding them. I haven't read Cut, but have a close friend that used to cut, and with alarming frequency. It is such a secretive thing - I didn't even know she was cutting until she was struggling to stop after several years. I think because the topic (cutting) is so 'taboo' and the behavior so secretive, tha I'm glad that this novel addresses it- and rather boldly from your description. I think it's rather foolish for librarians/educators to fear copy-cat behavior; people who cut didn't start because they read a novel about it - the issue runs alot deeper than that. What did help my friend stop cutting was being able to talk about it - and having people to call/talk to when she felt she needed to cut. It's not something that gets better by covering it up, and I think the author recognizes that. I found it interesting that so many of the readers didn't read the book, 'because their parents would freak out' were worried about what they might say, or hid the fact that they had the book. That's too bad. I definately agree with Ashley that the book opens up discussion on the topic and also that it should be available to students for that same reason. I really like the way you are doing your entries, by addressing somewhat taboo/controversial novels and then the greater issues surrounding them. I haven’t read Cut, but have a close friend that used to cut, and with alarming frequency. It is such a secretive thing – I didn’t even know she was cutting until she was struggling to stop after several years. I think because the topic (cutting) is so ‘taboo’ and the behavior so secretive, tha I’m glad that this novel addresses it- and rather boldly from your description. I think it’s rather foolish for librarians/educators to fear copy-cat behavior; people who cut didn’t start because they read a novel about it – the issue runs alot deeper than that. What did help my friend stop cutting was being able to talk about it – and having people to call/talk to when she felt she needed to cut. It’s not something that gets better by covering it up, and I think the author recognizes that.
I found it interesting that so many of the readers didn’t read the book, ‘because their parents would freak out’ were worried about what they might say, or hid the fact that they had the book. That’s too bad. I definately agree with Ashley that the book opens up discussion on the topic and also that it should be available to students for that same reason.

]]> By: orra http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-freaky-kids-did-in-the-bathroom/#comment-9 orra Thu, 01 Feb 2007 20:06:30 +0000 http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-freaky-kids-did-in-the-bathroom/#comment-9 Virginia- Wow, first I applaud you for your intensely interesting topic. Reading your blog makes me want to go buy Cut and read it to experience it for myself. I think you pose great questions when asking if Cut is appropriate to have available in schools, or even appropriate for young adults to read on their own. Without having read the book or experienced cutting first hand, I do realize that my opinion is not as well-rounded as it could be, but I think Cut might have a place on student’s reading shelves. Like you said, the issue of cutting seems so taboo, and very few cutters will talk about the issue with peers, parents, or councilors. I like that you included the blog entries from the young adults who have read the novel, because I think it gives us insight into their viewpoints on cutting. Many of them said they were embarrassed to let their parents see them reading the book—which again, emphasizes how forbidden the topic is for discussion. For this very reason, I think the book could be beneficial to students and serve as an outlet for knowledge and communication. By reading the book, they could realize that they are not alone in this issue (if they are a cutter themselves), or they may realize that this is an important issue that’s affecting their peers that they should be aware of. This is the world we live in today, and I don’t think sheltering our young adults from the realities of it is necessarily right. Again, just my opinion. Great job on this blog! -Ashley Virginia-

Wow, first I applaud you for your intensely interesting topic. Reading your blog makes me want to go buy Cut and read it to experience it for myself.

I think you pose great questions when asking if Cut is appropriate to have available in schools, or even appropriate for young adults to read on their own. Without having read the book or experienced cutting first hand, I do realize that my opinion is not as well-rounded as it could be, but I think Cut might have a place on student’s reading shelves.

Like you said, the issue of cutting seems so taboo, and very few cutters will talk about the issue with peers, parents, or councilors. I like that you included the blog entries from the young adults who have read the novel, because I think it gives us insight into their viewpoints on cutting. Many of them said they were embarrassed to let their parents see them reading the book—which again, emphasizes how forbidden the topic is for discussion.

For this very reason, I think the book could be beneficial to students and serve as an outlet for knowledge and communication. By reading the book, they could realize that they are not alone in this issue (if they are a cutter themselves), or they may realize that this is an important issue that’s affecting their peers that they should be aware of. This is the world we live in today, and I don’t think sheltering our young adults from the realities of it is necessarily right. Again, just my opinion. Great job on this blog!

-Ashley

]]> By: murphkel2003 http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-freaky-kids-did-in-the-bathroom/#comment-7 murphkel2003 Thu, 01 Feb 2007 19:00:41 +0000 http://problemnovels.wordpress.com/2007/02/01/cutting-it-used-to-be-thought-of-as-something-the-freaky-kids-did-in-the-bathroom/#comment-7 I think Cut was an educational book that made me more aware of the cutting situation. I myself have never even though of cutting myself but I know that a lot of teens, and adults for that matter, have a lot of issues with cutting and other self mutilation. I would deifnitely put Cut in my classroom library due to the fact that the book will reach out to those who are having problems with cutting and also inform others who, like me, don't experience any such thoughts of self mutilation. Awesome job of finding message boards that shows the opinions and responses of fellow readers. I think Cut was an educational book that made me more aware of the cutting situation. I myself have never even though of cutting myself but I know that a lot of teens, and adults for that matter, have a lot of issues with cutting and other self mutilation.

I would deifnitely put Cut in my classroom library due to the fact that the book will reach out to those who are having problems with cutting and also inform others who, like me, don’t experience any such thoughts of self mutilation.

Awesome job of finding message boards that shows the opinions and responses of fellow readers.

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