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I've often wondered if there should be some sort of rating system, similar to movies and video games, for books. But it's hard, who WOULD be the people making the distinctions? I think of Judy Blume books... definitely geared toward specific age groups, dealing with tough topics... bullying, masturbation, sex, menstruation... the list goes on. it's NOT black and white, like you say. Would Forever... be rated R because it involves sex? Or PG-13? Whereas Maya Angelou's I Know Why The Caged Bird Sings would probably be an R because she talks about an experience being raped.
I definitely understand what you're saying. I don't think people in here would be offended by it, it seems that you're not challenging the content, but more the age-appropriateness of books. Which i agree, some books are too old for some kids, and others can handle it. I remember my mom made me wait till i was about 12 to read Forever..., while other girls my age wouldn't have been able to handle it.
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daye
- Wednesday, July 25 2007
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Not offeneded, not upset. As a parent of three (21,12 & 9) and English teacher. I would never "stop" my kids from reading anything they chose. I would mention the unappealing bits may not be to their liking...but I would never say "You can not read that book." I may suggest waiting a week or a year but never forbid a book.
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Good for you! I don't have kids but I agree with what you say.
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I was bored with the school's shelf so I checked out my Mom's when I was in 6th grade. I picked Exorcist to read. She about had a cow and after I read that one she started taking me to the city library and gently pushed me into reading another genre. It didn't work because I kept on reading all the scary ones I could get my hands on. I read wifey and Stephen King books my 7th grade year.
I will never tell my children they can't read a book. I may sit down and read it with them so they can ask questions and we can discuss the book.
I recently picked up a book that was offensive to a high school girl in Iowa and read it. All high school kids should read this book. Great book, Great Lessons
Whale Talk by Chris Crutcher
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Jen
- Tuesday, July 31 2007
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I sometimes feel that if we ban books, the kids are going to read them even more.
The only book my mom even told me to stop reading was "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy", but she doens't remember doing it.
I've been thinking about the rating system...the movie system works because there is a governing body and (i'm guessing here) that there are more books written then movies made (movies cost more to make).
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rikkki
- Thursday, August 9 2007
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I have 2 girls and i would never tell them they can't read a book. I don't know if a rating system is needed. I mean already most books are some how or another marked "young reader".. ect. I think the reason i wouldn't want to see a rating system is because who is going to do the rating? Does that mean librarians have to enforce the rating system? Or would it be more like a suggestion. I hate the idea i have to present an ID at Target to buy the Simpson's DVD sets. Imagine a book?
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Of course books should not be banned. But I think that this is different. A middle school library does not, and should not, have the range of books that a public library, university library, or even an elementary school or high school library has. If a school district wants to offer "Deliverance" to its students then I feel that it would be more prudent to place it on the library shelves of the high school. All middle school students will eventually find it when they arrive at the high school. Since it does contain a strong, violent, sexual element and parent's don't always know what their child may be reading during required class reading time, I believe that it does circumvent the ability of the parent to enter the conversation. Librarians (and I spend my day working at the Reference Desk of an university library) have exceptionally strong feelings about open access to books. But, there needs to be some common sense about placing it on the "right" bookshelf, and in this case I believe that that shelf is in the high school library. ~ Carla
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Jen
- Sunday, August 12 2007
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I do agree that books should not be banned. One could look at a school library being an extension of a public library because they usually are both run by the town (espcially in a public school setting). Someone could argue the town would be censoring which people don't like. I do think there are some middle schoolers who could handle a book like Deliverance and by denying access by placing it in a nother school is a form of "banning" a book one could argue.
I'm glad I brought this to the forum, it was a big discussion with my father and brother in laws.
I absolutely agree that books shoudl be challenged for age-approriateness and not for content, but I think sometimes that's not how its done.
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As a kid of 13, I have read certain stories that I know my parents would not aproove of. I think when I was in 5th grade I read a book called Drive-By and it was pretty graphic for my age. It did mention sex and gang violence, but I was able to handel it. In my elementary school library the kids would make a big deal over seeing swear words in text. My librarian would get so sick of kids talking about it she would remove certain books from the shelf. My elementary school was very, hmm whats the word, confined. They didn't aproove of anything that was even slightly racy.
Naturally at the age of 11 and 12 us kids are curious, and feel like we are missing something. I don't think an eleven year-old kid should go looking for books that include graphic scenes, but if they come across one I would let them wait a few years. I agree with the memeber morgainlefey and say that certain books should be challenged for age-appropriateness and not for content.
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Not to start even more controversy, but should parents be watching what their child reads if they are concerned that they may read something that isn't appropriate? Jenjc: I think your brother-in-law did the right thing by checking and seeing what types of books your nephew might read. He was concerned, he said something. I would NEVER tell my child they could not read something, but as daye said, I would suggest waiting. I would also explain why I think they needed to wait. Heck, I was reading V.C. Andrews in 6th grade in a Catholic school. Somewhat ironic I think. But my parents never said anything about my reading it, nor did they choose to discuss the subject matter of the book. But heck no is perfect right??
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Jen
- Sunday, August 19 2007
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I agree with you 100% that it was good that he was checking on what books his kids have access to, but he was looking at it for his kid. He talked to the librarian about taking the book out so that none of the kids could have access to it. I don't agree with one parent making the decision about materials for all children. I feel that it is a parents right and duty to monitor and heck even censor if not appropriate but it is not OK for someone elses parent to be censoring for all kids. I would suggest waiting also for my own kid or read it with them and talk about it.
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Good point and I agree that one parent should not make the decision for all children!
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I think it depends on the child. When I was 7 or 8 I was reading "Blubber" by Judy Blume at school and the teacher asked me not to bring it in anymore. She said I was mature and could handle the book but it would be too mature for some of the other children. I didn't mind because she made it sound like a compliment.
I remember wanting to read "The Secret Diary if Adrian Mole Aged 13 and 3/4" around that time. My Dad had it but he suggested I waited till I was older.
My parents never banned any books from me. My Mam wasn't pleased when I read "The Exorcist" when I was 13 or 14 but she didn't stop me and they knew I got "The Taming of Sleeping Beauty" out of the library when I was 14 or 15 and they never commented. I think banning me from reading a book would have made me want to read it more.
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ken s
- Thursday, April 24 2008
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Good for you Jen. I'm 63 and I remember some things from when I was a kid. Some books were banned for the stupidest things. My dad never stunted my lust for reading and he encouraged.
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Summer
- Thursday, May 22 2008
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Working at a public library, and participating in banned books week, I have seen so many things banned for no reason. A lot of it is religious groups or parents. It really frustrates me when one parents decides that the content of a book is unsuitable for anyone. Who are they to decide whether or not I should read this material? If they don't want their child to read it then that's something they need to discuss with their child. Don't try to get a book taken out of the library so that my child can't even read it if he/she chose to. It is the parents responsibility to know what their kids are reading...they can't always be theer 100% of the time but there are always options. They could always talk to the librarian or the school about what their child is allowed to read. I just hate to see wonderful literature taken away from people that could benefit from reading it.
Oh, and something that I found quit ironic was the fact that Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury is a banned/challenged book. Obviousley these people have never read the book then! It's about books being banned and burned so that people can't read them. Duh!
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rikkki
- Thursday, May 29 2008
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And imagine we read that book in high school. Actually our teacher only insisted on the first 50 pages because the class moaned so much about reading, I read the whole thing that night. It's a wonderful book and the irony of having it banned is rather amazing.
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i realize i'm nearly a year late, but i have to ask.....was it a school library or a public library? if it is a school library, then something could be done. if it's a public library, well, considering the group we're members of, that would be a bad thing.
buit, being a parent and having worked in a bookstore where there was material around that were for eyes 18 and over, i completely understand.
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rikkki
- Thursday, May 29 2008
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I recently watched the Kite Runner with my 10 year old. She is rather mature and i had to explain the rape scene, as it is I was explaining more than just that but the whole idea that there is sex of that kind. It put a new perspective on her with using words like "homo" (she doesn't but it's a common insult used in school) and it really made her realise it's not something to say to someone. So I guess what I am saying is there are books with some graphic things in them but is it the whole context of the book? Now if she asked to read the Sleeping Beauty series I would suggest her to wait till she is a bit older.
So for me if the book is specifically of a sexual nature or an incredibly violent one that I have read and know about it would be conversation with her first and then let her decide.
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