Adolescent Literature in a Shock and Awe Society

1. Lutheran Educator’s Conference - 2012 Adolescent Literature in a Shock and Awe Society

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6. Intellectual Freedom Censorship, Intellectual Freedom, or Selection of Materials? • American Library Association • Sexually explicit • Offensive language • Unsuited to an age group • Anti-ethnic • Violence • Homosexuality • Religious viewpoint • Racism • Sexism • Sex education • Anti-family

7. Types of Censorship Issues • Exclusion vs. Inclusion • Control vs. Advice • Indoctrination vs. Educate • Isolation vs. The Work as Whole

8. Relying on Reviews and Awards • Positives: • Cannot read everything • Reliable authors? • Publishers promote themselves • Negatives: • Just one person’s opinion • Personal biases

9. Parents need to know that The Chocolate War remains one of the best books for teens when it comes to examining moral issues. The intensity of emotion will challenge readers to form opinions and engage. It's brilliantly written and examines some serious moral problems that are very age-appropriate and relevant for teens. This is a book for teens who don't require a happy ending with everything tied up in a neat little package. • This book doesn’t even have positive message about how to deal with a gang, bullies, or peer pressure. The main character is tormented and brutally beaten when he resists these forces. At the end he had learned his lesson not to resist - that it couldn’t be done successfully. He had also learned that the religious instructors who ran the school were corrupt and no better than the gang of bullies who were his peers.

10. Finally, being a teacher who has had a self-abuse student in my classroom before, this book hit home for me. My heart aches for all that some children and teens have to struggle through. I am glad Patricia McCormick has given voice to all those who cannot find their own. • I was very disappointed in this novel. The author took the Lord's name in vain and there are a few other places where she used cursing. It in no way glorifies the Lord as it doesn't say anything about Callie seeking the Lord for help and Him delivering her. The Lord is the only one that can change a heart and the heart is where all issues come from. I bought a few of these books as I know some girls that cut and I thought being from a Christian author that the book would help them. I don't recommend this book.

11. Acriticallyacclaimed novel that will change the way you look at life, love, and family. • This novel had no life to it. I sped through many pages with barely a glance because I was just that bored. The biggest issue I had was that, to be honest, I just didn't care if she stayed or went, which means the novel really did not accomplish what it was supposed to.

12. Dear readers: Please Ignore Vera Dietz is a heartbreaking book. Probably one of the most heartbreaking books I have ever read and when I say heartbreaking, I do mean it. It is a sad book, difficult to read and as I finished it, I sobbed my heart out, out-loud, feeling like I would drown in my own tears. The more I think about the book, the more I like it and I would not be surprised if it made its way into my top reads of 2010. The only other thing I can say is: please don’t ignore this gem of a book. • I wish I'd read the jacket and not trusted the Printz award for excellence in young adult lit. The jacket warns that it is dark and surprising. I feel like I need to take out my brain and give it a shower after this read.

13. The story successfully integrates some heavy themes associated with cloning such as what it means to human, civil rights, etc., enough so as to make this more thought-provoking than your average read. Wisely, instead of focusing on the drug dealing business, the book’s focus instead is on the family of El Patrón and Matt’s plight. Additionally, there are a few surprises along the way to keep the story interesting. • One major gripe with the book would be that the later sequences in the salt mines seemed liked extra padding. Although a well-written side story, those sequences did not really lend much to the Matt’s overall story. Also, the character of Maria, daughter of the U.S. politician in the drug lord’s pocket, was erratic in her behavior.

14. I can certainly see why the book was such a hit. The novel struck many chords and many themes (teenage anguish, love, work, poverty and more), was an easy and quick read, as well as full of action. • There is one flaw though: the actual games start around the tenth chapter and before that is just a kind of prologue. Another thing is that I think it's for kids of age 12-13 and above because there is a lot of violence and lots of romance at the end of the book. 

15. Parental Rights and Requests • Rights • Ultimate responsibility for raising children • Cooperation is the key • Requests • Individual restrictions • Hard to keep track of individuals • Lost opportunity to explore diverse ideas

16. Sanitize or Glamorize • Do books glamorize: • Violence • Drug use • Alternative lifestyles • Should teacher/schools sanitize: • Profanity • Nudity • Ethnicity

17. Being Proactive • Choose the books you use wisely. Make sure that they fit nicely into your curriculum. You should have evidence which you can present that the books you are using are necessary for the student. • If you are using a book that you know has caused concerns in the past, try to come up with alternative novels that students can read. • Make yourself available to answer questions about the books you have chosen. In the very beginning of the school year, introduce yourself to parents at open house and tell them to call you if they have any concerns. If a parent calls you there will probably be less of a problem then if they call administration. • Discuss the controversial issues in the book with the students. Explain to them the reasons those parts were necessary for the author's work. • Have an outside speaker come to class to discuss concerns. For example, if you are reading Huckleberry Finn, get a Civil Rights Activist to give a presentation to students about racism.

18. Questions for Selection • Who has the final authority to select materials for a school? • What is the procedure to follow if materials are challenged? • Who has the right to remove materials? • What are the rights of the individuals who challenge materials? • What is the difference between compulsory and optional materials? • If students are excused from certain materials what impact will it have?

19. Collaborating Professionals • Develop a rationale for the book: • What is your intention? • What will students get out of the book? • Does the book link with curricular goals? • Work with your librarian/administrator • Develop informal groups within the school

20. Resources Brezicki, C. (2012). The elephant in the classroom. Kappan. 93(6). Butcher, K. (2010). Young adult literature: Exploration, evaluation, and appreciation. Pearson Education, Inc. Boston, MA. Kelly, M. (nd). Censorship and book banning in America.http://712educators.about.com/cs/bannedbooks/a/bookbanning.htm McDaniel, J. (2009). Living through lit: Why dark young-adult books shouldn’t be banned. www.edweek.org/tim/section/first-person/2009/05/20/tm_mcdaniel_web.h20