Ugh! Another book to make sure you don't let your kids read. Because, you know, reality TV isn't crossing any lines already. And we certainly don't want our kids to start thinking about how far is too far. We also don't want them to think about any moral issues or what is right and what is wrong or question the government or, or, or.
Either this parent hasn't read the whole book, or she just went through it looking for parts she wouldn't like. Of COURSE it's a terrible thing to pit children against each other to the death. That's kind of central to the whole series, isn't it? If the point of the game were for the kids to taunt each other and then hug at the end, that would kind of kill the whole overthrow-the-government push, wouldn't it?
Throwback, by Maurene Goo, for Timeslip Tuesday
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This week's time travel book, Throwback, by Maurene Goo (YA, April 2023,
Zando Young Readers), sends Samantha, the daughter of Korean immigrants,
back in...
3 days ago
Hmmm. I wouldn't agree with most of the protester's complaints about the book as such, but I would say 11 was a bit young. Put it in the middle school library by all means, but I don't think many eleven-year olds would be ready for Hunger Games. Waaait a minute, aren't most 7th graders 13? At least they are in our school districts. Maybe a mistake in the article somewhere? 13 is a perfectly ok age for HG to my mind.
ReplyDeleteYes, 13 would be the age here, too. As a former teacher (7th grade!) and a Mom, I could happily argue both sides of the required-books-debate. As a Mom, I have the right to say what my child will or will not read (note: that does NOT mean I have the right to decide what your child will or will not read). There are SO many great books out there, it seems silly to require something you know will be controversial - why not give kids a short list to choose from, and have three different discussion groups? Wouldn't they get more involved if they had a hand in making their own selections?
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, you have those parents who are just going to object to everything under the sun. I gave the example earlier of the mother of one of my first graders, who insisted the class couldn't study HARVEST in October - or bats, or spiders, even in the context of the regular science curriculum. How far should teachers have to bend to obey the most outrageous wishes of the parents? How do you decide what is outrageous and what is fair?
Yeah - I can see if she doesn't want her kid to be required to read it, but pulling it from the school library is going too far. Alas for that lovely thing, the middle road...
ReplyDelete