message 3129
From: Anne LeVeque, subject: Childhood and Intellectual Freedom
Let me reiterate that I have NOT read Junk (and by now don't intend to), so I cannot respond to criticisms of that particular book, but since the phrase 'that kind of book' was used, perhaps my comments will have some validity. Junk sounds an awful lot like the book 'Go Ask Alice'which was published nearly 30 years ago and purported to be the diary of a teenage girl who gets caught up in the drug and free-love culture of the late 60s. There was and still is lots of outrage over that book because of its graphic descriptions of drug use and teenage sex. I believe the book was intended as a cautionary tale. I think Alan mischaracterizes the intentions of what he refers to as the 'intelligentsia.' Perhaps such books serve to give middle- or upper-class kids a window onto a life which they otherwise would have no exposure to. I am sure that many people feel that books like this romanticize or glamorize an immoral and unhealthy lifestyle.
I have never said that all books for children should be 'required' to address social issues. Good grief! what would I be doing on this site if I believed that?!? I think we should give our kids a little more credit for being able to distinguish good literature from bad schlock. If a child is reared in a loving home with positive values, etc., a BOOK is not going to entice that child into a life of crime, for goodness sakes!
By the same token, not all books for children should be 'escapist' or fantastic. I still find it somewhat surprising that my son's tastes run more to the non-fiction end of the spectrum - I have always been a voracious novel-reader. My point is that just because a medal that was once awarded to Pigeon Post has been awarded to a novel which many of us find of questionable taste is no reason to say that all children's literature has gone to hell in a handbasket.
Alan: Please take a look at the site I mentioned before you go off about Canadian academics. Barbecued Billygoats! You mean Nancy ISN'T a great feminist role model? C'mon Alan - they're AMAZONS!!
Anne LeVeque

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