First Blog Journal: What is Allowed in Young Adult Literature?

These days just about anything is allowed in Young Adult Literature. Bookstore bookshelves are lined with stories of vampires, zombies, self mutilation, sexual perversion, drug-use and anything else that is considered cool and controversial. I'm not too surprised. We live in a messed up world. First of all, my aim is not to pass judgement on the authors of the more explicit YA books. They have their beliefs and convictions about what is right or what is wrong to publish into a book. I figure that these authors will either inspire or have the opposite impact. They will have to answer to their own supporters and critics. In one way or another, they will do something.  I do strongly believe that it is the sole responsibility of the parents or guardians to have a say in what their child is reading and digesting internally. Young adults need positive influences in their lives. There is enough bad stuff in the world. I'm not saying children should be completely sheltered. There are plenty of great YA books that focus on fantasy and real-life tragedies without being overtly explicit. Some children are in situations where they have seen things and experienced things in their life that no child should have to. In a sense, their mentality is at the level of an older adult. But, we must keep in mind that there are many other children out there who haven't seen it all. We should be sensitive to where young adults are both mentally and emotionally. Children are growing up way too fast the way it is.

Two articles written from the opposite sides of the table, have some interesting points and strong opinions about what should be in Young Adult Literature. I respect and consider both views, but I personally have more in common with author, Megahn Cox Gurdon, on this one.  I agree with the majority of what was mentioned in the article, "Darkness too Visible." Gurdon writes, "The book business exists to sell books; parents exist to rear children, and oughtn't be daunted by cries of censorship. No family is obliged to acquiesce when publishers use the vehicle of fundamental free-expression principles to try to bulldoze coarseness or misery into their children's lives." Sherman Alexie, author of "Why the Best Kids Books are Written in Blood," responds in disgust and makes it sound like Gurdon is coming down on him personally with a condescending tone. I could tell that Alexie was trying to defend his side because he was offended by her article. I got the impression that he was still hanging onto a lot of anger and unforgiveness towards those who have caused him pain in the past. Alexie explains, "I don’t write to protect them. It’s far too late for that. I write to give them weapons–in the form of words and ideas-that will help them fight their monsters. I write in blood because I remember what it felt like to bleed." The world can be cruel. There is no doubt about that.  But we don't have to sit in it and let it consume our hearts and minds by feeding off of it either. It's just my opinion. So take it for what it's worth.