One of the annoying things about these discussion is the use of ‘children’ and ‘school’ as weasel-words. A 5 year old kindergartner is a child that goes to school, and so is a 17 year old senior. We don’t apply the same standards to both because that’s obviously silly.
I haven’t read it so take my opinion or don’t, but it sounds like something I wouldn’t read to a 2nd grade class but I can see a teenager reading it and understanding the context.
It’s the same with “minors.” Sometimes, that’s a relevant term (“Minors cannot legally buy cigarettes in this country”) but sometimes it feels like it’s used to infantilize teens a bit. 0-17 is a huge age range, is all.
They do the same thing when the talk about children shot with guns and those statistics. It makes you think little kids when in all actuality a large portion is gang violence from 16/17 year olds. It tugs on the heart strings.
I have read it. It’s a really well done, empathetic portrayal of a 14 year old the summer before high school who is struggling with his sexuality, being accepted by peers, and his identity. There is a suicide attempt but not graphically shown, and in that context, a fight with his inner self where he figures out some things that are transformative. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading it. There is one scene that involves a group of boys masturbating into a bottle that is not depicted. I’m sad that they removed the book because it addresses bullying in such a way that a reader really understands the impact and they empathize with the victim. I also think there are a lot of kids in that main character’s shoes, and this book with its lessons would be a good resource for them. It is a book for a high school library, and it has found its way into middle school libraries where it is not a great fit.
One of the annoying things about these discussion is the use of ‘children’ and ‘school’ as weasel-words. A 5 year old kindergartner is a child that goes to school, and so is a 17 year old senior. We don’t apply the same standards to both because that’s obviously silly.
I haven’t read it so take my opinion or don’t, but it sounds like something I wouldn’t read to a 2nd grade class but I can see a teenager reading it and understanding the context.
It’s the same with “minors.” Sometimes, that’s a relevant term (“Minors cannot legally buy cigarettes in this country”) but sometimes it feels like it’s used to infantilize teens a bit. 0-17 is a huge age range, is all.
They do the same thing when the talk about children shot with guns and those statistics. It makes you think little kids when in all actuality a large portion is gang violence from 16/17 year olds. It tugs on the heart strings.
Yea it works with anything. Invoking the innocence of childhood will get you brownie points no matter your cause.
Some Florida teacher and Casserole Karen tried to start shit by tricking a 17 year old in taking a banned book from the library for example
I have read it. It’s a really well done, empathetic portrayal of a 14 year old the summer before high school who is struggling with his sexuality, being accepted by peers, and his identity. There is a suicide attempt but not graphically shown, and in that context, a fight with his inner self where he figures out some things that are transformative. I was surprised at how much I enjoyed reading it. There is one scene that involves a group of boys masturbating into a bottle that is not depicted. I’m sad that they removed the book because it addresses bullying in such a way that a reader really understands the impact and they empathize with the victim. I also think there are a lot of kids in that main character’s shoes, and this book with its lessons would be a good resource for them. It is a book for a high school library, and it has found its way into middle school libraries where it is not a great fit.
Read it, you won’t be sorry you did.