tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594502524570705142.post70500649366509713..comments2023-10-21T06:32:59.556-05:00Comments on Imagination in Focus: surprised by the WSJ: in which I do what the politicians do and speak outta both sidesAmeliahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14767350676055319412noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594502524570705142.post-67481644577858931332011-06-06T00:13:58.014-05:002011-06-06T00:13:58.014-05:00I actually quite agree with all the points you'...I actually quite agree with all the points you've made, but especially this one: "I think that if people weren't so often surprised or caught off guard, they'd be less hostile to books that they'd just as soon skip." I don't like very, very dark issue books and will generally avoid them, unless I'm *really* curious, but - yeah - nothing makes me mad like NOT KNOWING what I'm getting myself in for, then ending up reading a book that's HIGHLY disturbing. <br /><br />While for the most part everyone's railing against this article, I have to say that - while there are *so* many wonderful YA books out there these days; light / dark / whatever - there are times when I will read a one and be shocked that ANYONE would find it appropriate for teenagers. I'm not saying that we need to start banning books, I'm not convinced that teenagers would emulate bad behaviour just because they've read about it, and it's good to address issues if authors do so respectfully, but ... kidnapping? incest? and that book about the girl taken by the paedophile, then made to help him find a new victim? <br /><br />I'm sorry, but that's the kind of stuff that does more harm than good. If I'd read some of those books when I was younger, I'd have been somewhat traumatised. There'd definitely have nightmares. I might have become overly fearful of situations that - for the most part - would have been completely out of control. And I wasn't the meekest teenager by a mile.<br /><br />Some topics really are too much, and publishers should maybe start considering that dark and edgy and provocative is not necessarily <i>appropriate</i>. Sometimes it's just plain Going Too Far, especially for the intended audience.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594502524570705142.post-13101161108906437982011-06-05T19:08:55.182-05:002011-06-05T19:08:55.182-05:00@ Nina - You're right, I think it's very s...@ Nina - You're right, I think it's very strange that a lady could just look at the covers of books in a store and somehow know that none of them were good enough. That's very suspect. <br />Although, I used to say that if people didn't like books, or stuff in books, they didn't have to read them, BUT...how are they to know? For example, I had no idea some of the er, darker aspects of Lauren Myracle's books. Judging by her books' cover designs, they look cute and girly (some of them). I think that what WSJ was trying to do was bring to light just how many previously-taboo subjects are being dealt with in a very "show-all-hide-nothing" light, and it is a bit shocking. I'm grateful for the points they did make, but I also think that part of journalism is telling the full story, and they really should have spotlighted the other side of YA, instead of just making a generalization.Ameliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14767350676055319412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594502524570705142.post-6496736568460008852011-06-05T18:59:14.236-05:002011-06-05T18:59:14.236-05:00I actually understand both sides too, but I really...I actually understand both sides too, but I really think that it's no reason to waste a perfectly good WSJ space for such a shallow issue. That mom is just probably too lazy to go read some of the books' synopses and just generalized all the books as 'dark and violent.' I have a stash of YA books that prove otherwise. Plus, my mom reads my books and she enjoys them a lot, even some of the 'dark and violent' ones.<br /><br />Of course, there are some books that we could have done without, but if you don't like a book, then don't read it. No need to write a WSJ article about it and have it blown out of proportion.Nina B.https://www.blogger.com/profile/05724080316627086644noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594502524570705142.post-30321378131862390812011-06-05T18:58:49.302-05:002011-06-05T18:58:49.302-05:00Thanks, Jillian! That really means a lot to me, be...Thanks, Jillian! That really means a lot to me, because on the one hand I agree with the WSJ that YA has become awfully dark lately, and is protecting the "dark and gritty" one step away from enabling it...but generalizations bother me. Your comment really means a great deal!<br />*hugs*Ameliahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14767350676055319412noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594502524570705142.post-36125045485418638192011-06-05T18:38:19.207-05:002011-06-05T18:38:19.207-05:00the YA author, James Dashner, tweeted something li...the YA author, James Dashner, tweeted something like, "the writer of that article must be Matilda's mother!" I couldn't agree more. <br /><br />Great post, Amelia. I feel no need to write a post about this topic, because I feel like I won't be as eloquent as you are with expressing myself! Haha.Jillianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07629286727932554109noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594502524570705142.post-28441354150048828002011-06-05T14:42:07.297-05:002011-06-05T14:42:07.297-05:00I was going to write a rebuttle blog but youve sai...I was going to write a rebuttle blog but youve said everythong I would have right down to mentioning the books I would have <br /><br />and its true there are a good amount of disterbing things in YA...but thats only like what 20% of whats out there what about the paranormal what about Nevermore and the wolves of mercy falls and Timeless and almost anything paranormal (parnormal is "dark" but its never Too dark) <br /><br /><br />this was really amazing and insightful thank youAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-594502524570705142.post-62982645959493022782011-06-05T14:34:05.511-05:002011-06-05T14:34:05.511-05:00I understand the other side with the parents and e...I understand the other side with the parents and everything; I just think attacking the whole YA section and saying the dark stuff encourages dark stuff in the real world was ridiculous. And since it was published in a newspaper, it makes me headdesk.<br /><br />Also, yay for both of us using Artemis Fowl as an example of "Could you really not find anything dark!?" in the YA section. Baha! :)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com