Both Helpful and Harmful (my response to the WSJ article)

Since I received absolutely no new books this past week (can you believe it? What a sad week!) and everyone’s talking about the (in)famous Wall Street Journal article about dark YA, I thought I’d give a really quick version of my thoughts on the article. First off, I suggest you read Veronica Roth and Robinson Well’s take, since they do a pretty good job of explaining two big points concerning dark material in YA.

What most people are saying about the article is that it’s complete hogwash; kids don’t go and become cutters because they read about a cutter. In the past few days, dozens of stories have surfaced about anorexic teens who stopped hurting themselves once they read about another anorexic girl, or people who were encouraged not to do drugs once they read about how terrible that sort of life is. While I don’t have a story like this, I do find that reading some issue books can help me to understand what it’s like for other people, the ones who don’t have a safe home and loving family to turn to at the end of each day. Books like these help me empathize with people who aren’t as blessed as I am.

On the other hand, these books can and do have a negative affect on people if they’re given to the wrong teen at the wrong time. People keep saying that teens aren’t stupid, that they know their own reading level and that parent’s shouldn’t be censoring them. Maybe that’s true for older teens (17+) but certainly for younger teens, that’s blatantly false. When I was thirteen I began reading some YA material that had broken families, kids wandering around homeless, death, depression… nothing even that gritty, but still. Since I was already going through a hard time with my grandfather’s death, these books hurt me. I remember crying after reading a couple chapters of a certain book, wishing I could tear the pages out and destroy them forever.

Even good books can have this effect. I read a fantasy book, one that I now own and would heartily recommend, but it ends with the murder of the main character. This scene hurt me back when I was thirteen. In all honestly, it sent me into a depression for at least a month. Just that one book, one that I would call a good book and eagerly read again and again now. But back then, at the wrong time, even this good book—but with violent content—had the power to hurt me.

That’s why I think it’s important for parents to have some input in what their teens are reading, at least in the case of younger teens. Because, well, teenagers are stupid. I know, because I am one. When I was thirteen I wasn’t capable of choosing the books that were good for me to read. Maybe some people are mature enough at thirteen, and some people obviously are not. Some people might not be mature enough until they’re eighteen. That means it’s the parents responsibility to help their children find reading material that they’ll be comfortable and that will help them. Yes, gritty books can occasionally help, but they can also harm.

Book Review: The Hunger Games

 By Suzanne Collins

Katniss is a 16-year-old girl living with her mother and younger sister in the poorest district of Panem, the remains of what used be the United States. Long ago the districts waged war on the Capitol and were defeated. As part of the surrender terms, each district agreed to send one boy and one girl to appear in an annual televised event called, "The Hunger Games." The terrain, rules, and level of audience participation may change but one thing is constant: kill or be killed. When her sister is chosen by lottery, Katniss steps up to go in her place. 

Why I read it: Every month a lady in my church would give us a scholastic catalog and I would eagerly look through the teen section. One book that I noticed over and over was The Hunger Games. So I went and got it from the library (after waiting forever despite the one week loan policy) and wow…

What I liked: I won’t keep this a secret: I love The Hunger Games. Katniss is a wonderful protagonist, strong and defiant but she has her softer side. All the other characters are also three dimensional and I grew to love or hate them all along with Katniss. The world that Suzanne Collins creates is detailed and all too realistic.

This novel basically runs on plot, which is fast-paced and almost impossible to put down. I loved how she managed to spend at least half the book on the preparation for the games and it was just as riveting as the action in the arena. Throughout the whole book there is a very anti-violence theme; I appreciated how Collins uses a semi-gory, action-packed story to show just how terrible this violence is.

What I disliked: The easiest answer is ‘not much’. The story is obviously quite violent, as you would expect when you hear about 24 teenagers fighting to the death on live TV. This makes it not appropriate for younger readers.

From a Christian Perspective: Another thing I liked is that this story is quite clean. There’s no swearing and no sexual content other than kissing (which seems impossible to avoid in a YA novel). Haymitch is drunk regularly, but it’s portrayed as a fault. There didn’t seem to be any religious themes in this novel.

To buy or not to buy: Yes! I got lucky and found this book for $1.00 (new!) at Value Village, but I would have paid the list price. Anyone who likes YA or action stories will absolutely love The Hunger Games.

And in case you haven't already heard, the movie's coming out March 23rd, 2012, starring Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss. I'm excited already!  

Book Review: I Am Number Four

 By Pittacus Lore


Nine of us came here. We look like you. We talk like you. We live among you. But we are not you. We can do things you dream of doing. We have powers you dream of having. We are stronger and faster than anything you have ever seen. We are the superheroes you worship in movies and comic books-- but we are real.


Our plan was to grow, and train, and become strong, and become one, and fight them. But they found us and started hunting us first. Now all of us are running. Spending our lives in shadows, in places no one would look, blending in. We have lived among you without you knowing.


But they know.


They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They killed them all.

I am Number Four.

I am next. 

 Why I read it: I won this book from HarperCollins through inkpop.com. I had seen tons of advertisements out for it and the movie and I love sci-fi action stories, so this seemed perfect.

What I liked: The premise of the story is really intriguing. Nine aliens have come down to earth with a protective charm saying they can only be killed in order. The tagline, “Three are dead. I am number four,” is just so cool, and the plot really follows up.

The writing isn’t bad, and the plot is kept moving fairly quickly. Since the main character is a superhero it could easy have turned into a whole battle of magical ‘legacies’ but luckily these ‘legacies’ don’t develop until half way through the book so it never feels like the author is just using the magic to get his characters out of trouble when he’s too lazy to do it properly.

What I disliked: If you read any review on Amazon they’ll say exactly what I’m saying now: no character development. It’s true. I was expecting Number Four to be a really cool character (he is an alien from Lorien, after all) but he just feels like a plain ordinary boy. His girlfriend is a fairly flat semi-popular girl, and his best friend is a stereotypical nerd. Altogether, there were no original characters in here, and very little in the way of character development.

From a Christian Perspective: There was a fair bit of swearing in this book. It felt like the author was trying to fill the pages with certain swear words just to make it feel like he was a real teenager. There was no sexual content, though, besides for a couple kisses.

This book does contain a number of fight sequences, but nothing too graphic. I wouldn’t give this to little kids, but any teenager can handle it.

To buy or not to buy: This is a classic example of a book with incredible promise which fails… as a book. The lack of character development ruined it for me. However, there’s a movie out which I plan to go see. This is probably the only time I’ll ever say this, but, don’t read the book! Go see the movie!