Hit -- "Bloody Moments" -- Challenged Book

[Steve and Karen Puckett <skpuckett@earthlink.net>]

 Dear LM-Netters:

I am enclosing  my original message and your responses regarding a book
I'd purchased for my Media Center.  Just to let you know, I showed these
responses to my Superintendent and Principal and they concluded that,
because prior professional reviews I'd offered them appeared mixed, the
book does not belong in our collection.  In a memo regarding this, my
superintendent instructed me not to purchase any titles with mixed
reviews.

Because this is my first year, I've chosen to take the title off the
shelf, per their request.  I'm disappointed in their reaction but as I
am non-tenured, I'm not quite ready to go up against the powers that
be.  Here is the original message and my, hopefully correctly
constructed, address line:



Dear LM Net:

Recently my Principal and Superintendent became concerned over a title,
popular in my media center, entitled "Bloody Moments" by Gael Jennings.
The media center services grades 7 and 8.  Reviews and other sources
seem to find the title to be an educational one...albeit really gross.

What are your thoughts on this title?  Is it appropriate for grades 7 &
8.

Thanks!

Karen Puckett
Middle School Media Specialist
Kingsway Middle School
Swedesboro, NJ  08085
skpuckett@earthlink.net
PuckettK@kingsway.k12.nj.us





Gael Jennings's book is on the shortlist for our annual national
Children's Book Council of Australia Awards. It also won a state award
in New South Wales!

I had to write a review for our West Australian Education Department
website:

http://www.eddept.wa.edu.au/cmis/eval/fiction/bookweek/bw71.htm

I certainly think it is suitable, although I know there will be others
who don't. It went through quite a rigorous process to be shortlisted
and was found to be very accurate.

Cheers,

Jill


Jill Midolo, Editor Technology Focus
CMIS  (Curriculum Materials Information Services)
Education Department of Western Australia
151 Royal Street  East Perth  WA  6004
Ph:  (08) 9264 4192  Fax:  (08) 9264 5708
Email:  jill.midolo@eddept.wa.edu.au
Website:  http://www.eddept.wa.edu.au/centoff/cmis/eval/
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



   From:
        rshook@edcen.ehhs.cmich.edu (Richard R. Shook)

Please report this to
the Office of Intellectual Freedom at ALA in Chicago:

oif@ala.org
www.ala.org

They're helpful and prompt.

Richard Librarian






I had one of my middle school librarians review the book.  She liked and

referred to it as "deceptively educational"  and also said, "The bloody,

graphic cartoonish illustrations should make it wildly popular with
middler
school students."

Patti Ashley, Library Media Specialist
Library Media Services
Wichita (KS) Public Schools
pashley@usd259.net

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=
All postings to LM_NET are protected under copyright law.
To quit LM_NET (or set-reset NOMAIL or DIGEST), send email to:
listserv@listserv.syr.edu   In the message write EITHER:
1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL or 3) SET LM_NET DIGEST
4) SET LM_NET MAIL  * Please allow for confirmation from Listserv.
For LM_NET Help see: http://ericir.syr.edu/lm_net/
Archives: http://askeric.org/Virtual/Listserv_Archives/LM_NET.html
 See also EL-Announce for announcements from library media vendors:
    http://www.mindspring.com/~el-announce/
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=--=-=-=