Barbara Braxton hit the nail on the head. We are doing selecting for a
specific clientele to meet their needs for both pleasure and school use.
The notation in a review about strong language or sensitive subjects
isn't there as a warning to not buy the book, but to be aware that there
may be an issue or concern raised. Generally, if the usage or subject is
well handled and the book is strong in critical components (character,
plotting, setting) the book will stand on its own merits. There's strong
language in many excellent works. Done well, it is a powerful tool. But
what the principal did sounds like a censorship issue.
Each reviewer has their predilections and each source has their
standards. I go though the journals, then use titlewave to compile
orders. They show reviews from several sources so you get a chance to
double check reviews. I think most jobbers have something similar
available. Very handy if you are starting to utilize a new review source
or doing collection development in areas that are not one's strong
subjects. We can't read everything in the collection (though some of the
kids think we do) but then even the reviewers don't get to read
everything they want too either.
There is a good article about YA lit on Booklist _The Challenge and the
Glory of Young Adult
Literature_(http://www.ala.org/booklist/v93/55yat4.html) I've been
reading and re-reading that while trying to get a better grasp on the
6-8 group I now serve. Maybe that would help your principal understand
the principle.
Isn't Booklist more Public Library than School Library oriented? I
didn't see much that was curriculum focused in issues I've read. Maybe a
discussion/rationale of review sources would be a good thread.
Robert Eiffert,Media Specialist
Pacific Middle School
Evergreen SD, Vancouver Washington
beiffert@attbi.com
-----Original Message-----
From: School Library Media & Network Communications
[mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Mary Ann Shaffer
Sent: Friday, August 30, 2002 7:36 PM
To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
Subject: Questionable Books
I noticed a few posters mentioned School Library Jounal the last couple
of days. I am a little bit unimpressed with their reviews lately and I
am wondering if I am too uptight - or if they are too liberal. One
thing I have noticed is that an awful lot of SCHOOL Library Journal
reviews are written by Public Library (not public SCHOOL)librarians. I
purchased America by Frank last year and happened to take it home to
read when it came in. It was a very interesting book - and I sent it on
to a high school because it was definately high school material, not the
Gr 8 and above it stated in the review. This afternoon, an hour after
school was out, I was called into the pricipal's office about the book
Angst - a collection of poetry. (I should have paid closer attention to
Alice Yucht and left on time...) It was another 'Gr 8 and above' that
was more of a way above than grade 8. This is what I wrote to my
principal:
The 'strong language'(the review did have a warning) should have been a
tip - but I was focusing more on the "hard-hitting verse that may be
just what today's teens can relate to." It is another Gr. 8 and Up from
School Library Journal that really should be high school. Although from
what you showed me, it really doesn't belong in a school library at all.
I apologize for the poor selection and I am not renewing my subscription
to School Library Journal, I think that Book List and Book Report are
more in tune with the school population.
I am wondering, however, just how gentle your image of what we have in
the media center is. We have Princess Diaries - the sentence that
shocked some of the girls last year was a recounting of an actual news
story where the doctor used vaginal tissue to fashion lips for someone.
Then there is The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants where a high school
girl loses her virginity with a camp counselor, It Happened to Nancy
where the protagonist gets AIDS from a much older guy who she thinks
loves her - and even the Lottery Rose which is a story of child abuse.
The later two are class sets. We don't have the most requested book at
another Middle School - Death from child abuse-- and no one heard - a
really graphic story of child abuse that I still don't think should be
in a middle school library - and one that some students have asked for.
When I was a young teen my reading focused on Marguerite Henry and
Albert Payson Terhune books. We have some of the former - but they've
been collecting dust - and the latter is out of print - but they are not
the types of book students today (or even most of my contemporaries back
then...) are interested in. I tell the students during orientation that
they should read a page or two from the middle of a book to see if it
grabs their interest - maybe I should also remind them that some books
might disturb them (which reminds me of another book we have which I
don't personally care for, "Cirque du Freak" - or even the Goosebumps
books - but some kids like scary stories) but appeal to other students
and that we have books for a wide variety of interests. I think the
book you showed me today would really have appealed to some of last
year's eighth grade students - but it definately is not for most of the
sixth graders.
I guess I am venting to all of you because it is after 10 at night and I
still feel bad about being called to the principal's office over a
selection I made - but I wonder how many others rely on reviews. I know
Frerick Muller reads everything before he puts it on the shelf - I don't
have time for that with all the books I ordered last year but maybe I
should order a lot less books and take the time to read every one of
them ?!
Mary Ann Shaffer
Media Specialist
Carver Middle School
Orlando, FL
shaffermas@aol.com
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