I highly recommend against the V.C. Andrews books for any school, much
less middle.
My *opinion* is: they're lurid and appeal to the worst, prurient part of
a person. Kids, and adults, are fascinated by them because they are so
over-the-top in terms of lurid situations. Remember those True
Confessions story tabloids that used to be sold at the convenience
stores or the comics stores - the type that would have a woman being
brutalized on the front cover? That's similar to this author's works,
except in prose form. The ones who would enjoy these books are like
rubberneckers on the scenes of horrific accidents - gruesome thrills.
Leaving opinion aside, the fact is: I've read a number of books by this
author and almost all involve incest between a brother and sister, or
father and daughter, and/or sadistic older adults who abuse children.
I can't imagine being able to defend these stories for any reason.
Leave these for the public libraries to defend.
IMHO
Carol Valdez
CMS librarian, UISD
Laredo, TX
> -----Original Message-----
> From: School Library Media & Network Communications
> [mailto:LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU] On Behalf Of Hilary Grant
> Sent: Thursday, October 02, 2003 12:36 PM
> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU
> Subject: HIT: Alternatives to Stephen King
>
> Thanks for all the suggestions!
>
> Here is a list of suggestions for alternatives to King in a middle
> school:
>
> Cirque du Freak series by Darren Shan
> Lois Duncan
> Garth Nix - Shade's Children (dark and creepy)
> V.C. Andrews
> Victoria Hold historic myseries
> John Saul - Creature
> Dean Koontz - Watchers and Phantoms
> Mary Downing Hahn - Wait till Helen Comes
> Nancy Werlin - The Killer's Cousin
> Robert Cormier - We All Fall Down
> Brock Cole - The Goats (not a ghost story but a joke goes awry)
> Annette Klauss - The Silver Kiss and Blood & Chocolate
> Coraline by Gaiman
> Clockwork by Pullman
> Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
> More Scary Stories to Tell in the Dark
> Scary Stories III
> Caroline Cooney
> Vivian Van Velde
> Joan Lowrey Nixon
> Doom Stone, Raptor, Rats Loch by Paul Zindel
> Betty Ren Wright
>
>
>
> Hilary L. Grant
> Media Specialist
> Highland Middle School
> 305 N. John Street
> Highland, MI 48357
> granth@huronvalley.k12.mi.us
> 248-684-8007
>
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