[LM_NET] Janet Evanovich, Part 2

[Janice Davies <jgdavies2004@YAHOO.COM>]

Here is Part 2 of the responses about Janet Evanovich for high school collections. 
   
  Jan Davies, Library Media Specialist
  Laurel High School
  Laurel, Maryland
   
    From Elizabeth - I'm not sure I agree with Reggie.  While they are really funny 
(I laugh 
aloud at some passages), and not as sexually explict as some, I'm not 
sure they're for a high school library.  Certainly kids can read them at 
a public library, but...I think they might be up for negative parental 
comment.
  From Julie - I have her series in my high school library.  We are a small rural 
school.  The series is very popular among the staff and students.  They 
clamor to be the first in line for each new issue.  That said, it does 
have what some consider offense language, the f-word, for example. 
  From Janet - No way! Too much wild sex scenes, in my opinion.
  From Stephanie S. -  I love Evanovich. I would think they are more college age - 
a bumbling 
Nancy
Drew with sex. 
  From Analisa - I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE Janet Evanovich!!!!  If you haven't read any of 
the 
Stephanie Plum series, I highly recommend you start with the first one, 
One for the Money.  I think they are suitable for high school.  The 
books are mostly mystery and humor, very little sex, some profanity but 
not every other word.  You really should read them, they're an easy read, 
and they're hilarious!!
  From Carissa - Metro Girl is very popular in our high school.
  From Nancy - No, I don't think they are suitable for a high school library.  I'm 
a 
big fan of Janet Evanovich and have read all of her books and even 
subscribe to her newsletter but I would not put them on my shelves.
  From Reggie - Oh, I agree that the language is racy. But we have books that deal 
with 
such
violence and cruelty...good old swear words and the F word are almost
quaint. I'm thinking of Lovely Bones, some Stephen King, some of the 
war
stories, Holocaust stories. It's admittedly a tough call sometimes. 
We've
never had any problems here, might just be blind luck or our particular
clientele. Parents at the high school level don't seem to be watching 
what
their kids are reading as closely, maybe? Oftentimes they're just glad
they're reading at all, sad to say...perhaps a book seems safe compared 
to
some of the video games. But you're absolutely right, a person has to 
be
aware of the maturity level of the kids and general atmosphere in the
community. Even the evening news is appalling at times!

From Kay - I read several of the Stephanie Plum mysteries too and I know that some 
area
libraries have them in their collections.
However, I must admit that I got tired of her every other sex chapter 
and
whether or not she had an orgasm.
Caution perhaps. 

From Annette - They are PG17-18 (if there was a rating for books), we choose not to 
add 
them to our collection.  Very adult situations.  Read one and see what 
you 
think.  Hope that helps.
  From Deb - I would vote no from a personal standpoint. I am not sure how 
conservative (or not) the high schools are these days. Actually, I 
really enjoyed the first four titles and then they got awfully silly 
and/or downright stupid. There are some pretty explicit scenes (or 
thoughts), but pretty funny in some ways. Read the first book yourself 
and see if it fits your collection, says me, who can't keep up with 
elementary school novel reading, herself! But that one will make you 
laugh and it will give you the flavor of the series.
   
   
   


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