As a reviewer, we are entering one of those slippery slopes. It is all personal
opinion. The problem is that what I believe is acceptable for any school - be it
elementary, middle or high - may not agree with your opinion. There are some
reviewers who consider it an affront and an act of pre-censorship to mention any
"sensitive area" that may express concern.I also remember letters to the editor of
various reviewing sources which criticized a reviewer for mentioning sex (for
example) or not mentioning sex (for example). It is a no-win proposition...and
perhaps it is a buyer-beware situation.Also, reviewers, come from various parts of
the country - and I am always amazed in my YALSA/PPYA meetings and during my long
ago Best Books for YA meetings, when I would mutter under my breath "filth - this
is disgusting" - only to learn it is a book that is extremely popular in somebody's
school library. I, often, find myself the only person believing a book had merit or
perhaps not. So, if I was reviewing it - how would I do that? When I review for
Catholic Library World, I always mention anything controversial (as I see it). When
I reviewed for VOYA, I often did not.I really don't depend on reviews anymore as I
have found that one has to know the reviewer - the political and social agenda of
the periodical, etc. After I read several reviews from the same reviewer I can
usually surmise a mind-set. I also hope librarians don't take any bibliography on
which I have worked - be it Best Books, Outstanding Books, or PPYA and use it as a
buying list. It shouldn't work that way.It does make collection development harder,
I grant you. Based on your message, I just finished a fascinating discussion with
one of our English teachers who is a writer. He believes it is the duty of all
reviewers to mention any plot element (such as in Blume's Forever (think Ralph
climaxing) which is important. We used Blume's book as the basis of our
discussion.Fascinating topic - thanks for bringing it up.AllanDr. Allan O'Grady
Cuseo, MGCDirector of Library ServicesBishop Kearney High School | A Golisano
Education Partner125 Kings Highway SouthRochester, New York 14617585.342.4000
x231585.342.4694 (fax)www.bkhs.orgCollege Prep. Plus.-----Original
Message-----From: "Wolter Billie J." [bwolter@JEFFCO.K12.CO.US]Date: 12/12/2007
10:45 AMTo: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDUSubject: Re: [LM_NET] UPDATE: Zero to Sixty
CommentsThanks Kay and others in the past for giving us a heads up to books that
may or may not work for our collections
Like Toni, I appreciate hearing what other librarians are saying about books. And
like the majority of librarians, I use "quality" review sources, but there have
been a number of times I've been stung by reviews (from quality sources) which have
failed to mention inappropriate material for elementary or middle school.
I have always appreciated the support that LM NET provides us.
Thank you everyone,
Billie J. Wolter
Teacher Librarian & Intel Master Teacher
Moore Middle School Library Webpage
<http://sc.jeffco.k12.co.us/education/dept/dept.php?sectionid=11699>
303-982-0445
Moore Middle School, 8455 W. 88th Avenue, Arvada, CO 80005
"We must be the change we wish to see in the world." -- Mahatma Gandhi
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