Previous by Date | Next by Date | Date Index
Previous by Thread | Next by Thread
| Thread Index
| LM_NET
Archive
| |
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: Hit: Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants-4th title Date: Sat, 27 Jan 2007 12:31:09 -0600 From: Nancy Stiner <nstiner@mchsi.com> To: LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU Thanks for all the responses concerning the fourth book in the series -- The sisterhood of traveling pants Following are the responses I have received to this date. My decision would be not to put it in the middle school library. When 2 of them had already had sex within the first few chapters, I decided it was more for senior high. I picked up a copy for our 5-8 middle school, read and enjoyed it, but passed it along to the high school. The characters are now college students and the physical relationships with boyfriends are really more appropriate for older students. I hated to give it up because once again the power of friendship is such an important theme. *I just brought this home the other day and haven't started it yet, but from* what I gather the girls are in college so I would tend to think you are right...more hs than ms For my school, I'd say it's for 8th grade and up. The series has been very popular this year for some reason, with the teachers, too After reading the first one, I was not comfortable with them in my school. Since one of the four girls has a sexual encounter as a part of her time with the pants, I felt my students didn't need any more encouragement. I did not remove the titles from the book fair though. Not one child has asked for the series. To be fair, I am having the devil of a time getting the kids to read at all this year. I have read all four (and love them) and I think high school is the best location for them. Yes, High school is a much better placement for the book. Almost every girl has sex in the book. Most of the people who have checked my copy out have been in MS or early HS. It is quite popular, and I probably ought to buy another copy. I've not heard any comments about it, other than it is a good book. If you are talking about the 4th book in the series, I would not have it even in the high school library. As the girls in the series grow up, so do the issues that they face. The 4th book was written for adults as the girls are now in college. They face a lot of sexual issues in that book. The author has had some criticism because of the way she turned the YA novels into more adult themes. If you still want to add it to your collection, I would definitely read it before you purchase it. (by the way, I loved the book). H.S. only. There is an explicit sexual encounter with a broken condom within the first 60 pages and the character suffers repercussions from the incident throughout the rest of the book. I would agree that Forever in Blue is more appropriate for high school- 3 of the girls have sex, and Bridget has a thing for a married man. That doesn't go too far, and the sex isn't descriptive, but it's definite. And in Tabby's case, the condom breaks and she has the pregnancy scare. At this point, the girls are almost sophomores in college, so they are definitely older than the middle school crowd anyway. This book is very mature compared to the other books. Two of the girls do have sex for the first time and another kisses a married man. I would say high school only. I had a few sophomores that said they were shocked at how different the girls were from previous books. I just finished reading the fourth Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants books, and I have decided not to purchase it for my middle school media center. The girls are about nineteen years old and in college in this book. My school is in a conservative community, and I don't think it is appropriate for my community. I think it is definitely a book that you should read first if you are considering it for a middle school collection. The reason I chose not to purchase it is the sexual content. One of the girls has sex with her boyfriend (while they are both drunk), and it is explained in a fairly explicit way. After this happens, she believes she is pregnant. One of the other girls had a one night stand type of relationship with a guy. This having been said, I enjoyed the book. I just do not think that it is appropriate for the majority of my students. I read the book last week. The girls are in college in this book and the sexual maturity of the book makes it more high school. Good question. I thought long and hard about putting the book in my school. I am a K-8. I ended up putting it on my YA shelf for grades 7 & 8 only. Once the movie came out (I didn't see it) I had girls as young as grade 4 asking to read it. I said to go to the public library. I really felt uncomfortable about the Bee/ Soccer Coach liaison. The books have circulated nicely but not crazily and I have no one asking me when we're getting the fourth book. The girls who loved the series when they first came out are in high school now and that is where the book belongs. It's a good ending to an entertaining series, but the situations these college age girls are facing are more appropriate to high school. I don't think I will put it out, but will continue to steer interested patrons to our public library. Positive Comments: I have it in my middle school collection (grades 7 and 8). I read it myself, and it's fine. Yes, the girls have sex, but there is nothing graphic or nasty about it. I enjoyed it and my girls really like it. I have 3 copies and can't keep them in. The fourth book is a bit mature (as are the girls) but I did choose to put it in my middle school library. It certainly deals with issues that are on the minds of the girls (especially my 8th graders). And I really like to have a complete set available. I have it in my middle school. I admit I read it before I put it on the shelves and found it to be acceptable. If you have the rest of the series in your LMC, I don't see how you can not have the fourth and final book. I haven't read the fourth book yet, but all three of the earlier books have allusions to sex. As a matter of fact, it's a key part of the first book where one girls seduces and sleeps with her counselor while at soccer camp in Baja. Even so, we still used that book for our Battle of the Books one year and didn't catch any flack from parents. The bottom line is that the series is well-written and girls love the books. If you haven't had any controversy in your school over the first three books, then there's no reason why you shouldn't add the fourth to your collection. -- Nancy Stiner 7-12 Media Specialist Iowa Falls Community Schools Iowa Falls, Iowa 50126 School Email: nstiner@po-1.iowa-falls.k12.ia.us Home Email: nstiner@mchsi.com Library web site: http://hs.iflibraries.com/ School web site: http://www.iowa-falls.k12.ia.us/ -------------------------------------------------------------------- Please note: All LM_NET postings are protected by copyright law. You can prevent most e-mail filters from deleting LM_NET postings by adding LM_NET@LISTSERV.SYR.EDU to your e-mail address book. To change your LM_NET status, e-mail to: listserv@listserv.syr.edu In the message write EITHER: 1) SIGNOFF LM_NET 2) SET LM_NET NOMAIL 3) SET LM_NET MAIL 4) SET LM_NET DIGEST * Allow for confirmation. * LM_NET Help & Information: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ * LM_NET Archive: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/archive/ * EL-Announce with LM_NET Select: http://elann.biglist.com/sub/ * LM_NET Supporters: http://www.eduref.org/lm_net/ven.html --------------------------------------------------------------------