Overall it sounds like most middle schools are steering clear. There are a couple
MS that have listed which books they own.
Thanks for everyone's input!!!
:) Laura
I faced this same problem a few years ago. I have 2 books on the shelf. When
teachers and students asked about me adding more I was forced to decide. After
speaking to our Literacy Coach and other teachers, we decided that we wouldn't have
them in our library. If a student wants them they are reminded about the public
library.
Since I am a great Stephen King fan :) I have read them all and have made some
decisions about the books. Eyes of the Dragon is a book Stephen King wrote for his
kids when they were in middle school. It is very appropriate (in my opinion) to be
on a middle school shelf. I also have The dark tower series because it is more
science fiction than horror. I mark that series with a "YA" sticker that indicates
to the students that is has more mature content or language. I explain at the
beginning of the year that they know what is expected of them by their families,
and they have to make the decision.
Hope this helps.
My library services grades 7-12 so we have King on our shelves. We
require the 7th grade students to bring a note from home before we allow
them to check any of his out. I have had requests from the elementary
school for students who want to check him out, but I have refused to send
any to them.
I serve 7-12, so I have Stephen King here. A few of the younger kids
have read some of his books, but those kids are a definite minority. I
wouldn't spend a bunch of money on them, but you might talk to your HS
colleagues and get suggestions for 3-4 titles to try.
I have most Stephen King novels in my library and they are well read. Also, we have
Dean Koontz--I love him, but I do omit the ones with lots of sex--there are a
couple that deal with serial rapists that I have not bought for my library. Just be
sure and review and READ the books yourself. While this may not be your genre, you
can get pretty good answers about suitability for you library from amazon.com
reviews and the authors' websites. I wish you luck,
I would be extremely cautious about King's books in middle school. His
books were purchased for my middle school at the request of two teachers and
over my objection. A parent came up and challenged the books. In the
subsequent meeting, he said that he thought the language was objectionable
and the situations demeaning to women. The decision was made to not replace
the books as attrition took its toll.
I bought "The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon" by Stephen King to satisfy my
middle schoolers' requests. It is very suspenseful but not full of the gore
and sometimes sexually deviant overtones of some of his other novels. I read
the book and found it appropriate for 6-8 grade readers. HTH
Order the Cirque Du Freak series by Darren Shan. There are 12 volumes and I can not
keep them on the shelves.
I have never placed him in my classroom or now school library. They can buy their
own or go to the public library for the older scarey adult authors. I would be
interested to hear from you about how many do have him in their libraries.
I am in a combined school so I am fortunate to be able to offer student authors
that may not normally be in a 7th or 8th grade library. Stephen King is very
popular. I also have an extensive selection of R.L. Stine and Christopher Pike. I
have not noticed the younger grades checking out Dean Kootnz.
Me, too! I have been fighting the fight to resist. It's been tough, but I've held
out because of my concern over content and language. I am in a K-8 school.
Like many kids, mine want to push the envelope. Good luck!
I have some of Stephen King's books in my library and have had for many
years. I got them from one of the secretaries at our District office
after she had read them. She only sent me titles that she thought would
be appropriate in my library. As she has been with the District for
many years and is a good friend I trusted her judgment and have had no
problems with those titles. All of them are older titles. Hope this
helps.
Laura - Me too! We're an unusual school - Grs 6-9 - I designated 9th gr
books (both with their own area and a colored spine label dot) which
include Stephen King, but we're getting ready to send home a permission
form for parents to sign for Gr 8 students so if they want their
children to borrow gr 9 books they can.
On the other hand, we've had someparents concerned about the maturity
level of books their children can borrow. I suppose it comes down to the
school community and what they find is acceptable. Before I came to this
school I was in a gr 6-8 school and I never had Stephen King, but these
students bring them to school - they own them! Don't know if this helps
These are the one's I have in the middle school
coffey's hands
the eyes of the dragon
the girl who loved tom gordon
salem's lot
the shining
Laura Pleune
Media Specialist
Greenville Middle School
1321 Chase
Greenville, MI 48838
616-225-1000 ext. 8359 or 8360
Fax 616-754-2901
pleunel@greenville.k12.mi.us
http://www.greenville.k12.mi.us/webpages/pleunel/
Baldwin Heights Elem.
Cedar Crest Elem.
Lincoln Heights Elem.
Walnut Hills Elem.
http://www.greenville.k12.mi.us/webpages/mcenter/index.cfm
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