Every few years an article like like this: Darkness Too Visible is written. (Please note the recommended books on the side bar.) It's like book critics run out of ideas, and different versions of this are trodden out to cause an argument. It's tiresome, but as always, a response is needed.
Gurdon spends a great deal of time dispatching Young Adult Fiction as being too dark and violent for young minds. It cites books like Scars as being completely inappropriate for young readers. It also ignores that the arm on the cover is that of the author, but that's a story for a different day. This article ends up being hoisted by it's own petard. The side recommendations end up making it an absolute farce. I'm going to do some reasonable comparisons.
First up, The Marbury Lens. Gurdon goes into great detail about how this is amazingly violent and has a lack of a happy ending. However, on the side bar she recommends Ship Breaker. Ship Breaker is postapocalyptic novel about kids that are forced to dig copper wiring out of ships to earn money, or, if the child decides not to do this, he or she can starve. So a violent book about a kid with glasses and no happy ending: Bad. A violet book about a postapocalyptic future where the options are dig out copper wiring or starve: Good. Lets ignore the fact that Gurdon also says that, " ... one depravity does not justify another."
Next up, Shine by Lauren Myracle. Gurdon goes into great detail about how this violent book about the savage attack on a gay teen is totally inappropriate for young readers. However, her handy dandy side bar recommends Ophelia by Lisa Klein. Where in the play Hamlet is told from the perspective said character. Spoiler Alert: Ophelia commits suicide by drowning after she goes insane.
I believe I've proved my point. Gurdon's lack of honesty about the books she recommends verses the books she criticizes is shameful. Honestly, she would have been better off criticizing the books in the article based on her own personal preference, rather than creating a ridiculous argument she can't win. The fact is, teen books are full of tragedy, darkness, and fear. They are also filled with hope, love, and the very best of images of humanity. What's taken away from them is up to the reader.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a book about zombies to finish
First up, The Marbury Lens. Gurdon goes into great detail about how this is amazingly violent and has a lack of a happy ending. However, on the side bar she recommends Ship Breaker. Ship Breaker is postapocalyptic novel about kids that are forced to dig copper wiring out of ships to earn money, or, if the child decides not to do this, he or she can starve. So a violent book about a kid with glasses and no happy ending: Bad. A violet book about a postapocalyptic future where the options are dig out copper wiring or starve: Good. Lets ignore the fact that Gurdon also says that, " ... one depravity does not justify another."
Next up, Shine by Lauren Myracle. Gurdon goes into great detail about how this violent book about the savage attack on a gay teen is totally inappropriate for young readers. However, her handy dandy side bar recommends Ophelia by Lisa Klein. Where in the play Hamlet is told from the perspective said character. Spoiler Alert: Ophelia commits suicide by drowning after she goes insane.
I believe I've proved my point. Gurdon's lack of honesty about the books she recommends verses the books she criticizes is shameful. Honestly, she would have been better off criticizing the books in the article based on her own personal preference, rather than creating a ridiculous argument she can't win. The fact is, teen books are full of tragedy, darkness, and fear. They are also filled with hope, love, and the very best of images of humanity. What's taken away from them is up to the reader.
Now if you'll excuse me, I have a book about zombies to finish
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