Melissa

Hello, I'm new to this forum. I've enjoyed reading many of your posts and re-living certain aspects of my own kids' development.

Here is my current issue on the homefront. A while back I picked up a book at the library for my daughter. She hadn't asked for it, I just noticed it was a pirate book with a girl on the cover. The inside flap said for ages 10-14—my daughter is 10. I read a page out of the middle of the book and found nothing objectionable and brought it home.

My girl looked it over and thought it would be interesting, but told me she was still reading another book at that time. My husband and I read (seperately) to each of our kids everynight even though they can both read. I'm sure many other parents do the same. So my husband said this book could be their bedtime reading.

So, could this intro be any longer? Sorry. My husband informed me of what we feel is questionable content for a 10 year old. What I'd like to do here is alert other parents, but also to see if anyone else finds it inappropriate. Let me state here that I don't believe in censorship. I am not a religious zealot. And my kids know way more about sexuality (in what I feel is an appropriate context for their ages) than I did at their ages.

In the passage, one character relates how he has tattooed the words, "please enter" on the rear end of a passed out female. I don't think any of the characters in the passage is over the age of 12.

Now, while I am not offended by this passage, I do find it to be inapproprate for a 10 year old. I called the library where we stop in at least once a week, and the librarian said she saw my point and would move it to the teen section which is for 6th to 10th graders. 6th grade? Oh, well.

Would you feel okay about being asked to explain this passage? And if not, should it really be marketed to 10 year olds? Again, I don't really believe in censorship, but I don't think a book with this content should be marketed to 10 year olds. What if my daughter had read this herself and come to me with a question, would I take the book away from her, not knowing what else migh be in there? I don't really know, but I also don't think I should have to read through every tween book my daughter picks up.

Well, this post is way too long. I promise I'll keep any others short. I would be interested in your input.

Kaytee

wow I agree that is not appropropriate for a child of your daughters age. I would have been upset by it as well. Our library is the same way though. If anyone has ever read Wicked here, htey would know about some of the context the book has in it. When we went to the library it was in the Young Adult section (aged 12-16) I told the librarian that some of the material was not suitable, what they did with it I don't know. Wicked was a good book btw, just not for a 12 year old. It talks about rape and incest and not in an educational way if you know what I mean. lol It should have been in adult fiction.
Anyways, I'm not sure if I have any advise for you other then, I am sure there are sites you can go to that list out books and how "appropriate" they are for particular age groups. I know they have them I have heard about them, try googleing it.
Good luck and I hope you don't have to explain what that comment about that tattoo means to your 12 year old, but if you do, well just be honest but don't give a lot of details I guess

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Melissa

Thanks for your response, Kaytee. I spoke to the Childrens' Book manager at our local independently-owned bookstore (I think it's the last one in our town that hasn't been squeezed out by Borders and Barnes and Noble—but that's another rant!) She said that nothing publishers of kids books do surprises her any more. Apparently, just like movie-makers, they want a broader (paying) audience, so they include things that would intrigue a 14 year old, but then market the book to younger ages. She told me she recently moved out a book for younger kids that had the phrase "son of a b****h" in it.

So, it's very frustrating. My ten year old is getting older, and I guess before I know it, these things won't bother me any more. But I also have a five year old who is already much more of a reader than her sister. So I guess I'll just need to be very vigilant for the next few years.

Kaytee

Yep, If mine continues the way she is going I will have to be as well. She is only 16 months old now but will bring you books all day for you to read to her, its the only hting that keeps that girl from climbing on everything

__________________

If you can't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them!
http://www.spcnicholasidalski.com

mamab

I, personally, try to read the whole book before I allow my son to read it. He's 9, and reads on a 10th grade level, but that doesn't mean that I want him to be exposed to that kind of thing. If I haven't read it first, my son doesn't read it until I do. That's how I handle it. I know it may seem excessive, but there are some things he just wouldn't understand, and I don't want his mind going in that direction yet.

Kaytee

wow mamab where do you fid time to read every book? I couldn't do it, I barely have time to read the book I want to read, which ironically is Harry Potter and is probably read by your son! lol

__________________

If you can't stand behind our troops, feel free to stand in front of them!
http://www.spcnicholasidalski.com

SageMother

Wow...

"enter here" gives me the willies...LOL.

When I was about that age I read Rebecca, Little Women, Jane Eyre, Greek Mythology. That was by choice because I found stories with historical settings interesting. Perhaps these would be a safer approach. I can't remember anything that had to be explained!

Melissa

Thanks for your responses. It is so nice to feel that someone is listening. I have tried to contact someone from the publishing company and have basically been given the runaround. No one returning emails or phone calls.

My husband is still reading the book (with verbal editing) to my daughter. Get this: Now the book features prostitutes and men calling women in general, "whores." Who is this author ? Imus?

Anyway, my daughter doesn't love this book as much as others so I don't think reading more of this guy's work will be an issue.

Can I go off on something else? Recently I was able to take my kids to see a movie on a Friday early afternoon. First of all we were literally the only people in the theatre and they still showed the movie. Does this seem wasteful to anyone else? Well, I stayed so I guess I'm responsible too.

Anyway the preview "approved for all audiences" featured a scene where one sweet feathery little penguin called another one, "peckerface." I really don't want to have to explain that to my 5 year old. But if she repeats it on the playground....oy! I know a lot of people don't care much about swearing and crude language (I, by the way, can cuss with the best of them, but I don't in front of my kids), but I really don't want my kids to get in the habit before they are old enough to know the impact it has on other people and on their image among their peers or "authority figures."

The rating system seems completely bogus to me and I find it really frustrating. I don't believe in regulating movies and the rating system seems completely hopeless as a guideline. I just wish movie makers would take a little more responsibility when it comes to movies for kids. They don't need to entertain me with puns like "peckerface." I don't care if it's funny to me! I want my kids to like it and I don't want to have to explain words or concepts that they aren't ready for yet, like the word "suicide" in The Incredibles...yet another rant.

Thanks for listening!

SageMother

Peckerface....lol

I think we tend to forget that words have different connotations to kids. Peckerface is a wonderful double entendre that will be amusing to kids for one reason, and adults for quite another.

Melissa

Right. I'm definitely clear on that. It's just that I don't want her saying it to grandma, or her teacher, or our neighbor (who actually is a peckerface. If she thinks it's harmless she will. This is why I wish the kid movies wouldn't try to play to me as well as the kids. That little chuckle doesn't add much to the experience for me, and it's a little inconvenient to have to do damage control on something that could just as easily be left out. Thanks again for listening. Shouldn't we be at the spa or something? It's Mother's Day!