Comments on: "T" is for Teenagers, Not Kids

By: nepetafan_spellchecker

nepetafan_spellchecker — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 13:16:05 +0000

The problem with ratings is that kids are smart. They are naturally curious, and want to read things that interest them. Modern kids’ media just doesn’t do this job most of the time. Let them watch Coraline, and read the original versions of fairy tales- those are/were meant for kids. I read the Harry Potter novels in third grade, and those aren’t much worse than some stuff you are looking to ban.

By: Snow Wildsmith

Snow Wildsmith — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:26:11 +0000

Hello Kate! I think your way of handling that sort of issue works very well! You’re exactly right that using the example of movie ratings is a good way of helping non-manga and no-graphic novel reading parents to understand the rating system. Good work! Thank you, also, for volunteering. Library volunteers are worth their weight in gold!

By: Kate

Kate — Sat, 04 Feb 2012 23:22:33 +0000

I love anime and manga and have read a-lot of manga I also volunteer at my library. I’m old enough now I know what I like and don’t like in my manga or books for that matter. I know censorship is a big no no at my library but the one day I saw a tween looking at the manga and she picked out Death note vol one my otaku button went into panic mode. I then walked over and flipped the book over and explained to the mother that “this book might be to scary for her and might be to complex for her” I then explained that manga has ratings on the back as I don’t think many non anime people know this (seeing as books don’t have ratings why should a comic right?) I then pointed out some Teen friendly manga I thought she would like.

Death note has also been one of those challenged books due to adults thinking a kid is a terrorist for making their own fake death note (oh yes this has been a thing) so that one is always on my radar of be careful I try to tell parents who are looking at the manga that there are ratings on the back I don’t say “this is not for your kid” or anything like that I just inform them of “This book is rated like a movie”

On a side note check this out http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WhatDoYouMeanItsNotForKids?from=Main.ptitlerax1116nu5ji

By: Snow Wildsmith

Snow Wildsmith — Mon, 16 Jan 2012 22:12:55 +0000

Mary,
The funny thing is that the specific ninjitsu you mentioned (Naruto turning into a busty woman) didn’t bother me at all, though I can certainly see your point about it being insulting. It just goes to show that people are all very different and there’s a lot of difficulty in finding what is “appropriate” for either a particular person or for an age range. I think this is one of those issues that librarians, teachers, parents, and readers in general will have to keep struggling with as they help kids and teens find books to enjoy.

Thank you for visiting and for your comments! I appreciate you keeping the discussion going!

snow

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:41:00 +0000

I wish that specific ninjitsu in naruto was left out because it was good from the point that I read up to in the first book otherwise. I only read the first two chapters of the first book and that is what I have based my opinion on and I did not watch the anime when it was aired on cartoon network. I just would like to point this out. The art style used in naruto is really cool. I have seen the manga book covers and video game art in magazines.

By: Mary

Mary — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 04:32:50 +0000

Hi, I am a comic reader and aspiring comic artist in my late teens. When I read manga for myself, I try to find ones that I view comfortable and suitable in content for me. I don’t mind bad language as long as it is used mildly (overuse gets annoying for me) and the same goes for violence (if its in black and white, I’m fine, but when it is graphic violence in color… that’s another story). Anything else that falls under the line of teen and up is out of the question for me, because it conflicts with my viewpoints and belief.
I find it difficult to find an in beween manga for myself: not childish, yet not mature. I am not familiar with manga except for a few main ones, so please feel free to post any manga titles that fall under this category. I am interesed in sci-fi, some fantasy, and any other action oriented genres out there. Of course my opinion of what I find okay for me to read is different from what I believe a kid should read, I am just stating my own viewpoint.
Parents, I recommend the Archie comics co. Comic books and Viz Media Viz Kids manga. I’m not familiar with all of the current titles of the latter, but Viz media on their site state the listed viz kids manga as for all ages. Pokemon is definitely a good manga, however I haven’t read all of them.
After reading a few pages of the first naruto manga myself, there is another concern that should be brought up when having a young reader read this series: a specific ninjitsu the character, Naruto, does. I view it unsuitable for kids and teens. I personally find it insulting for females as well. Other than that, the story itself did catch my interest as does the art style.
I view comics and manga to be an interesting and creative medium that combines art and literature into a unique form. I think comics in general should be viewed as the visual book form of movies. There are all different genres and age levels for movies and I have no problem with the variety comics also provide. However, there should be more specific age content labeling on comics. This is not to censor the reader, yet inform him or her beforehand so that one can easily decide if it fits with one’s personal viewpoints and interests. I do find a more specific age rating system, such as a brief list of the reason why the comic or manga was given a certain rating helpful when parents buy their kids comics. I apologize for insulting any naruto/manga fans for my above comments. I just wanted to voice my personal opinion of manga and such and I had no intention of angering any viewers reading this post.

By: Snow Wildsmith

Snow Wildsmith — Wed, 16 Mar 2011 18:09:13 +0000

Manga mum, what a beautiful way to say what I was fumbling to express. Thank you so much for such a thoughtful reply.

I hope that you will consider someday being more than just a closet librarian. We’d love to have you join the fold.

By: Manga mum (& closet librarian)

Manga mum (& closet librarian) — Fri, 11 Mar 2011 16:08:48 +0000

This all reminds me of something that happened to me the other day, My daughter and I were looking at some very fragile glass animals, and she wanted to get one. I said that would be ok as long as she understood that she would only be allowed to look at it with mummy or daddy. The guy selling them pointed out they aren’t toys. I get that. I get that it isn’t appropriate to give the 4 year old something glass to play with because hey glass breaks. But I also decided that if her daddy or I hold it or she can see it on a shelf to enjoy it then that’s ok, and when she is a little older she will be able to enjoy its fragile beauty just seeing it sitting on a shelf somewhere without the need for a parent to bring it down and hold it for her. But that doesn’t mean she can’t enjoy it with parental supervision and assistance. Similarly she enjoys Ponyo, and other suitable Ghibli films, however I won’t let her watch Princess Mononoke, because frankly I think that a war between industrialisation and the spirits of the forest is a bit over the head of a 4 year old and the violence is too complicated for her to understand. So that one ‘is for big girls’ and she will be able to watch that later. Similarly we had to review letting her watch ‘Whisper of the heart’, generally unobjectionable, except that she apparently can’t yet handle the idea that though the main character in the privacy of her own home calls someone who was rude to her a ‘stupid jerk’, that isn’t an appropriate phrase to use, especially to people (especially to mummy!). But this is where the importance of parental input and awareness comes in, you try to gauge what is appropriate for your own child’s ability and personality, and then go from there. I definitely think that when companies attempt to market materials likely to be inappropriate for children directly to children that makes a parent’s job harder (and that is what they are counting on).

By: Snow

Snow — Wed, 05 May 2010 09:52:12 +0000

Momo, Thank you so much for commenting! You make some very valid points here. I think since I wrote this post originally my views on the subject have mellowed.

I believe, and have always believed, that it is up to the parent(s)–hopefully working with their children–to decide what is appropriate for their kids to read. Naturally as kids grow up, they begin taking over the duties of selecting their own reading material. And you are correct when you say that everyone has had the experience of reading above their maturity and/or comfort level.

But it still frustrates me as an adult to have material marketed to an age group it is not intended for. I’m not against people finding reading and/or viewing material that isn’t on their perceived level and I know that they can enjoy it and get a lot out of it, but I don’t like it when companies specifially market a product or part of a product for kids when the product is actually for adults. I feel the same way about the current marketing of the new Iron Man movie. Can’t there be material left solely for teens and adults to enjoy? Must everything be given a “child-friendly” spin?

But I do want to support what you said about giving kids and teens faith in self-editing. You’re right and I will make sure I keep that in mind.

By: Momo

Momo — Thu, 29 Apr 2010 16:53:40 +0000

I’m currently in an adolescent literature class, where we have been discussing censoring for children and what is considered “appropriate” literature for children and what isn’t. What has been interesting for me is the idea that, as adults or even as older teens, we see children as ignorant. We view kids as something to be protected or sheltered and though I agree that children shouldn’t be sheltered, I also have to agree with the idea that children shouldn’t always be exposed to certain things right away.

However, the biggest point on this is that it honestly depends on the child. Some of the young adults posting in this thread are saying that they’ve been playing certain violent video games since they were 8 and are currently reading Naruto. You maybe mature enough to handle that content. If that’s the case, that is awesome. We’re not ones to judge as to if you are mature enough or not.

There are teens and even adults in this world that aren’t even mature enough to handle something like Fruits Basket. I feel like we aren’t the ones who should be making the decisions on what Young Adults should be reading. I also think that we’re all guilty of supposedly reading something out of our maturity level at one point. I also think that if they’re old enough to be defending themselves, then they’re old enough to make their own decisions about what they should read.

Try researching a little bit on teens and comics and reading the responses that teens have come up with.

I support reading anything that you love and are passionate in reading. For some, the only way to get students to read. Let them read what they feel is right. Give them more faith in self editing.