Comments on: Ages, Grades, Sensibilities, and Nonfiction http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2010/09/27/ages-grades-sensibilities-and-nonfiction/ A School Library Journal Blog Sun, 05 Aug 2012 22:26:42 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.1 By: Vicky Alvear Shecter http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2010/09/27/ages-grades-sensibilities-and-nonfiction/comment-page-1/#comment-9378 Vicky Alvear Shecter Wed, 29 Sep 2010 00:14:11 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=760#comment-9378 I appreciate hearing how you handled that potentially explosive situation with the 9th grade student. It's always good to be reminded that a kind suggestion to talk to a trusted adult can make all the difference in the world in those kinds of situations. I appreciate hearing how you handled that potentially explosive situation with the 9th grade student. It’s always good to be reminded that a kind suggestion to talk to a trusted adult can make all the difference in the world in those kinds of situations.

]]> By: Marc Aronson http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2010/09/27/ages-grades-sensibilities-and-nonfiction/comment-page-1/#comment-9254 Marc Aronson Mon, 27 Sep 2010 16:36:07 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=760#comment-9254 Liz: I agree with you. Last year when I was working with 9th graders in Illinois, one girl was upset by a discussion in my book on Race in which I talked about the history of the idea of Satan. Clearly it disturbed her to see this treated as a historical development rather than an enduring truth. I suggested that she discuss the issue with her minister (she was, not surprisingly, quite devout) or another trusted adult. As it happened she turned out to be a terrific, engaged, student. But for her to read my book she needed to pause to deal with a part to disturbed her. There are plenty of minefields in books -- as there are in life. Knowing that one way through them is to share/discuss them with adults is a good life lesson -- whether that applies to books, bullying, cheating, dating, or anything else. Liz:

I agree with you. Last year when I was working with 9th graders in Illinois, one girl was upset by a discussion in my book on Race in which I talked about the history of the idea of Satan. Clearly it disturbed her to see this treated as a historical development rather than an enduring truth. I suggested that she discuss the issue with her minister (she was, not surprisingly, quite devout) or another trusted adult. As it happened she turned out to be a terrific, engaged, student. But for her to read my book she needed to pause to deal with a part to disturbed her. There are plenty of minefields in books — as there are in life. Knowing that one way through them is to share/discuss them with adults is a good life lesson — whether that applies to books, bullying, cheating, dating, or anything else.

]]> By: Liz Dejean http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/2010/09/27/ages-grades-sensibilities-and-nonfiction/comment-page-1/#comment-9229 Liz Dejean Mon, 27 Sep 2010 11:27:03 +0000 http://blogs.slj.com/nonfictionmatters/?p=760#comment-9229 Reading abilities are indeed all over the map. This means that reading level can't really be used to determine who will read your books. Looking from the perspective of a school librarian, I see students all the time who are able to read books that are (in my personal opinion) too sophisticated. Seven-year-olds who are able to read extensively are not that uncommon - just as some twelve-year-olds still need "easy" books. So what can we do? Put the library off limits because it has books that can make a person uncomfortable? Require students to get permission before they finalize a selection? Then this wouldn't be a library, would it? Instead, let's teach students to explore each book as a new entity. Not every book will be right for you in every way. Books can make us uncomfortable, can differ with our opinions, even shake our beliefs. I tell my students that if a book makes you uncomfortable you can talk to a grownup. If you feel comfortable talking to me, that is wonderful, but you can choose who you want to talk to! Library books that you don't want to read can be returned! Any book can be closed and returned to later. These are decisions we all have to make as readers. What I don't tolerate is a book being used to upset someone else. If a reader finds something "icky" or upsetting in a book they are not allowed to use the book (or picture) as a weapon to upset someone else. (This counts for large and lifelike images of bugs and snakes as well as more sensitive topics.) Thank you for your thoughtful blog. - Liz Dejean Reading abilities are indeed all over the map. This means that reading level can’t really be used to determine who will read your books. Looking from the perspective of a school librarian, I see students all the time who are able to read books that are (in my personal opinion) too sophisticated. Seven-year-olds who are able to read extensively are not that uncommon – just as some twelve-year-olds still need “easy” books. So what can we do? Put the library off limits because it has books that can make a person uncomfortable? Require students to get permission before they finalize a selection? Then this wouldn’t be a library, would it?
Instead, let’s teach students to explore each book as a new entity. Not every book will be right for you in every way. Books can make us uncomfortable, can differ with our opinions, even shake our beliefs. I tell my students that if a book makes you uncomfortable you can talk to a grownup. If you feel comfortable talking to me, that is wonderful, but you can choose who you want to talk to! Library books that you don’t want to read can be returned! Any book can be closed and returned to later. These are decisions we all have to make as readers. What I don’t tolerate is a book being used to upset someone else. If a reader finds something “icky” or upsetting in a book they are not allowed to use the book (or picture) as a weapon to upset someone else. (This counts for large and lifelike images of bugs and snakes as well as more sensitive topics.)

Thank you for your thoughtful blog.
- Liz Dejean

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