Non-Fiction

Anonymous

A

12/1/23  

TATSOAPTI is not appropriate 

How would you feel if your child learned how to use slurs in school? The Absolutely True Story Of A Part Time Indian by Sherman Alexie is a book about a kid named Junior who lives on a reservation for Native Americans.  There are struggles on the reservation of alcohol and poverty. He was born with too much cerebral spinal fluid and as a result of that he has a weird body type and is bullied for it he also decides to go to an all white school. Sherman Alexie’s book should be banned from middle school curriculum because it is too vulgar and filled with the abusive and horrible parts of life, yet some would still argue that it teaches about racism and discrimination.  

One of the reasons this book should be banned is because it is too violent, it also has a lot of ugly language. As a result of that it would make kids use more swears and think it is appropriate because their school has it in their library. In the book a student walks up to Junior, “You wanna hear a joke, sure I said.’ Did you know Indians are the living proof that n**ers f*ck buffalo” (64). This should not even be a question that this book has a lot of racism, ugly language and the worst bullying possible. When Junior goes to Reardon, the white school, he is bombarded with slurs and swears. He is also bullied for his heritage and different body type. The book does not blur out the slurs and swear words exposing itself to the audience. In what world would parents want their kids reading this book with all this horrible language? If children are exposed to ugly language then they might start using it along with the slurs and the . 

Furthermore, this book has all of the abuse and alcoholism that is only in the worst parts of life,  it should not be a book we let children read. Everybody's parents are alcoholics on the rez but, “Rowdy is having one of the worst summers of his life. His dad is drinking hard and throwing hard punches” (13). This quote proves that it is an emotionally damaging book, further  the main character's best friend Rowdy has a horrific living state of abuse and an alcoholic father which would not be a good example for middle schoolers that are very impressionable. This shows that this is a book that does not care about its readers and the effects of it after. If a person that survived abuse or any alcoholic parent, read this book it could trigger PTSD. 

Some people might argue that this book teaches about life and is a good reasors for kids to learn from but the truth is that it is vile and a horrible teacher. A student and his friend walk up to Junior, “You wanna hear a joke, sure I said. Did you know indians are the living proof that ni**ers  f*ck buffalo” (63) This quote could teach people about racism in life because they will most likely encounter it. It could also ease people into the idea of racism being everywhere. But in reality you are not teaching, you are just throwing it at them and hoping they will get the message. This book does not ease anything, it just pushes you into the idea of racism and could be upsetting to some people.  

Junior's story about how he overcame racism and bullying is inspiring but it is not appropriate for middle schoolers. If we just allow any books into middle school libraries, kids could think it is normal behavior and would try to recreate what they see in the book. The reason this book should be banned is simple, if there are age restricted video games because they are a bad example then there are books that are bad examples to follow. This book should be too; it's ugly, full of gore, and a horrible teacher.

title

Many T.V shows and movies portray families having a perfect relationship while in reality this is not the case. Kids who have family problems might feel that they are the odd ones out, however Hey Kiddo shows that they aren’t and includes some coping methods that everyone can learn from. Jarrett Krosoczka’s memoir Hey Kiddo is a story of a boy named Jarret. He recounts the life experiences of a child who was abandoned by their parents and forced to live with extended relatives. Throughout the story, Jarret struggles as he learns how to deal with his situation and create bonds with his biological family. Although Hey Kiddo includes many examples of profanity, it should not be banned from the Middle School curriculum because it informs readers how to cope with mental health problems and family issues, and because books carry information that can never be erased.

Some might suggest that the language and profanity in the story might be inappropriate for middle school students. At the start of the story, the protagonist Jarrett, has a mother called Leslie who got pregnant without the consent of her mother. This resulted in Jarret’s grandmother throwing slurs at Leslie which included, “‘Goddamn mulatto baby! Sl*t! You wh*re! Prostitute! Hussy! Tr*mp!’” (37). Throughout the story, the author frequently uses these words which some might say, teaches and introduces readers to these inappropriate concepts. People say this could encourage young readers to start using these slurs themselves and believe there are no consequences.

A later part in the book shows teenagers partying late at night when all of a sudden the police show up, causing people to shout, “ ‘FIVE-OH!!!’ ” and “ ‘Let’s get outta here!’, and exclaim expletives such as “‘F*ck’” and “‘Sh*t’”” (240).  The author describes some profanity and people resisting police, especially when someone shouted, “FIVE-OH!!!” which refers to the presence of law enforcement. Although this story includes some profane language and disobedience of the law, the pros in the book itself outweigh the cons because it teaches children how to deal with family connections.

  Hey Kiddo contains methods for children to cope with family issues, so ultimately it should not be banned. Jarret faces some issues at school and at home, “But now that I am in my teens, I fill sketchbooks just to deal with life. To survive” (216). This implies that everyone has a different way of coping. Instead of resorting to unfavorable coping methods that can impact others negatively, he chose one that positively affects himself. He realized that “The problem is, the ghosts wouldn’t leave me alone, I needed to face them” (217). The author encourages young readers to face the problems and try to resolve them rather than ignoring and letting it spread and get worse. At the end of the story, Jarrett meets his biological father and starts to rekindle their relationship together, this can be seen as a positive outcome of facing your problems that readers can learn from.

Jarret’s story tells us that even if you are in a dark time, there is always a way to make the situation better.. Hey Kiddo includes some profane scenes and words which could be unsuitable for some, but it is worth reading because it introduces the real world to readers, and how to deal with problems being thrown at you. Furthermore, banning any book is pointless, as knowledge cannot be entrapped. While some people choose to limit knowledge to others, it isn’t possible because “Books won’t stay banned. They won’t burn. Ideas won’t go to jail.” - Alfred Whitney Griswold. You can never fully erase knowledge and information and no matter what you do to it, it will never disappear and always go around. Instead of putting so much energy into trying to ban books, we should focus on the positives and learn how to deal with the negatives. Although the events being shown to us are true, it is one of the many situations for people around the world, but everyone has a different way of handling it. 

David Burmenko

A block

11-30-23

The Outsiders: Defending Its Place In Literature

Is it fair to hide issues from children that they will be forced to learn about later in their life regardless? The themes from this book are important for children to learn, and while learning it this way may seem extreme, it is necessary. The Outsiders has been a frequently challenged book throughout the years, especially among middle schools, for many reasons, including drug and alcohol abuse, underage smoking, and gang violence. The book tells the story of a neighborhood with constant tension between rival gangs, the Socs and the Greasers. This tension often leads to violent outbursts on the streets.  During one such outburst, one of the main characters, Johnny, uses his switchblade to kill a member of the Socs gang in self-defense.  Immediately after that, Johnny and his best friend Ponyboy, who was also on the scene, flee the city to avoid being caught by the police. Although The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton contains graphic images of gang violence and brings up controversial topics, it should not be excluded from all people regardless of their beliefs because It imparts important lessons on the significance of friends, family, and loyalty.

Some people may advocate for the ban of this book due to its violent content, but evading the topics raised in this book doesn’t make them any less real. For example, when Ponyboy gets attacked while  wandering the streets alone late at night, he panics because “They had my arms and legs pinned down and one of them was sitting on my chest with his knees on my elbows, and if you don’t think that hurts, you're crazy” (14). Advocates for banning the book may argue the point that this harsh imagery of the assault may be emotionally distressing to young readers. Furthermore, they are concerned that these impressionable young readers may be influenced by the images in such a way as to cause them to emulate the way the characters act or think.  Banning books that contain this form of content is equivalent to denying that issues raised in the book exist all around the world today.  The longer we suppress these issues from young readers, the more substantially the readers may be affected when confronting those issues later in life. 

The book teaches people to care for the ones they are closest with and stay loyal to their friends in any situation. Ponyboy and Johnny narrowly escape the Socs’ wrath which required Johnny to use his switchblade and resulted in him killing a Soc. They then turn to another member of their gang, Dallas “Dally” Winston for guidance on their next step. On their way out Dally said, “‘Git goin’!’ He messed up Johnny’s hair. ‘Take care kid,’ he said softly” (70). After Johnny and Ponyboy escape the Socs, they turn to Dally for help, demonstrating the theme of loyalty. Dally is made out as a character with a demanding presence in any situation, and yet here he is, softly messing up Johnny’s hair. It emphasizes how much Dally cares for him when he prioritizes making Johnny feel safe, over trying to make himself look tough. Furthermore, Dally is putting himself on the line by assisting them in an escape after they murdered a person. They did something illegal and still, Dally doesn’t hesitate to get involved in order to get his friends out of this difficult situation.

If a person doesn’t like a book, they can avoid it themselves instead of banning it from everyone. We all come from different upbringings, and we all have different sets of beliefs. It is not fair to restrict access to a book just because it doesn’t align with one group's set of beliefs. There is always going to be somebody to say something about any book. So where does it end? If one person disagrees with a part of a particular book, should no one be able to read it? It is not fair to the people who want to read the books, nor to the authors who write them. The richness and meaning of literature lies in its diversity and ability to provoke thought, which banning books goes against. 

The themes such as loyalty that the book conveys aren't any less valuable due to its violent nature and shouldn’t be banned from all people. Teaching the lessons contained in the book to middle schoolers is important, and banning the book will simply delay those lessons from being taught, potentially to a less opportune time. Beginning to read about the issues of the world at a young age makes them less intimidating once children actually hear about, or experience them later in their lifetime. The lessons in this book are simply too important not to share. Real world issues must be confronted instead of suppressed.

Taming the Star Runner by S.E. Hinton should not be banned from the Middle School curriculum, because it shows how life can change in a matter of days  and describes the daily life that people can have that you would never know from just looking at someone, yet some argue that the descriptions and explanations are too much for students to be reading about.

 The book can show students how life changes in a matter of days for some one. Like when Travis went to a place that had the same brand of alcohol a complication happened because they thought he stole it or got sold it while being under age and he got told “And   you’re    dead    meat,” Gary said, and slugged him”.  This changed his life because he just got someone fired and he didn't mean to and now he might get himself beat up physically. just like Travis once said “Getting beaten up verbally was just as bad as physically, only it was easier to hide the scars” (8). It's not g0nna be easy for him to hide these scars he's gonna receive. A student reading this would  mostly likely gain the common sense of not having alcohol while being underage and not to get someone fired. 

Additionally this book can show how a person that looks all innocent can be a person that had fists fights. “His boot felt empty without his knife in it. It didn't matter that he had never had to use it (sure, he’d pulled it out a couple of times to show off, but the times he could have really used it he’d forgotten about it and used his fist as usual” (1). This is showing that a person could be dangerous but this would show students that they don't need weapons to always win a fight they just need their fists or just to not fight at all.“Your leg’s broken,” Casey said. “It's going to be okay, a broken leg heals. Travis.” He tore his eyes away from the bloody white piece of bone. He thought he was going to puke”.

However the description and explaining about things in this book could give people idea which some people might not want other people doing or knowing.“Travis went to school, tried to get a date with a new girl in class (she turned him down, nice girls usually did, because of his reputation; it had happened too often to bug him).” pg 12. This is showing students that they could get rejected a lot in life due to their reputation or just because of anything and some parents don't like their children having this idea. “Hanging around watching the twins fiddle with their cars, or spending evenings in the parking lot of the city park, sipping beers until the cops ran you off, what was so great about that?” pg 28. This is something that probably most parents did and now that they are older they think it's bad or boring to do and they don't want their children to do that because they could get in trouble or do something that they should do.

This is the Reason the book shouldn't be banned because a book can always show people the differences in life that some people might not see or might never have thought of. Also this can help people be better or see the world better than how they see it now.

Yulia Harthorne

B block

12/4/23

Racism is a genuine issue that young children need to acknowledge and understand before they can contribute ideas and actions to help improve society. The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas is often considered controversial due to the depictions of racism and police cruelty, but the important lessons it teaches outweigh any potential negative impact. The book follows the journey of Starr, a teenager who witnesses her best friend get killed by a police officer. Due to this tragic wrongdoing, Starr and her community come together to fight for justice. Although The Hate U Give, by Angie Thomas includes examples of racism and police brutality, it should not be banned from Middle School because it also demonstrates the power of community and teamwork.

Many people believe that The Hate U Give should be banned from Middle Schools because it showcases police as racist and violent. When Starr is coming back from a party with her friend, Khalil, and they get stopped by police, Khalil is asked to step out of his car. As he returns to the driver’s seat to ask, “‘You ok Starr-’ Pow! One. Khalil's body jerks. Blood splatters from his back. He holds on to the door to keep himself upright”(23). This suggests that police are violent since they shot Khalil even though he was not dangerous or threatening. He was not doing anything illegal and the policeman had no reason to believe he was, but the officer still shot the boy three times. The police officer was suspicious of Khalil solely because of the color of his skin. This depiction suggests that police are racist and aggressive and may lead readers to become anti-police, which is why the book can be considered controversial. This scene is also vivid and scary, and some parents may not want children to be exposed to this type of image.

Despite this controversy, the book should not be banned because it teaches the importance of community advocacy, and shows how communities can find power in teamwork. “I’ve seen it happen over and over again: a black person gets killed just for being black, and all hell breaks loose. I’ve tweeted RIP hashtags, reblogged pictures on Tumblr, and signed every petition out there. I always said that if I saw it happen to somebody, I would be the loudest voice, making sure the world knew what went down,” (38). This passage highlights the importance of advocacy for justice, as Starr is making sure that the media reveals both sides of painful yet important issues, not only the comforting truth many want to believe. It also proves that standing up for what you believe in does make a difference. Later, when Starr’s father’s shop is burned down, people also fight to make sure the truth is heard – even when it is not anti-police. “‘I saw him,’ Mr.Reuben says. ‘He did it’... And sh**, now the crowd is echoing the same thing, pointing at King and his boys. I mean, everybody’s snitching. The rules no fu***** longer apply.” Even though the entire town is afraid of the gang that is run by King, they care more about standing up for what they believe is right, even if that means risking their own safety. The community worked together to get justice, and that is an important lesson for all of society.

In conclusion, The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas should not be banned, despite its potentially controversial depiction of racism and police cruelty, because it is primarily about the importance of advocacy and teamwork. This year, police have killed over 700 people, including nearly 125 black people (Statistica). Each of those people had family, friends, and neighbors. Especially when police kill blatantly innocent civilians, it is critical for the community to join forces and advocate for justice. The Hate U Give presents this important lesson, and that is why it should not be banned from schools.

Anonymous

12/4/2023

B block

Why The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain Should be Banned.

Books help grow the minds and vocabulary of children of all ages, but books should not be read if they are not appropriate for the age group it’s presented to, if a book is too violent and includes swears that children of that age group should not be exposed to then they should not be available to them. The book The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain is about how Huck Finn ran away from his abusive father and found a companion called Jim, a runaway slave and they go on a journey together going down the Mississippi River. Throughout the story, they encounter many characters and obstacles that go against their understanding of what is right and wrong. Duke and Dauphin are two characters that did many wrong things but got an unjust punishment from Huck Finn's morals. They also encounter many violent and racist scenarios. At the end of the journey, Huck Finn does not see Jim as a slave anymore, he sees Jim more as a human being. So I believe the book should be banned from the Middle School curriculum because it is too violent and offensive for this audience, yet some people argue that the book should not be banned, because the main character has some valuable traits.

Scenes in the book contain exaggerated depictions of barbarity and racial discrimination so the book shouldn’t be read by the group of people it is presented to. Huckleberry Finn and his band had a couple of rules and one was “Whichever boy was ordered to kill that person and his family must do it, and he mustn't eat and he mustn't sleep till he had killed them and hacked a cross in their breasts” (8). Children in Middle School should not have access to books like these because they can harm their adolescence. This book is too violent and visual for the younger audience, and also uses some inappropriate language meant for older children/teens. White People back in the day would use the n-word to describe black people, but they would use it in their everyday vocabulary, like the author states “N*gger’s would come miles to hear Jim tell about it, and he was more looked up to than any n*gger in the country” (7). There are a lot of racial slurs in the book and it is good to learn about knowing that in the past people talked and acted a lot differently than we do today, but it is too early for children in middle school to hear these slurs. Also the characters saying these racial slurs are often white, so this could be very offensive to the black community. 

However, Huckleberry Finn has fundamental character traits, such as being modest and having a well-mannered moral. Jim and Huck Finn are friends and they start to grow a greater friendship along the journey, Jim tells Huck Finn that “Bees will not sting idiots, but I did not believe that, because I tried them many times myself and they would not sting me” (47). This image describes how humble Huck Finn is because in this scenario he describes himself very modestly, he did not say he was really smart, he was aware of his capabilities. Duke and Dauphin were getting barbarically punished and even though they were bad people Huck Finn thought that “Human beings can be awful cruel to one another '' (237). Here Huck Finn expressed his true thoughts and feelings displaying his good conscience because he knew that Duke and Dauphin deserved a punishment for being bad people but also knew that it was wrong, that they should have had another chance before judgment or had a lesser punishment than what they received. As a whole this displays how Huck Finn is modest and how he has well-mannered morals.

The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain should be banned from the Middle School curriculum because it is too violent and offensive for this audience, yet some people argue that the book should not be banned, because the main character has some essential traits. Scenes in the book contain exaggerated depictions of barbarity and racial discrimination so the book shouldn’t be read by the group of people it is presented to. However, Huckleberry Finn has fundamental character traits, such as being modest and having a well-mannered moral. So in conclusion if books are harmful to its targeted audiences then they shouldn’t be available to them.

Banned Book Essay

Information decides how people make their decisions. Living a life in a different environment with different influences, like books, will completely and utterly transform how people act. Reading a book that contains many references to smoking and profanity, especially as teens, has an adverse impact on the brain. In the book Looking For Alaska by John Green, the plot follows Miles Halter, a 16-year old boy who starts going to a boarding school in Alabama. He meets and befriends his new roommate, Chip and another girl, Alaska, who he starts to gain a crush on. However, when his new friends begin to introduce him to cigarettes, Miles establishes himself as the one to rely on to purchase a cigarette, providing himself and his friends with them whenever desired. Although Looking For Alaska shows true friendship, it should be banned from the Middle School curriculum because the book promotes vulgar profanity and underage smoking.

Some believe that the central idea of Looking For Alaska is friendship and helping others. For example, when Miles first goes to boarding school, some other students start to bully and harrass Miles. However, after Chip finds out, he promises that, “‘They will regret messing with one of [his] friends’” (28). Readers often get influenced by the books they read, as it provides much of the information people learn. Reading this book could persuade readers to stand up for both themselves, and others. People will aspire to be in healthy friendships, where they feel comfortable expressing their ideas and are protected. In addition, after Miles and Chip find out that Alaska dies, they are both forlorn. Despite this, Miles still tries to console his friend by putting his, “Hand on the back of his head and [saying] the only true thing. ‘I’m sorry, too’” (143). Even though Miles is trying to cope with the same thing as Chip does, he still supports him and comforts him. People that read this book could take this into consideration and might support others that feel dejected, boosting their morale and helping them get through hard times.

However, Looking For Alaska is filled with swears of all kinds that may be inappropriate to some readers. Even though the information from books can help people with their decisions, it can also harm them. For instance, a while after Alaska cries, Miles realizes that, “When she cried and told [him] that she f*cked everything up, [he] knew what she meant now” (120). The book contains many swears including harsh ones such as the f-word. If this book was not banned from middle school libraries, the children who would be able to read this book would witness numerous different uses of profanity in this book. They will learn how and when to use profanity, and in this case, it is used very often. This could lead to the children using profanity, even if their parents do not want them to. Moreover, after Chip insults Miles in a playful manner, Miles immediately responds, “‘F*ck you dude’” (114). In this situation, the profanity used was in casual talk. However, very often, people get offended by swears, especially when someone else uses it in this way. People could develop a habit of swearing constantly, and sometimes, the swears could be interpreted as an insult and not as being used in an innocuous way. In just 6 pages, there are already 2 cases of the f-word being used. This book may influence children to use profanity in this way, and it could harm their social life.

Also, this story constantly promotes underage children buying and using cigarettes. When Miles first meets Chip in the boarding school, they start talking. After they introduce themselves, Chip tells Miles to, “Go get some cigarettes and start this year off right’” (14). Smoking cigarettes is never healthy, and to make it even worse, Chip implies that smoking cigarettes is the right thing to do. Readers may be perpetuated to start smoking, which is horrible for their safety and health. Moreover, when Miles sees Alaska smoking vigorously, he questions her, and Alaska explains, “‘Y’all smoke to enjoy it. I smoke to die’” (43). In this context, smoking is presented like a fun thing to do. It not only promotes smoking as something people enjoy, it even references the danger of smoking. Smoking is addictive, and that is directly shown here. Alaska can’t stop smoking, and she even realizes it’s bad for her health. It is crucial to stop people from getting hooked on cigarettes, and this book is unintentionally doing the opposite.

Looking For Alaska has a prominent theme of true friendship, but it also promotes harsh profanity and smoking. Although it has the characters standing up for each other and comforting each other, it also contains an abundance of swears that the readers could start using. It is also not worth keeping in Middle School libraries because of the amount of smoking, especially when the characters are underaged. In the outside world, smoking and constant use of profanity would harm both themselves and their relationships with others around them. These ideas should never be promoted, and if they were not, maybe the world would be a better place. 

Ayla Kandamar

B block

12/3/23

Banned Book Essay

The lessons and importance in the books we read influence us and stay by our side throughout our lives. Although these harsh things are presented to us in a difficult manner, the result of delivering these topics to the media is to successfully teach us about the reality of our own world and things around us no matter the harm. The book The Hate U Give has been banned in multiple places around the world due to its violent descriptions of racism and police actions, but it should continue to be read instead of banned. The book portrays a young girl named Starr who watches her best friend Khalil get shot due to his race. Throughout the story the author puts us in the mindset of young Starr in her everyday life prior to her best friend passing away. Sending messages like these to the media helps educate those who are not as acknowledged as others, especially with these difficult topics such as racism, grief, and anger. If we keep things like these that happen in our world from your children, they will be taught in an incredibly more violent and negative way. Although The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas presents racism and anti-police actions, it should not be banned from the Middle School curriculum because it empowers advocacy and teaches young adults about the reality of racism.

Some argue that the cruel descriptions of racism and violent anti-police actions in the story will be emotionally scary for some, and for others make them fear reality. The plot takes the readers into the mindset of someone who is losing her best friend. No child should have to live with the experience of, “You okay, Starr– Pow! One. Khalil’s body jerks. Blood splatters from his back. He holds on to the door to keep himself upright. Pow! Two. Khalil gasps. Pow! Three. Khalil looks at me, stunned. He falls to the ground” (23). If more books present reasons and examples of mistakes, including violent actions the police have made, it will continue to encourage those around us to not want to call for help when needed. The police officer shot Khalil dead for mistaking a hairbrush for a gun. This presents reasons to give the public to be anti-police. It is also a scary and vivid image they are putting in the readers heads of a person being shot dead. This can leave some with questions about their safety and little things in their everyday life. Putting a book with this heavy context on a shelf, hooking middle school readers in, may leave them scared that if they call the police for help when needed, somebody will end up shot, fearing them from their own life. Some may disagree with this argument, although reading this kind of content provides much-needed information about how people of color’s lives are affected in day to day life. 

However, the examples of racism and what truly happens in our world being shown in the story may influence young readers to take action and fight for what they believe in. The author portrays intense emotions and hurt, when she describes “a black person gets killed just for being black, and all hell breaks loose. I’ve tweeted RIP hashtags, reblogged pictures on Tumblr, and signed every petition out there. I always said that if I saw it happen to somebody, I would have the loudest voice, making sure the world knew what went down” (38). Starr is extremely committed to her cause, and that helps people learn that advocacy is important and is necessary in our world. Through The acts of action and care throughout the Tumblr blogs that Starr has posted it is encouraging young readers to take action. Keeping this unfair view on people living with the fear of speaking out in middle school curriculums will only negatively affect those as they grow older. Once a person is younger it is important to start building the foundation of promoting your challenges and importance so once they grow older and their voices start to matter, they will be heard. Believing in this kind of content helps direct children in the right direction towards the idea that their voices matter. 

Starr’s challenges and difficulties help teach those about uplifting advocacy and the reality of racism in our world. Despite the anti-police actions and racism in the book The Hate U Give, it is an important read because of the messages and lessons that contain advocacy and presentations of action being taken for what we truly believe in. The events and challenges shown in the story are not make-belief, but real. Just in the past year there have been over 74000 deaths due to skin color in America. People still walk away everyday through the streets without a clue about the racism that happens around us and the extent it is taken to. It is highly necessary to educate the world on topics as heavy as deaths and race, to help those around us and help create a safe welcoming environment for the future. Therefore the story The Hate U Give should be read by middle school curriculums.

Ice Breaker Essay

Young kids going into middle school and highschool need to know how to handle their social or romantic relationships in the future, but sometimes the way the information is delivered may be too harsh for them. Icebreaker by Hannah Grace is a banned book in many libraries that parents don’t approve of their kids reading. This book is about an ice skater named Anastasia Allen and a hockey player named Nathan Hawkins. It follows their journey through how they meet and how their relationship affects the dynamics between friends and family. Although Icebreaker is a cute love story between two teenagers, it should be banned from the middle school curriculum because it includes profanity and sex.

Some argue that a simple love story is completely harmless to middle schoolers because it teaches them how to handle relationships in the future. While the characters are togethers, the author writes how, “He kissed the top of my nose gently, momentarily distracting me.” (166). He cares for her and is very protective. It is a consensual relationship. Also, this is a safe book for kids to learn about relationships without actually being in one if they are not ready. Finally, the plot of this book is a harmless love story that wont affect teenagers after reading it. It's mostly for entertainment, and it gets kids to read more.

However, this book does include profanity and sex, which, at a certain point is inappropriate for middle schoolers. One example of profanity is when the two main characters are talking and say, “You are so f***ing dramatic.” (241). This is problematic because when kids read swears, they could use it in real life which is a bad example and they could get in trouble. With the profanity, there are inappropriate actions that the characters do, and the description and images in this book is explained deep, “I slip my hand between her legs and rub her swollen c**t, using my other hand to tilt her head towards me”(284).This image is not healthy for a kid's mind because they might not be ready to read about it. Another thing is that kids might be curious and want to try it before they are ready, which can make them sad and scared. One final thing is that parents might want to have this conversation with their kids later and not want them to be exposed to things that they are ready for. 

Although IceBreaker is a cute and harmless love story, some of the behaviors and words they use may not be appropriate for middle schoolers and should not be available to read without parental consent. The events of this book happen in our lives too. Many people are confused about how to start or act in a relationship with someone and this can affect them later on in life. It is important to have an example so it can teach kids how to have a healthy relationship. Despite that, kids should be aware of the sexual content and profanity these types of books may include and should ask for permission from an adult before reading it. 

Spoiler alert: Do not read if you are planning to read One Of Us Lying         

Kalyna Konrad

12/3/2023

B Block

Intrusive thoughts 

 Banning a book is a tough choice. Even if they have a good life lesson, the darkside is more likely to be remembered. Before you ask, yes One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus is a banned book. This book follows the story of when simon drinks a cup of water in detention and falls dead to the ground. This story shows four kids being investigated and accused for someone's suicide. It also contains hash images of violence that might scare the reader. One Of Us Is Lying by Karen M. McManus should be banned from middle school curriculum because of the whole story built around suicide, yet some argue that it shouldn’t be banned because it teaches kids about the impact of lies, and gossip of others.

Even though this book was written really well, I argue that One Of Us Is Lying should be banned for middle school students because of the content on suicide. The aurthor writes “I want to be more creative, more unique, I want my suicide to be talked about for years (322).” No kid or person should think like that. This book could also invite intrusive thoughts that aren’t good for kids. One Of Us Is Lying also portrays images of self harm. (Having negative thoughts). In the book Jane said that “He started talking about killing himself and taking people with him (322).”This quote includes the idea of killing others. This could lead to Scaring the readers, and being scared that something might happen to them.

Others think that it is a good life lesson to imply how kids' lies and gossip could lead to hurting someone. “He went overboard and wrote some awful things on About That (244).” An app made for gossip, and meant to hurt others. This includes people posting things online about others. Kids can learn from this experience and learn  to not lie to others, and think about how this could affect someone and what it could do to them. This could make them think about what they are about to do and realize whether it is a good idea or it isn’t.

In conclusion Karen's story is a wonderful book, but contains the context of suicided and  violence. Some of the scenes are harsh and disturbing, especially when we get to see Simon’s suicide letter, witch describes that he wasn’t ment for this world and no one liked him, even though he had one friend, and people who cared about him. Although it does teach the impact of lies and gossip the more likely thought that will remaine is the readers head is somthing you don’t hear or see everyday, such as suicide. The events in the book are fake, but do happen all the time. We don’t want kids to learn about this and have that idea in the back of their heads.

                                                           The Outsider 

Would you want your kid to be reading about brutal violence, well I wouldn’t. The Outsiders by S.E Hinton is about two rival gangs, the Socs vs the Greasers. There was constant tension and brutality  between both groups. In the midst of all the chaos, a group of boys created their own family. The Outsiders  should be banned due to its harsh bloodthirstiness. Some people argue that the book shouldn’t be banned because it demonstrates people helping each other, providing them a safe place. 

 In the book there are many types of violence, including stabbing, punching, kicking, and attempts at drowning. This could scare a Middle School reader. For example, one of the Greasers was walking alone and the Socs were teasing him. Suddenly, one of the Socs pulled a knife. The Greaser recalls, “I fought to get loose, and almost did for a second; then they tightened up on me and the one on my chest slugged me a couple of times. So I lay still, swearing at them between gasps. A blade was held against my throat” (7). The violence in the book could influence young readers to do the wrong thing and get into violent and dangerous situations.  Middle schoolers may not understand the consequences or seriousness of the violence. It could also trigger a traumatic experience and upset someone causing depression and potentially hurting  themselves.   

 On the other hand, some people argue that The Outsiders shouldn’t be banned because it shows people helping each other, giving them a safe place to live. Darry and his two younger brothers created a  safe and loving environment for their friends.  “Or I could have gotten one of the gang to come along, one of the four boys Darry and Soda and I have grown up with and considered family. We're almost as close as brothers; when you grow up in a tight-knit neighborhood like ours you get to know each other real well.” (15) This is an  important message for middle schoolers to learn, supporting friends in good and bad times. Also family doesn't have to have the same last name to love and take care of each other. 

The savage cruelty written throughout the story has led to many questions and comments to banning the book.  But on the other hand it shouldn’t be banned because it shows people helping each other,  giving them a safe place,and becoming family.The important lesson this book conveys is how people create families  to support one another. There's a lot of violence in today's world however a person can count on family to be there when needed.   

Reasons to ban All Boys aren't Blue

  The lessons that books teach are invaluable for young readers, but parents and administrators should have the ability to restrict what their kids are being exposed to. In the memoir All Boys aren’t Blue by George M. Johnson the author tells about his childhood as a Black homosexual. George experiences sexual interactions and homophobia. While All Boys aren’t Blue does help represent Black homosexuals, it should be banned from the Middle School curriculum because of the authors use of inappropropriate language and intense sexual imagery. 

Some argue that All Boys aren’t Blue is a mirror for Black homosexual individuals. For instance when George is trying to balance his sexuality with his race, the author writes “My queer identity is part of my Blackness(126).” This phrase could lead other black homosexual readers to feel represented. There aren’t many books written about Black homosexuals, and this quote could make them feel connected and important. The quote also teaches the reader that you can balance being Black and being gay. This is important for a middle schooler to know and acknowledge.

However, the author uses language that is inappropriate for middle schoolers. George originally jumped rope with the girls however in order to hide his femininity he starts playing football during recess, Johnson titles the chapter “F*gs play football, too(42). This use of inappropriate language, especially in the title of a chapter is unnecessary. The f slur is an extremely violent and hurtful word. Parents would not want their kids to start using it in conversation. The f slur is a hate term and could make homosexual people feel bad about themselves and their sexuality. Johnson also uses this language at the title of the chapter, meaning that it is an important part of the book. Furthermore when Johnson was writing about the use of the n-word he writes, “In the eyes of society, I was still a n****(7). The N slur is an extremely powerful word and it has a horrible history behind it. Even though Johnson put the word in tags the impact is still there. The n-word is a derogatory term and using it could encourage middle schoolers to use this term, either talking about themselves, or other people. The n-word is not socially acceptable and it could hurt anyone who has been called it. 

Finally, the author uses intense sexual imagery which could disgust a reader. For example when George was preparing to have sexual intercourse with another Black homosexual, Johnson writes “He reached his hand down and pulled out my d*ck”(266). This use of profanity in sexual terms is appropriate. Additionally, parents might not want their kids to be exposed to this kind of sexual content and it could leave the reader feeling queasy and violated. This level of sexual content is detailed and not appropriate for children in Middle school. Also, when Johnson was recalling his experience of being molested by his cousin he wrote, “You turned on the light and closed the door. You began stroking yourself in front of me(208).” The quote shows disturbing imagery especially when used in context with a family member. Molestation is a horrible topic and many kids have not been exposed to it yet. This will leave the reader horrified and disgusted at the prospect of being forced into sex, especially with a family member.

George’s story is a bad influence for middle schoolers and will scar them. While All Boys aren’t Blue does represent Black homosexuals,  it is outweighed by the author's use of derogatory terms and visual sexual content. Therefore it should be banned from middle school libraries. The author uses words that can hurt the reader and it is important for parents and administrators to be able to filter the content that their kids experience. The lessons in All Boys aren’t Blue are important, but it would be more helpful for students to learn these lessons in a less disturbing way.