Some Dumbfail For Ya

[bloodyrosemccoy]

I kind of want to have opinions at you about the latest genius to confuse content with message, but as is so often the case, a point-by-point refutation of everything that is wrong with it would take away time I would better spend writing my own YA novel, or reading someone else’s YA novel. Plus, you already probably can guess my opinion. Hint: it is not "Won’t someone ~*~please~*~ think of the poor persecuted book banners?"*

Thing is, I personally dislike reading a lot of the “darker” YA stuff, but y’know what? That is my own damn taste. I’m really glad there’s some dark YA out there for people who like it. Fortunately, YA is a broad group, broader than indicated in that article, so there’s something for everyone.

Anyway, if you want to have a good time with this, cleolinda’s got a good roundup of the responses. Have fun!


*I want to make a crack about how they recommend Fahrenheit 451—only to boys, of course—when she’s making a case for censorship, but only because of the common misconception that it’s a book decrying censorship instead of yet another example of Ray Bradbury’s raging technophobia.

Then again, either way his point is that books are stirring, which this article does seem to be strictly agin.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wastrel/]

I see YA as only one facet of the same debate that's been going on for decades now, the "Quick, parents, you have to strap down your children so they won't turn into pirate ninja witches or they'll destroy us all!" mentality, the "Jack Chick vs D&D" template. I'm sick of people having to have that debate, but it sure beats living in a society in which the debate wouldn't be taking place because we'd all be bowing down to the book banners without fighting back. Thank you for having posted this.

I always get the urge to chip in during debates like that, but I hold back from doing so, because I realize that at some point while telling my story I'd get to the part where you're supposed to say "... and I turned out just fine!" Then I think, maybe other people are better suited for this debate than I am. :)

[padparadscha.livejournal.com]

I always get the urge to chip in during debates like that, but I hold back from doing so, because I realize that at some point while telling my story I'd get to the part where you're supposed to say "... and I turned out just fine!" Then I think, maybe other people are better suited for this debate than I am. :)

AHAHAHAHA YES.

Moral panics are pretty weird overall. They always seem to reveal a lot more about the panickers than anything else.