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'Repulsive' Text Spurs School Review
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Published: December 13, 2007
Updated: 12/13/2007 12:14 am
TAMPA - Not all teenagers are reading "Harry Potter."
The Hillsborough County School Board discovered that at Tuesday's board meeting, when a mother read a graphic passage from a book her daughter checked out of her high school library.
School board chairwoman Jennifer Faliero stopped the mother in mid-sentence, later explaining that the passage - describing an attempted rape - was too explicit for the televised meeting.
"I totally agree with her," Faliero said Wednesday. She halted the reading because, "we got the message. She didn't need to go further due to the explicit language of the passage. That was repulsive."
The book, "Just Listen" by Sarah Dessen, is in every Hillsborough high school library, said Christine Van Brunt, the district's supervisor of media services for grades six through 12. As of Wednesday, all high schools were asked to mark that book with a sticker saying "for mature readers." A committee at Armwood High School will review it, she said.
The book is "realistic fiction," a favorite with teenagers, she said. It also is on the Florida Teens Read list recommended by the Florida Association for Media in Education, the state organization for media specialists.
"This book really deals with a sensitive topic," Van Brunt said, "I know the scene described was very intense."
Book Intended For Mature Readers
Van Brunt describes the story: The main character is at a party and her best friend's boyfriend tries to rape her. It never happens. Her friend sees it and the girl is blamed, accused of trying to steal her boyfriend. She didn't do anything. The book is how she deals with this.
"It's a story kids are probably going to be into reading," Van Brunt said. "The kids like reading about things that really happen - unfortunately, this really happens."
The assault scene with a graphic description of the drunk partygoer forcing himself on the victim makes the book for mature readers, she said.
The issue of what books are suitable for students surfaces periodically, usually when a parent discovers what his or her child is reading.
Books challenged in Hillsborough County are read and reviewed by a committee of parents, students and teachers at the particular school. The group then determines its fate, which may be appealed to a district committee.
Challenges rarely get to the district level and few are removed from shelves, Van Brunt said. The last book challenged at the district level was "The Encyclopedia of Serial Killers," in 2002, determined by a Durant High School committee to be accessible to all and by a King High committee to be accessible only through teachers.
The district committee kept the book, she said. "It was a reference book."
In the case of "Just Listen," the Armwood High committee will read the book over winter break, said Kay Salmon, a media specialist at the school. The school's five copies are in demand, Salmon said.
"The author is fantastic," Salmon said.
"This is probably one of the most popular group of books we have," Salmon said of the titles on the Florida Teens Read list for grades nine through 12. Brochures encourage teens to read all the books and include a brief synopsis of each of the 15 books on the list.
The books include stories about a teen dealing with an out-of-work, alcoholic father, a 15-year-old forced into slavery, a 16-year-old in the year 2076 living in a world where verbal abuse, obesity and dangerous activities are outlawed and a story of a 13-year-old girl from Nepal forced into prostitution in India.
The brochure's disclaimer says that "in order to engage their interest and to provide a spur to critical thinking, the book selections include those that involve sensitive issues." It also says that some content may not be suitable for every student and that is it a voluntary program.
"In a democratic society, a variety of ideas must find voice. As a reader, teens have a choice to read the more mature titles or to close the book," it concludes.
Graphic Scene Startled Parent
When Milisa Burt found "Just Listen" in her 15-year-old daughter's backpack, she said, it was the page she read to the board with its explicit description that shocked her.
"It was just awful," she said. "I have no problem with the story line in the book. It's just the graphic detail. You're going to see it on TV and everywhere else - still, finding it in your daughter's backpack ..."
"If we wouldn't show it as a movie in school, it probably shouldn't be in the library," she said.
Still, Burt said she will not forbid her daughter, who usually reads mysteries, from reading the book because she thinks she will want to read it even more.
"I'm just going to let her read it and then discuss the issue with her," she said.
Reporter Marilyn Brown can be reached at (813) 259-8069 or mbrown@tampatrib.com.
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Reader Comments
Posted by ( RobKay ) on December 13, 2007 at 8:37 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
An intelligent responce by a responsible parent - how refreshing. Mrs. Burt, your daughter is a lucky girl to have such a competent role model.
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Posted by ( CConrad ) on December 13, 2007 at 9:07 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
It's bad enough we have smut all over the TV and movies.. now it has made its way into our children's library? Sickening. And as far as the sticker "for mature Readers", your talking about school age kids! How mature could they be? Rediculous! This, and any other book like it, should NOT be allowed in our school library! Kudos to that mother. Not every parent is that on top of things. The book should never have been there in the first place. Why must we shove our society's sick ways onto our children? Let them be children, and keep what little innocense they have for as long as possible!
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Posted by ( BrianH ) on December 13, 2007 at 9:18 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
So the mother says she will let her daughter read the book...even as she tries to deny every other student in the school that right?
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Posted by ( Ole_Salt ) on December 13, 2007 at 9:20 a.m.
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Posted by ( Ricardo ) on December 13, 2007 at 9:29 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
What about the story Brave New World? What about The Crucible, or The Scarlett Letter. I had to read that in 9th grade. That was about 10 yrs ago in the IB Program and no one was complaining then. In BNW, All the characters were high off a drug called "soma" and having orgies, or as the book describes it, "everyone belongs to everyone else." Parents need to talk to their children about sex or their going to try to find answers themselves.
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Posted by ( Soonethanlater ) on December 13, 2007 at 9:45 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Censorship.... I agree with Ricardo.
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Posted by ( PewterPirate55 ) on December 13, 2007 at 9:51 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Could have been worse. She could have looked in her daughters back pack and found a gun instead of a book. I agree with her ultimate decision to let the child read the book. I dont think the book should be taken off the shelves. I think anything that is available in a public county library should be available to a high school student. Hmmmm teach the kids to read then try to control their mind by saying DONT READ THAT ... What kind of message is that sending. I dont understand why we feel this constant need to shelter high school aged kids. I understand boundaries. But you are talking about people that will be voting and dying for their country in four years. Let them expand their mind. Don't inhibit growth by sheltering them from the real world. When you shelter them from the real world they go wild when they turn 18 and you can no longer legally shelter them.
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Posted by ( jimr ) on December 13, 2007 at 10:06 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Now Sally, I,m sorry honey, but you will have to leave the room while your father and I watch the evening news and read the newspaper. Now go wash up for dinner!
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Posted by ( Charlie ) on December 13, 2007 at 10:24 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
Maybe if the character in the book had a gun, she wouldn't have been a victim. Lesson to kids: when you go to a party, pack heat!
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Posted by ( abuela1942 ) on December 13, 2007 at 10:28 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I grew up in a time where people didn't tell their kids anything under the premise of "let them be children". As a result, we weren't prepared for the "real world" where things like this book describes happen. I tried to be far more open with my child.
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Posted by ( sparkle24 ) on December 13, 2007 at 10:55 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
While I completely support parental involvement... I think that we should not take away from those children who don't have someone to talk to them about real life. As unfortunate as these events are, they do happen and every child needs to be informed. Who knows.. the book could save just one from this horrible experience.
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Posted by ( mamkmm2 ) on December 13, 2007 at 12:39 p.m.
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Posted by ( kgrant ) on December 13, 2007 at 12:59 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Fahrenheit 451 - burn all of the books because they might be subversive. But wait, who decides? I am a mother of 2 teenage daughters who are smart enough and have high enough moral values that I am not fearful of them reading any book. For heaven sakes, stop the censorship and allow education to take place.
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Posted by ( TBCat ) on December 13, 2007 at 1:20 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
"In a democratic society, a variety of ideas must find voice. As a reader, teens have a choice to read the more mature titles or to close the book," OK....so, shall we lower the drinking age to include all high school ages? They can either drink the alcohol or turn it away. Open the x rated theaters (I bet if they put Penthouse Forum on the reading list it too would become one of the more popular). They can watch or leave. We don't leave a lot of things to the discreetion of this age of the population because it is widely believed that they have not developed all the skills to make some decisions for themself. Also, "realistic fiction"?? If this kind of thing "really happens", why don't they relate a REAL story instead of making one up?? They of course change the names to protect those involved. A lot of the reasoning in this story seems very suspect to me. Sounds like more of an excuse than an explanation.
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Posted by ( kimmypooh ) on December 13, 2007 at 1:24 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
It is educational material and if they read it maybe they won't end up in that type of situation. All the parents against are the ones that probably say my child will never be at a party with drunks or idiots, my daughter is to smart to hang with kids like that. I have a nine year old girl and I am about as honest as you can get. I have already told her that there are going to be guys/girls that try to talk her into doing things that are wrong and she needs to be aware of what is going on and make good dicisions and think smart. I am hoping that with my openess about the REAL WORLD she will be intelligent and street smart....not some naive kid that doesn't have a clue!
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Posted by ( dessenlover ) on December 13, 2007 at 2:09 p.m.
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Posted by ( CherryRedChevy_53 ) on December 13, 2007 at 3:17 p.m.
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Posted by ( CherryRedChevy_53 ) on December 13, 2007 at 3:22 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
For those of you who have not taken into consideration that the author is a real person, here is the link to what she had to say about this article and the one from yesterday: http://writergrl.livejournal.com/403184.html
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Posted by ( s_adair ) on December 13, 2007 at 3:27 p.m.
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Posted by ( tennisetviola ) on December 13, 2007 at 3:52 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This book isn't that bad. Sarah Dessen writes about what is happenin. If you don't like, deal with it. All of her books have some kind of teenage theme. Dreamland made me realize that I don't want to be in an abusive relationship. Sarah Dessen would never want her daughter to be rate raped, but she probably wouldn't mind her reading books like this.
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Posted by ( sarahmatic ) on December 13, 2007 at 5:21 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
I don't even know where to begin. Most of it has already been said. Censorship is what's repulsive. I have been the YA clerk in a bookstore for eight years. What bothers me the most about the amount of absolute trash that is out there. Books about characters who are just not nice people, who spend all of their time cutting each other down, being catty, and sleeping with each others' boyfriends. All this, with NO attempt at commentary. And why does this stuff fly? Because they are dumbed down and more glam and shiny, and the vapid, shallow characters are wealthy and beautiful. I highly doubt parents are sitting down with their sons and daughters having a talk about issues that occurred in the lives of the bratty, spoiled, backstabbing teens in the latest installment gossip girl.
Color me repulsed by the very thought of censoring this amazing author.
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Posted by ( kelster0208 ) on December 13, 2007 at 5:32 p.m.
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Posted by ( desianima ) on December 13, 2007 at 7:04 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This is my favorite Sarah Dessen book. How could you say that a high school student should not be reading this? It is a very real issue that many have to face. In her live journal Mrs. Dessen said that she had girls who wrote to her telling how they came forward about their rapes don't you think this is a good thing? Yeah this scene is repulsive (it's supposed to be, rape is not something good) however it is better than what many students are reading anyways. Most girls lose their virginity at 14, I'm not saying your daughter has, I'm 20 and have yet to lose mine but in today's society a girl coming forward about what has happened to her is something that should be applauded! I worked at a library for three years and there were middle schoolers checking out romance novels, if you want to worry about anything get some of those out of your kid's school or maybe the public library? Would that be right? The content in these books isn't much better. In addition, if your students can't get the book at their high school library, if they want to read it enough they will go to their public library or buy it behind your back (not that i'm promoting this), but if they have enjoyed Sarah Dessen's books as much as I have they will have not been able to wait to read this one. I know personally this book has encouraged me to be a more honest person and to look at those who might be considered "scary". Don't you want your daughters to learn to share what happens in their lives with you? Isn't honesty an important quality you want your daughter to have? I beg you, if you have problems with this book and have not yet read it, please do, don't judge a book without reading it first and please don't speak about things you don't understand.
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Posted by ( LatinaLady ) on December 14, 2007 at 11:47 a.m. ( Suggest removal )
I'm off to buy this book so I can make up my mind for myself.
Look, if that parent doesn't want her kid to read that book, great. More power to her. But how DARE she tell ME which books MY kid can read by restricting access in a library? Rape is repulsive, not the book. Personally, I want my daughter to know the kind of crap that happens at parties where kids are drinking. I want to keep her a kid, too, but not by sheltering her, but by giving her enough knowledge to be able to make smart choices. Books give knowledge.
And all of you who call a book smut based on someone else's opinions? You're sheep. Baaaa.
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Posted by ( tmacgrl ) on December 14, 2007 at 5:48 p.m.
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Posted by ( frenchmoodle ) on December 14, 2007 at 5:53 p.m.
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Posted by ( abbeyeileen ) on December 14, 2007 at 8:26 p.m.
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Posted by ( BrighterEyes ) on December 14, 2007 at 8:36 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
Just Listen is my second favorite book, and my favorite being Dreamland by Sarah Dessen. The fact that some mothers think that it is repulsive astonishing. This is what really happenens to teenage girls. (and boys) I think the reason why some mothers think it is repulsive is that because they might think it's a little too real. That they are afraid that this might happen to their daughters if they expirence this. I think they want this book to be banned out of fear, not hatetred or disgust. I merley think that they are afraid that the world is comming to this. That is the reason why this book is Realistic Fiction: because it can and is happining, all around the world. They wouldn't put it in the genre of Realistic Fiction if it was " There's a posibilty of this happining but, it probably won't." It's called realistic fiction for a reason. My opinion is that all libraries should carry this novel. In fact, I am the reason why Just Listen is in my school library: I read it in February then, told my librarian then she got it the next year. And on Sarah Dessen's live journel she calims to have gotten several e-mails from girls that say, after reading this book it inspired them to tell people about their encounter. My point is that, I fully support my favorite author and I think that this book should not be banned, and if it is, it's a real shame, because if a girl went through what Annable did, and she had no idea what to do , or say, all she needed was a shread of confidince, and that was in this book, that she would never get that. She would spend her entire life wondering what could have been. I love you Sarah Dessen and you are an inspiration to girls (and boys) alike.
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Posted by ( youcantwin ) on December 28, 2007 at 2:49 p.m. ( Suggest removal )
This article is basically crap. Rape is a real subject. It happens to teenage girls. I've read Just Listen several times and found nothing in there to be "graphic". Pulling a book from the libraries in schools isn't going to do anything other than censor a talented writer who writes about REAL ISSUES.
The one page in the book taken out of context, read aloud, should ban the whole book???
Banning the book will only enforce the ignorance these parents choose to live in. The real problem here is the parents.
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