Middle School Book Review: When Is Material Too Mature?

So far this week, I’m 0-for-3. I sent all three books I was reviewing for my library back to Library Services with the same post-it attached: Too mature for middle school, please send for high school review. 

There has been much discussion in our district about where boundaries are between middle school and high school fiction. It’s true; these are grey areas. Kids generally want to read about characters who are  older and more mature then they are; this is what makes it so thrilling and exciting! But there’s a huge difference between what a 12 year old understands about the world and what a 15 year old understands. Sure, Breaking Dawn may be extremely high interest, but can a sixth grader reasonably handle the “marital relations?”

On the other hand, can words on a page really hurt them, anyway? 

There are even more variables at work. Each site is different, as well. I know my kids are WAY grown up when it comes to things like gang affiliation, teen pregnancy, and drug use (a sad reality, but it’s true). Hate to say it, but Misty of Chincoteague is not so relevant to their experience. Many other school librarians completely disagree with me, and are determined to present a spotless, sanitized reading collection for their students. 

 So, I am pretty liberal with my approvals, and finding three in a row that failed to make it past my review card is unusual. Here are some of the things I keep in mind when deciding what is OK for middle school readers;

1. Bad language is not a deal-breaker. I know there are plenty of librarians who would yank a book if even one swear word was found. Like it or not, that is, in fact, the way kids talk to one another. I hear it every day, and if you’re anywhere near a public school, so do you. If the dialogue in a book is not realistic, then it’s not believable, and that makes it an inferior book. Now, I am NOT advocating that all books should have swearing included, or that there’s something wrong with the book if it does not, but many of the novels I approve focus on developing these characters in a way kids will understand, mirroring the modern child’s own experience. A quality novel can stand to have a few bad words. 
2. Drug use is also not a deal breaker. I actually feel very strongly about this one. Drugs are a big issue in today’s youth, and “Just Say No” only goes so far. Kids should be able to read realistic depictions of what happens when drug addiction becomes a part of someone’s life. In almost every case I’ve seen, the drug use is followed by some realizations that it was a bad choice, and the conflict become getting past it. On another very depressing note, many of our kids have family members and parents who may abuse drugs, and are struggling to understand the consequences. I think it’s important for that experience to be acknowledged
3. Sex, however, is another story. This one is the toughest one for me. I am not one of these who believes that not one of my eighth graders could possibly know anything about sex, but there is a developmental thing in play here. Kids perceive romantic or sexual feelings very differently depending on their physical and emotional maturity. When I read about any sexual issue in a book, it’s all about how it is presented. Are the characters experimenting, wondering about things, etc, or are they completely OK and open with having sex. Do they discuss it like grown-ups, or like kids? 
4. That’s the key issue: Context. You have to consider the appropriateness of how the appears in the book; this remains the basis of any rejection or approval. 

A few disclaimers: Long Beach has a very thorough review procedure (as well as a good complaint procedure), so none of this is ever just one person’s opinion anyway. I can argue my case all I want, but unless two other middle school librarians agree with me, I’m outta luck. 

Just because a book is OK’d, it does not mean every library or every reader should have it. That’s why we’re considered experts. Librarians should evaluate the needs of their own students. If I don’t think a kid can handle a certain book, I will re-direct them. (But whatever you do, do not tell them it’s because the book is “too mature for them.” There is no faster way to get that kid to decide they absolutely MUST read it).

Last thing: if you are a parent reading this, please know that you are the only one who can utimately determine if something OK for your child. Likewise, you cannot decide that something is not OK for everyone else’s child. We have a very wide variety of books avable for a very wide variety of readers; I am confident we can find books that aligns with your family’s expectations.