I think this is ridiculous (and not in a good way). Yes, there are dark YA books out there. But these books aren’t dark for the sake of being dark. These books tackle serious issues in ways that are accessible to teenagers. Teenagers need these books, because often this is the only way they can deal with these issues because the adults who should be there for them are too busy burying their heads in the sand, pretending that teens are completely ignorant about the world around them. (Newsflash: they’re not. They’re way smarter than they get credit for.)

You know why the sorts of books this author complains about exist? Because they exist in our society. If things like rape, abuse, self-harm, eating disorders, etc. didn’t exist in our society – if teenagers didn’t have to deal with them – there would be no reason to have to write these books.

I might someday be a language arts teacher. I think about the things I had to read in school – how many of these things can students really relate to? I mean, yes. There is something to be said for having them read the classics and broaden their horizons and whatever (and I love them, don’t get me wrong), but at the end of the day, is a story about twenty-somethings trying to find rich husbands, or an exploration of the depravities of Victorian society, or a crazy king with conniving daughters, or anything part of the literary canon of dead white guys, really going to grab their attention? Or is it going to be books like Looking for Alaska, or Speak, or The Hunger Games – books that are real, books they can relate to, books about kids who could just as easily be them? If I can get away with it, I would definitely pull these books in. I don’t think forcing kids to read books they don’t want to read, anyway, is very effective; it just kills any love of reading they might have had. Kids need these books, because it might be the only thing that will get them to read.

Personally, the characters in these books were the only friends I had whenever I was the “new kid.” I’m really glad these books exist. If it wasn’t for them, there are so many lunchtimes I probably would have spent sitting alone. And when I did make friends, often it was these books we bonded over – Tamora Pierce and Meg Cabot both come to mind.

I especially liked the point that Nieto and Bode made that education is always political. You look at who dictates the curriculum, the methods, procedures, and so on in public education in the U.S. – um, politicians. Politicians do. (Um, NCLB, anyone?) I also appreciated that they included many differences besides just race and ethnicity in their definition of multiculturalism – such as gender, sexual orientation, and socioeconomic status – because I do think that these groups can be treated as inequitably as other minority groups.

A lot of the things discussed in this presentation really hit on one of the main reasons I want to be a teacher. I look at all of the injustices in our society, and I think about how, as a teacher, I would have an opportunity to help change some of these, even if it’s just by making my students think a little. Granted, being white and middle class, I can’t relate to the experiences that a lot of my students will bring. But that doesn’t mean I can’t try to change things.