Ashton Chowning
College Preparatory English
Comparison/Contrast Essay
November 29, 2016
Books Written in Blood: Too Much for Teens?
Why is young adult literature written in blood? Proponents and opponents of young adult books with dark themes are created to help young adults, ages 12-18, through the tortures of life. Literary critic Meghan Cox Gurdon’s editorial “Darkness Too Visible” and author Sherman Alexie’s response “Why the Best Kids Books are Written in Blood” have different opinions on the topic of dark themes in young adult literature. Though both authors explain children's innocence, negativity in young adult literature, and protection of children,but Alexie’s editorial is superior due to his use of persuasion he uses to make the article more effective.
Even though both Gurdon and Alexie talk about a child's innocence in their essay, Alexie’s use of stories of his own childhood connects him more with the reader. Gurdon holds the idea that young adult literature will take away from child’s innocence. She sums up her argument by stating, “... It has to do with a child’s development and tenderness of heart. Entertainment does not merely gratify taste, after all, but creates it” (Gurdon par. 6). Gurdon believes that the dark themes of young adult literature will ruin adolescence and will teach children that self-destructive acts are approved. On the other side of this topic, Alexie pulls personal stories from his childhood to prove that dark themes are needed in young adult literature. He exemplifies this by saying, “... Does she believe a dystopian novel will frighten a kid who already lives in hell?” (Alexie par. 10). He contends that many children have already been exposed to their living nightmares and young adult literature will help them fight monster in their terrifying dreams that have been reality.
In Gurdon's essay, she explains why young adult literature is spreading negativity into a child's life while Alexie is proving the opposite. Gurdon uses harsh words and foul book examples to show that young adult literature is tempting a child's mind to do wrong to themselves and others. She tries to prove this by stating, “Self destructive adolescent behaviors are observably infectious and have periods of vogue. This is not to discount the real suffering that some young people endure; it is an argument for taking care” (Gurdon par. 13). These destructive behaviors are already a norm due to the fact that young adults are already performing and witnessing these acts. Counteracting to her point, Alexie states, “They read because they live in an often-terrible worlds. They read because they believe, despite the callow protestations of certain adults, that books-especially the dark and dangerous one-will save them” (Alexie par. 26). Teens do not read young adult literature as a cry of help, they read to escape the world they live in.
Gurdon states that the people in a child’s life need to protect them from these books while Alexie is stating that the adults are not trying to protect all kids, just the privileged ones. Young adult literature is being pushed by freedom of speech and expression. Gurdon believes that this is a false calm and that it is the parent's responsibility to teach their kids about freedom of expression: “No family is obliged to acquiesce when publishers use the vehicle of fundamental free-expression principles to try to bulldoze coarseness or misery into their children’s lives” (Gurdon par. 28). However, the 40-50 age group of professional, well-educated, adults are not trying to protect all kids, only the privileged ones. Alexie proves the opposite by stating, “No, they [parents] are simply trying to protect their privileged notions of what literature is and should be. They are trying to protect privileged children. Or the seemingly privileged” (Alexie par. 17). A teen who is living a gruesome, often-terrible life will use the books to help them. On the other hand, a young adult who has never experienced the struggle of a teen who needs the books, will not understand that the teen needs them because, despite the protest of well-educated adults, the dark and ghastly books will save a troubled teen.
In conclusion, why is young adult literature written in blood? Teenangers all over the country are faced everyday with treacherous dangers. The books they read will help them overcome the struggles in their lives. Meghan Cox Gurdon and Sherman Alexie explain children's innocence, negativity in young adult literature, and protection of children,but Alexie’s editorial proves the books written in blood will save teens lives, not corrupt them.
Works Cited
Alexie, Sherman. “Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood.” WSJ, Wsj.com, 9 June 2011, blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/06/09/why- the-best-kids-books-are-written-in-blood/.
Gurdon, Meghan Cox. “Darkest Too Visible .” WSJ, Wsj.com, 3 June 2011, www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303657404576357622592697038.
College Preparatory English
Comparison/Contrast Essay
November 29, 2016
Books Written in Blood: Too Much for Teens?
Why is young adult literature written in blood? Proponents and opponents of young adult books with dark themes are created to help young adults, ages 12-18, through the tortures of life. Literary critic Meghan Cox Gurdon’s editorial “Darkness Too Visible” and author Sherman Alexie’s response “Why the Best Kids Books are Written in Blood” have different opinions on the topic of dark themes in young adult literature. Though both authors explain children's innocence, negativity in young adult literature, and protection of children,but Alexie’s editorial is superior due to his use of persuasion he uses to make the article more effective.
Even though both Gurdon and Alexie talk about a child's innocence in their essay, Alexie’s use of stories of his own childhood connects him more with the reader. Gurdon holds the idea that young adult literature will take away from child’s innocence. She sums up her argument by stating, “... It has to do with a child’s development and tenderness of heart. Entertainment does not merely gratify taste, after all, but creates it” (Gurdon par. 6). Gurdon believes that the dark themes of young adult literature will ruin adolescence and will teach children that self-destructive acts are approved. On the other side of this topic, Alexie pulls personal stories from his childhood to prove that dark themes are needed in young adult literature. He exemplifies this by saying, “... Does she believe a dystopian novel will frighten a kid who already lives in hell?” (Alexie par. 10). He contends that many children have already been exposed to their living nightmares and young adult literature will help them fight monster in their terrifying dreams that have been reality.
In Gurdon's essay, she explains why young adult literature is spreading negativity into a child's life while Alexie is proving the opposite. Gurdon uses harsh words and foul book examples to show that young adult literature is tempting a child's mind to do wrong to themselves and others. She tries to prove this by stating, “Self destructive adolescent behaviors are observably infectious and have periods of vogue. This is not to discount the real suffering that some young people endure; it is an argument for taking care” (Gurdon par. 13). These destructive behaviors are already a norm due to the fact that young adults are already performing and witnessing these acts. Counteracting to her point, Alexie states, “They read because they live in an often-terrible worlds. They read because they believe, despite the callow protestations of certain adults, that books-especially the dark and dangerous one-will save them” (Alexie par. 26). Teens do not read young adult literature as a cry of help, they read to escape the world they live in.
Gurdon states that the people in a child’s life need to protect them from these books while Alexie is stating that the adults are not trying to protect all kids, just the privileged ones. Young adult literature is being pushed by freedom of speech and expression. Gurdon believes that this is a false calm and that it is the parent's responsibility to teach their kids about freedom of expression: “No family is obliged to acquiesce when publishers use the vehicle of fundamental free-expression principles to try to bulldoze coarseness or misery into their children’s lives” (Gurdon par. 28). However, the 40-50 age group of professional, well-educated, adults are not trying to protect all kids, only the privileged ones. Alexie proves the opposite by stating, “No, they [parents] are simply trying to protect their privileged notions of what literature is and should be. They are trying to protect privileged children. Or the seemingly privileged” (Alexie par. 17). A teen who is living a gruesome, often-terrible life will use the books to help them. On the other hand, a young adult who has never experienced the struggle of a teen who needs the books, will not understand that the teen needs them because, despite the protest of well-educated adults, the dark and ghastly books will save a troubled teen.
In conclusion, why is young adult literature written in blood? Teenangers all over the country are faced everyday with treacherous dangers. The books they read will help them overcome the struggles in their lives. Meghan Cox Gurdon and Sherman Alexie explain children's innocence, negativity in young adult literature, and protection of children,but Alexie’s editorial proves the books written in blood will save teens lives, not corrupt them.
Works Cited
Alexie, Sherman. “Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood.” WSJ, Wsj.com, 9 June 2011, blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2011/06/09/why- the-best-kids-books-are-written-in-blood/.
Gurdon, Meghan Cox. “Darkest Too Visible .” WSJ, Wsj.com, 3 June 2011, www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702303657404576357622592697038.