Social Action Reading Question #1: What really difficult or complex things are happening in the text?

In my book Stick Figure by Lorri Gottlieb the main character Lori is trying to balance all of the "Girl Problems" in her life. Lori is realizing that everything is changing but she's not sure if it's going to change for better or for worse. 

Lori has a big mouth, that never knows what to and not to say to certain people. Although, her parents and teachers don't make it any easier. She isn't listened to by her parents but only when they find that she is being disrespectful, they'd call her out on it. In some situations she never gets to explain herself, she's always wrong. This reminds me of the book Matilda by Roald Dahl. When the father of Matilda says; "I'm Right, You're Wrong. I'm Smart, You're Dumb. I'm Big, You're Little.And there's nothing you can do about it!". Lori's parents may not be saying that to her but it is obvious that they are on the brim of the concept; age and respect. Some people have a habit where they don't believe people who are younger than them and are dismissive to what they have to say.

Many times this has been directed on women and girls. Usually men or boys downgrade women and girls  expressing the idea that they know more or they can do certain things better then them. It's not only looking down at the abilities that they believe they can do better but also they expect all women or girls to look the same way but of course that can't happen so the ones that don't fit into "the look" are excluded or dismissed from their thoughts. 

This sort of brings me to the point of beauty and popularity. Going back to the fact that there is a specific "look" you must fit into to be noticed as a girl, these are one of the large components in popularity. If you're not pretty or don't hang out with the "right" group of friends to fit in, you're considered not popular. In Lori's case when she was a blonde and had a group of friends that everyone called the "L's", they were the most popular girls at school. After her hair changed color to what she called a "dishwater brown" and was placed in a class without her 2 friends her popularity decreased. Also she was in the "smart people class", which had no say in if you were cool or not.Lori slowly realized that she was becoming less and less popular because she was losing all the small things that made her popular, one by one. 

So far from reading Stick Figure, I have been thinking about the way society is formed and why certain things are expected from certain people. It makes me wonder is it really worth it? To go through a phase of changing yourself just to be known or have friends, just to leave most of them in a couple more years? No it's not worth it at all.

Synthesis Page-

 

Argument Essay

Ajahee Sekkm-Miles               11/2/13

Should children decide what books are accessible to them?

A multitude of parents think that they should have control over what their child reads. This is because they fear that if they don't watch their child's reading, then they'll be able to access some of the darkest literature. The problem is not only because of the dark content in YA books but, I said in the article "the sick-lit books and that children...", that these books are aimed at kids younger than 12 years old. When book age rating was suggested, parents were on board. This was their way to control what their kids read. But putting ratings on books prevents children from reading them at all, as Bill Moyers touched on talking at banned books week. Of course this is not the message that parents want to give but it definitely makes it seem that way. Instead of rates on books, children should decide what books are accessible to them because only they know what they can and cannot comprehend.

Parents want their kids to be reading books that portray a perfect world. But if YA books were like that, teens wouldn't be interested, like said in the article, "Should young adult books have age ratings". Teens already know what the ideal world is supposed to be like. They want to experience something different. This is why they're attracted to dark novels. Some teens read these books to feel like they're not the only ones have to deal with dysfunctional life. YA books teach teens about some facts of life like drug abuse, suicide, rape etc. Taking these books from them just takes their knowledge of the listed things above away, leaving them unprepared if they happen to come across a situation like that.

Kids are smart, especially teens. They know what's right and what's wrong, but that should not stop them from meeting with things that are viewed as wrong. When something is forbidden it makes them want to do it even more. So if you forbid your teen from reading a certain type of book their just going to rebel and get it from somewhere else. Most YA books have similar outlines because there might be forbidden content for certain teens which leaves them to finding a way to read it anyway (Sick-lit). 

"GP Taylor on BBC News suggesting government introduce measures to keep books out of the hands of kids who want to read them?", as author Charlie Higson tweeted (Age Rating). GP Taylor is basically saying that he doesn't want kids to read books that they want to read so, there's no point of reading at all.

Lots of teens especially are going through things like self harm or suicidal thoughts but these books do express problems that teens face very precisely. If rating is put on books at all then it should be done by children themselves because only they know what they comfortable reading. To conclude, if children rate books themselves on what is best for them or let them read whatever they'd like to, while parents check in once or twice. It makes it easy on the parents because they don't have to worry about the well-being of children. It is also easy for the children because they won't have to be unhappy with books they're being forced to read.