Here’s a Wall Street Journal article about an increasing edginess in young adult literature.
To appeal to teens brought up on suggestive music videos and cable-TV shows, publishers are releasing more books full of mature themes and unflinching portrayals of sexual activity, with young protagonists the same age as their target readers.
The article is accompanied by reviews of several titles.
Teen, tween, and ten?
I have a huge problem when the words teen and child are used interchangeably, as this article does. Teens just are not children. We don’t expect them to act like children; we know they have to explore boundaries. I don’t think you can compare titles meant for 10 year olds with titles meant for 16 year olds. It is just silly.
That said, I do think parents should be aware and interested in what their offspring are reading, hearing, saying. I think talking with (not to) your kids is the best basic of parenting.
Re:Teen, tween, and ten?
Teens are children until they reach majority. Until that time parents have a responsibility for their children and should know what they are doing, including what they are reading.
I’ll agree 10 year olds differ from 16 year olds but neither should be reading novels with gratuitous sex.
I think the talking with / to is simply a matter of semantics. The best type of parenting is when one is actually a parent and does not try to be their child’s friend. I knew my parents loved me but I knew my friends would help me light sparklers in the attic (not a thing parents find entertaining). It was only a small fire – insulation does not really burn, but the paper backing does.