Summer Reading Lists Get Some Hard Looks

Bob Cox showed us This Washington Post Story on growing number
of parents who shudder at the books their children are asked to read — tomes
they consider unsuitable because the words, structures or themes are simply
too difficult. Fueling the trend, experts say, is a growing emphasis on tougher academic
standards, not to mention some misguided teachers and overzealous parents.

They say Librarians see the trend and don\’t like it.

\”There are these yuppie parents who think: \’Oh my God, my child hasn\’t read
[Louis Sachar\’s] \”Holes\” yet. They are not going to get into a good prep
school and a good college and have a good life,\’ which is ludicrous,\” said
Leslie Poyner, assistant professor of reading at the University of New
Mexico.
\”