TWILIGHT BANNED AND UNBANNED IN A CALIFORNIA SCHOOL
OCREGISTER.COM (Orange County Register) is reporting that Stephenie Meyer’s Twilight book was banned and then unbanned in a San Juan Capistrano school. Here is what they have to say:
A series of fantasy novels about a vampire and his teenage girlfriend were banned Friday from middle school libraries in the Capistrano Unified School District over concerns about age-appropriate content, but reinstated today.Librarians were instructed to remove all books by Meyer from their collections and send them to the district office, where they were to be redistributed to the district’s high school libraries.
But in a follow-up e-mail sent Tuesday afternoon, Gerfin instructed library staff to “disregard” the initial e-mail. She did not offer an explanation to library staff
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I don’t know about you, but this shocks me. I’m surprised that Twilight got taken off the shelves but even more so that they changed their mind.
Do you think the library staff over reacted? Do you think Twilight should be allowed in all school libraries, or just middle school and high school? Talk to us and share your thoughts.
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I personally think all of the Twilight books- including Breaking Dawn- are completely acceptable for all ages capable of actually reading them (and therefore should be allowed in all school libraries). Much of this opinion is based on the fact that by the time I was in fifth grade, I had already read books that were MUCH more explicit than any of the Twilight books- and it never bothered me. Really, even the stuff in BD (the most explicit of the books, I would say pretty much everyone can agree) is pretty tame compared to what I had read in some books by the time I was 10 or 11. And im not saying i purposefully read romance novels or something (not by a long shot), but i just started reading adult books fairly early b/c of my reading level, so… well, w/adult books comes adult topics, and I just think that if youre capable of reading and comprehending something, then that means you are also capable of reading (and should be allowed to read) the subject matter corresponding to the level at which youre reading. So if ppl are capable of reading at an 8th grade reading level, then they should be allowed to read any books at that level. sorry im rambling… ill stop now.
I can almost understand this. I mean, they banned it from Middle Schools. Some people probably would consider it a little above the EARLY middle school age (6th and 7th graders).
i find that ridiculous. its a love story. of course there will be kissing and stuff but Meyer did a great job of making these parts appropriate enough 4 middle schoolers to read. i have a 11 year old sister and i recommended it 2 her! even BD was decent. but then again…thats just my opinion.
I don’t understand removing the first 3 books from middle schools; Twilight, New Moon, and Eclipse are pretty mild. Breaking Dawn, on the other hand, might throw up some red flags. Not for the sex, because that’s pretty much a fade-to-black straight across the board. However, the violence of the birth scene could be a bit much (fountains of blood and spine snapping just to mention a couple things). And sure, when I was in middle school I had an intense curiosity about morbid things like serial killers (Lizzie Borden and Jack the Ripper come to mind) and World War II (I read a ridiculous amount of things on both, much of which the library kept calling my mother to ask whether I could check out)…but I wasn’t the typical kid and I did, in fact, give myself the whim-whams several times.
Its good the library staff takes an interest. I guess though, ideally, what should happen is if the books (or book) bring up questions, they should be addressed by parents, which is how one of my friends handled it with her daughter…and they both love the series. *shrug* I’m not in favor of taking books out of a child’s hands unless its going to do serious harm, and the Twilight series wasn’t meant to do that.
Breaking Dawn, yeah, I cant see a ten year old not understanding Bellas obsession with getting Edward in bed. They are walking around the house naked for a whole chapter, and when their not in the buff she’s in lingerie. Im 31, I understand what their feeling and why, but a ten year old….no, I can understand their concerns. But the other three books, no, their just kissing and fooling around a bit. Edward always ends it, he’s all about the morals and virtue, too cute! Wish guys were really like that! Besides, one of the teachers read the series and must of got all hot and bothered and freaked out about the students getting hormonal, Twilight style.
hahahahahahaha i think thats hilarious
i mean the first three books are ok and well breaking dawn is for mature ppl so if u cant handle it dont read it but i think that the fact it was banned hahahahaha hilarious
ironic; it’s banned book week, isn’t it?
book ain’t good til its banned in libraries ;D
i think thats just W.R.O.N.G. haha.. i’m in middle school. and im OBSESSED with twilight ( new moon, eclipse, and breaking dawn…). But.. then again.. i am very mature for my age..
o well.. hmm.. lemmy picture someone else in my grade reading it.. O. DANG. I SEE THEIR POINT.
some of the people in my school are REALLLY immature! They could NOT handle it. haha. losers.
o well. that DOES NOT apply to me. plus, i’ve already read all of them. except for the one in *edwards* point of view..
))
-baiLEY-
I see their point, but only to take Breaking Dawn out. I think breaking dawn was too adult for MIDDLE SCHOOL, not young adults.
i’m mean and i spread rumors, but i love twilight. i look stupid and i have a pee-scented sock monkey named Mr. Noodles
I’m dumb!
I really do spread rumors. i have no friends, so yea.
I’m pretty sure an adult reading the Twilight series can see the reasons why the District was concerned; the books do contain themes that are questionable, though I honestly feel most of them would pass over the heads of 90% of the middle school’s student body. The themes (like Edward’s abusive actions, the implications of child grooming, the glorification of suicide, sexism, etc) are generally of a more adult leaning, though the infatuation and lust that forms the entirely of the main character’s relationship could be of concern as well, and I’m pretty sure the kids could pick up on that.
I don’t think the books needed to be banned, though, but I can understand why an adult, reading the books to see if they’re appropriate for middle schoolers, would be concerned about their contents.
I don’t think Twilight should be allowed IN any library(s).
I’m with Alison H insofar as agreeing that the following themes are present within the series:
1. The male lead is emotionally and mentally abusive to the female lead, and it lauded as “perfect”.
2. Child grooming on the part of the opposing faction to the “vampires”. (This pedophilia theme alone is grounds for the removal of the book.)
3. Glorification of suicide by BOTH of the lead characters.
4. Rampant sexism on the part of the male lead.
However, even if the meat of said questionable content truly is over the head of the younger readers, it sets a poor example to them during these formative years. To have the idea that being in an abusive relationship, one based on physical attraction, is something to aspire to… that is sick. Attempting to paint child grooming in such a way that it becomes a magically good thing is no less so. The books should have remained banned. If parents don’t care to protect their kids in their own home, that’s one thing, but to have an establishment that is designed to nurture and direct youth fail to do so is unacceptable.
i personally think that the books should not be allowed in elementary schools just middle and high and i think 6 graders should not be allowed to read it
thats stupid
twilight is awsome i first read it in 6th grade and i know a 4th grader who read it
Uh…i read Twilight about four years ago…i was ten and still finished it in a day.
It was great! XD I’m fourteen now and STILL rereading it.
Well, I think that kids mature enough should be able to read it. I was in Third grade when I read it, and people said I was mature… Anyways, four people in my class class read it. I’m on Eclipse right now…..
I think that it is stupid to even waste your time to try and ban a book. Because most likely what is in the book that you dont approve of is in a teenager’s every day life like sex, drugs, alcohol, abuse, biting, dishonesty, sneekyness. If i were those way to over protective mothers i would loosen up and let my child live there damb life, they way they want to, they are going to make mistakes whether you want them too or not. And tryieng to keep them from making mistakes it just makes them want to make more mistakes.SO LEAVE TWILIGHT BOOKS ALONE I LOVE THEM!!!!!!!!!!!!!