However. It is Friday, glorious Friday. And since this particular Friday is Good Friday, I have my fingers crossed that the office will close at 3:00 and I can go home and veg a couple hours earlier than normal.
Anyway. This question of the week from Ginger at GReads! iiiiiis:
Explicit Material: How do you feel about explicit language &/or sexual content in YA books?
My answer is super simple: I love it.
I don't find anything offensive or wrong with cussing or a sex scene. Let's be honest, it's not like teens aren't cussing and developing/exploring their sexuality. They are. It's all part of growing up, and I feel like being crass and a tidbit promiscuous it's a vital part of being a teenager. Call me a heathen if you must, but I actually think a YA novel WITHOUT a couple cuss words and a smutty scene is strange, and more often than not, unsatisfying.
That being said, I don't want to pick up a YA novel and be accosted by F-bombs and raunchy, overwrought bedroom scenes--if I want that, I'll go to the romance section. Or I'll just re-read everything by Candace Bushnell.
If you are interested in some YA novels that involve cussing and sexy times, but aren't raunchy, I will point you in the direction of:
Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist by Rachel Cohn & David Levithan
If I Stay and Where She Went by Gayle Forman
The Curse Workers series by Holly Black
Looking for Alaska by John Green
I'm such a cheerleader for these books, I know. BUT THEY ARE GOOD.
I hope everyone has a great Friday, and a fabulous weekend! Happy Easter!
We have very different views on suggestive content in books, but I loved visiting your blog :)
ReplyDeleteLOVE THE BLOG!
New follower from Follow Friday – come over and check out Everyday is an Adventure at http://everydayadventure11.blogspot.com
Thanks!
I think what you're saying is true, for the most part. I just think it's important for there to be some sort of balance. Not all teens are comfortable enough to talk about sex or think about it, and to go to an extreme might even think there is something wrong with them if they don't want it yet. There are plenty of good YA books that don't have sex in them, and I just think it reflects the differences between teens as a whole.
ReplyDeleteI completely agree - it is a bit unsatisfying when it's all G-rated huh?? I keep meaning to read Looking for Alaska. I should make that happen soon.
ReplyDeleteTGIF!