Stephenie Meyer's popular Twilight series chronicling the romance of a vampire and teenage girl is notoriously all build-
up, no bite.
But a parent's complaint over sexual content in the Mormon author's fourth novel, Breaking Dawn, coincided with the book's temporary absence from the library at Brockbank Junior High.
Officials at the Magna school purchased copies of the book some time ago, but as of Wednesday hadn't placed them on library shelves. Principal Terri Van Winkle would not say whether the delay stemmed from a parent's complaint about a honeymoon scene in which sex is implied between the central characters Bella and Edward. But Granite School District officials confirm a complaint was voiced.
Meanwhile, the school has ignored repeated complaints from another parent "appalled" by the "censorship" of a book she says promotes chastity and tolerance.
"Those are values I want my children to be taught," said Kris Jensen of Magna. "My 15-year-old has read the book. I've read the book and there isn't anything inappropriate."
Granite district spokesman Ben Horsley downplayed the book ban as fiction.
A parent phoned the school in summer to complain about the book's content, but "the principal didn't think much of it, because the book wasn't on the shelves to begin with," said Horsley. "The book is available at the local library and this mom can buy the book. No one has banned it."
Horsley said school librarians make decisions about their collections based on what's educationally appropriate. He acknowledged that other books in the Twilight saga are available at Brockbank. And he said that, after prodding from the district, the school agreed to add Breaking Dawn .
Jensen didn't care why the book was snubbed. She objected on principle, saying book bans serve only to shame children and heighten their curiosity.
"It's the parent's job to monitor their children and decide what they can and can't read, not the schools,' " said Jensen.
Book censorship at schools has been an issue for decades.
Two years ago, at a school library in Georgia parents singled out Harry Potter books for their promotion of witchcraft. Topping the American Library Association's list of most frequently banned books is a children's book about two male penguins who raise a baby chick together, And Tango Makes Three .
Officials at Jordan, Davis and Salt Lake districts say they aren't aware of any school bans of the Twilight books.
"I know some of the elementary school librarians keep it behind the counter. That way, they can ensure that the parent approves of the child checking it out," said Bonnie Flint at the Davis district.
Meyer is often hailed as the next J.K. Rowling. Breaking Dawn , the fourth and final book in Twilight saga, was released in August and sold 1.3 million copies on the first day. The author, a mother of three living in Arizona, describes herself as a devout Mormon on her official Web site.
Though classed as paranormal fantasy, the Twilight books read more like a tale of two star-crossed lovers. The series begins with 17-year-old Bella Swan moving from her mother's sunny home in Phoenix to a rain-soaked town in Washington where she encounters Cullen Edward, the brooding adopted son of a local doctor. The Cullens are vampires, but they're the "good kind," drinking only animal blood.
The implied sex scene in Breaking Dawn starts with newlyweds Bella and Edward at the beach. The two kiss and caress before he pulls her into the water. The next scene has Bella waking the next morning to torn feathered pillows, bruises and a sore jaw.
The books are filled with erotic tension. But the consensus among reviewers is that the sexual themes are tender and tasteful. The two lovers remain chaste until married. Wildly popular among teenage girls, the first book was made into a major motion-picture movie and will be released on DVD .
up, no bite.But a parent's complaint over sexual content in the Mormon author's fourth novel, Breaking Dawn, coincided with the book's temporary absence from the library at Brockbank Junior High.
Officials at the Magna school purchased copies of the book some time ago, but as of Wednesday hadn't placed them on library shelves. Principal Terri Van Winkle would not say whether the delay stemmed from a parent's complaint about a honeymoon scene in which sex is implied between the central characters Bella and Edward. But Granite School District officials confirm a complaint was voiced.
Meanwhile, the school has ignored repeated complaints from another parent "appalled" by the "censorship" of a book she says promotes chastity and tolerance.
"Those are values I want my children to be taught," said Kris Jensen of Magna. "My 15-year-old has read the book. I've read the book and there isn't anything inappropriate."
Granite district spokesman Ben Horsley downplayed the book ban as fiction.
A parent phoned the school in summer to complain about the book's content, but "the principal didn't think much of it, because the book wasn't on the shelves to begin with," said Horsley. "The book is available at the local library and this mom can buy the book. No one has banned it."
Horsley said school librarians make decisions about their collections based on what's educationally appropriate. He acknowledged that other books in the Twilight saga are available at Brockbank. And he said that, after prodding from the district, the school agreed to add Breaking Dawn .
Jensen didn't care why the book was snubbed. She objected on principle, saying book bans serve only to shame children and heighten their curiosity.
"It's the parent's job to monitor their children and decide what they can and can't read, not the schools,' " said Jensen.
Book censorship at schools has been an issue for decades.
Two years ago, at a school library in Georgia parents singled out Harry Potter books for their promotion of witchcraft. Topping the American Library Association's list of most frequently banned books is a children's book about two male penguins who raise a baby chick together, And Tango Makes Three .
Officials at Jordan, Davis and Salt Lake districts say they aren't aware of any school bans of the Twilight books.
"I know some of the elementary school librarians keep it behind the counter. That way, they can ensure that the parent approves of the child checking it out," said Bonnie Flint at the Davis district.
Meyer is often hailed as the next J.K. Rowling. Breaking Dawn , the fourth and final book in Twilight saga, was released in August and sold 1.3 million copies on the first day. The author, a mother of three living in Arizona, describes herself as a devout Mormon on her official Web site.
Though classed as paranormal fantasy, the Twilight books read more like a tale of two star-crossed lovers. The series begins with 17-year-old Bella Swan moving from her mother's sunny home in Phoenix to a rain-soaked town in Washington where she encounters Cullen Edward, the brooding adopted son of a local doctor. The Cullens are vampires, but they're the "good kind," drinking only animal blood.
The implied sex scene in Breaking Dawn starts with newlyweds Bella and Edward at the beach. The two kiss and caress before he pulls her into the water. The next scene has Bella waking the next morning to torn feathered pillows, bruises and a sore jaw.
The books are filled with erotic tension. But the consensus among reviewers is that the sexual themes are tender and tasteful. The two lovers remain chaste until married. Wildly popular among teenage girls, the first book was made into a major motion-picture movie and will be released on DVD .
(From The Salt Lake Tribune)
Posts
I'm coming!Good job!
ReplyDelete