Tuesday Update
By Kristen on Aug 19, 2008 in Literary News
Hello and Happy Tuesday! I recently posted a list of censored books and a response to age labels for books, and happened to receive an interesting email from an author that relates to both:
I see you’ve recommended my book on your latest blog post. I also see that you’re a teacher.
I originally wrote Look Me in the Eye for an adult audience, and I was amazed to see it take up in high school and middle school. As a result, I actually made significant changes to my paperback to accommodate that audience. The biggest change was in language – I removed the profanity from the paperback for all the teachers and parents. You can read about it on my blog, http://jerobison.blogspot.com/
In any case, if you offer study guides, you should be aware of this. Crown will keep both versions of my book in print for the foreseeable future, so readers can have the story either way.
So, here’s my question… Is this a comfortable compromise? How do we feel about authors writing modified versions of their books for younger readers?
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I feel fine about it, but I have to wonder: why didn’t the author just leave out the profanity in the first place? But I understand that this might not lend to authenticity in the book. I live in a world where people rarely use profanity, so profanity jumps out at me.
SmallWorld Reads | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
This just seems to be a lot of work and re-work. Write the story and be done with it! You cannot control what other people will think, say or do (I’m channeling Marcus Aurelius at the moment) – I don’t think an author should compromise their work. And frankly, if I’m a 15 yo who has just discovered that there is an Adult Version of “Where the Red Fern Grows” or whatever? You betcha I’m going to hunt THAT version down like it’s the Holy Grail.
Cynthia | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
I tend to agree with you, Cynthia — it would be a burden to try and please everyone… Good point about the temptation of the forbidden, too!
Kristen | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
As a mother of a 10 year old daughter with an 11th grade reading level, I am thrilled to see an author take that kind of care with a book that’s being marketed to middle schoolers. I applaud that.
Lisamm | Aug 19, 2008 | Reply
I’ve never heard of an author doing this before. There have been many books that I’ve read thinking this would be a great book to use with my students until one or two words popped up halfway through.
This is real food for thought.
CB James | Aug 23, 2008 | Reply
Yes, I have had the same experience… it’s hard to know at what age level to teach some books due to language or content!
Kristen | Aug 24, 2008 | Reply