Post: When Sex Doesn't Sell
When Sex Doesn't Sell
You won't find copies of Aury Wallington's first novel Pop! at your local Borders. The big box bookstore didn't specify why it won't carry the young adult novel, but you can bet the sexual content had something to do with it. Pop! is, after all, about a 17-year-old's quest to lose her virginity.
At Common Sense Media, we have always encouraged sanity not censorship. Every family is different -- and parents have to decide what they want their kids reading. That said, Pop!'s publication does remind us that YA books aint what they used to be:
In the popular Gossip Girl series, Blair opens the door to her boyfriend, naked, prepared to have sex with him for the first time. And Rainbow Party -- while a cautionary tale -- is about a sophomore who plans an after-school oral sex party. Wallington's own book descibes her main character's sexual experiences, including her first orgasm.
Wallington says she was striving to create a funny and honest portyal. "A lot of books give this unrealistic expectation that sex is going to be amazing the first or second time. It's like magic. You think when you have sex your body is going to be exploding with pleasure," the former Sex and the City writer said in a Teenwire interview. "And then when you do have sex you think there's something wrong, because it's not like it is in the books you've read."
But whether YA authors are offering big-sisterly advice -- or, as is the Gossip Girl series, selling glamorous fantasies -- their books often feature majorly mature material. Here's some Common Sense advice for how to figure out what's best for your own kids:
Get Common Sense: We've all got unique concerns when it comes to media and our kids. By checking the reviews on our site, you can quickly get our age recommendation, find out what's controversial in the book (sex, drugs, language, etc.), and make your own judgment.
If you decide to let your kids go for it, you can also use the discussion ideas in our Common Sense Note to get them thinking critically about the book's trickier content.
Get support: Consider asking the teen specialist at your library for guidance. Hopefully, they've read the book or at least reviews. Don't ask if it's appropriate for your 14-year-old. Ask specific questions about the content, and how subjects are handled. The librarian can also point you to other reviews and articles written about the book.
Get your own copy: Yes, you're busy, but if you're really concerned, think about reading the book first. Or read it along with your teen. Many controversial YA titles impart positive messages about being true to yourself; you might be relieved to find rich material underneath a titillating premise. Reading with your teens will allow you to share your concerns –- and answer any of their questions.
P.S. Borders will special order copies of Pop! if you request them. For more on what's happening with books, check out the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood's current campaign around ads in book.
There are 1 replies to this post
Date: November 7, 2006
Sex is everywhere... on TV, music videos, the Internet, in ad campaigns, in the attire our girls are wearing to school. It seems next to impossible to encourage modesty and allow these our kids time to grow up. I just saw a television program called Sex and the Silent Parent. Research says that kids really do look to parents for information about sex and relationships -- and many of us still are too embarrassed or reluctant to have "the talk" -- and continue to talk about sex with our kids. But they are looking to us for advice and guidance, believe it or not. If anyone is interested in previewing the program or would like more information about how to talk with our kids, go online and visit Connect with Kids, which produced the show.
Link: http://www.connectwithkids.com