Why yes, I am going to say there is a line drawn in the sand that one shouldn’t cross. This is the line I think YA shouldn’t cross in a positive manner. You can disagree. Btw…that’s the ENTIRE point of these discussion posts to disagree, to converse, to have logical discussions.
If you’ve read my review of Glimmerglass, you’ll know I have a problem with the way alcohol is treated in such a blasé way at such a young age with alcoholic parents. And if you’ve read my more recent review of Magnolia League you’ll know I have serious issues with the very blasé way marijuana is treated in this book.
Alcohol:
I don’t have conservative views on alcohol consumption. I think the legal drinking age should be lowered to 18. But should there be warnings? Hey, kids if you make this decision it can turn out this way. If you drink too much, too often you can become addicted, an alcoholic. And if you have an alcoholic mother your risk is 4 times greater than the average person to become an alcoholic yourself. (NIAAA)
Marijuana:
If you smoke pot you can lose your short term memory, mental illness (such as schizophrenia), and raise your heart rate. You can lose all ambition. Not to mention the toll it takes on your loved ones. The impaired judgment of a drugged mind can kill relationships.
Should these illegal behaviors be allowed to be shown in positive manners with no warnings whatsoever? No! Absolutely not. Should it be allowed to be shown in a positive social atmosphere with ways to get help on the book and warnings clearly written somewhere on the book? I don’t know. I’m not saying YA fiction should be a public service announcement, but it should certainly show that life isn’t perfect with these substances.
I’d love for pot to be legalized. Let’s get this stuff regulated and taxed. Laced pot can ruin a person.
Harder stuff:
I’m not getting into the harder stuff. I wouldn’t read a book with teens doing hard drugs. Especially if it was shown in a positive light. Oh, I know teens are doing everything and anything. Simply don’t need to read about it.
(I included alcohol because for those 21 and under in the U.S. it is an illegal substance)
Today’s Question:
Do illegal substances have a place in YA? Should illegal substances be portrayed positively with no warnings of their various side effects? As I feel that books should NOT be banned, should there at least be some kind of rating system as there with music, movies, videogames, etc? What are your opinions in general about illegal substances in YA fiction?
Categories: Saturday Discussion
I think illegal subtances in YA is okay as it does accurately represent what's going on in the world. But like you said, it shouldn't be shown in a positive light - that's just plain stupid. There are always consequences and people need to know that. I think that illegal substances shouldn't be in books read by under 13s though...
ReplyDeleteI think this is a really tough question because obviously these things are the reality for a lot of teens. Not all, of course. So, how do you strike a balance between representing such things truthfully and not coming across as totally preachy? I don't know the answer to that.
ReplyDeleteAlso, as I give books ratings on my blog, I've discovered how difficult it is to decide whether a book should be G, PG, PG-13 or R. It's a very subjective thing.
Anyway, interesting discussion ...