What the F**K? Language in YA.
As an author I belong to a number of different writer organizations, forums, and message boards. And no matter how long the organization or group has been running some of the same questions are routinely asked by members. The one that sticks out most being some form or another of, “Can I swear in my YA novel?” Which at first glance seems like a pretty cut and dry answer. Teens swear so, sure you can swear in your book. It’s your book after all.
But hold up. It isn’t so easy.
In December of last year a very popular YA book was banned from Katy, TX schools. I’m sure you’ve heard of it. The Hate U Give (THUG) by Angie Thomas. As soon as this book hit the shelves it’s been on the NY Times Best Seller list and is holding strong.
The official back cover copy reads as follow:
“Sixteen-year-old Starr Carter moves between two worlds: the poor neighborhood where she lives and the fancy suburban prep school she attends. The uneasy balance between these worlds is shattered when Starr witnesses the fatal shooting of her childhood best friend Khalil at the hands of a police officer. Khalil was unarmed.
Soon afterward, his death is a national headline. Some are calling him a thug, maybe even a drug dealer and a gangbanger. Protesters are taking to the streets in Khalil's name. Some cops and the local drug lord try to intimidate Starr and her family. What everyone wants to know is: what really went down that night? And the only person alive who can answer that is Starr.
But what Starr does or does not say could upend her community. It could also endanger her life.”
This book couldn’t have come out at a better time. People need this book, and they need the conversations this book brings about. So why was it banned from Katy ISD?
The official reason was for “inappropriate language.” Yes, you read that right.
To say I was shocked when this happened would be an understatement. Since I live in Texas, I was privy to this being covered by my local news station, and while watching the two women on the screen, my shock quickly turned to anger. One of the women held a copy of the book in her hand and said something along the lines of, “I didn’t read it, but as I flip through there are a number of inappropriate words.”
What the F? If you are looking for something nine times out of ten you’re going to find it. Maybe instead of flipping through the book, I don’t know, you sit down and actually read it.
But the thing that really bothered me is the fact that these people were quick to judge this book, with no mention of how there’s “inappropriate language” in a majority of outlets our children use for entertainment. With no discussion on why this language was chosen, and how it fits the narrative of the story being told.
Luckily there was considerable amount of backlash to this banning, and more people, even in Katy, TX vowed to read the book.
So it begs the question, “Is it okay to swear in YA novels?” What are your thoughts?
Road to Eugenica
by A.M. Rose
ebook
Published February 5th 2018 by Entangled Teen
ISBN 1640633987
Two dimensions - And the girl who connects them.
Yesterday, Drea Smith couldn’t do anything spectacular—even walking and texting at the same time was a challenge. But today, she suddenly has more answers than Google, can speak and understand numerous languages, and she can fight. Like a boss.
Super freaky.
Drea has no idea where her encyclopedic knowledge has come from, but she’ll take it when she discovers someone out there knows her secret and wants her badly. And that they’ve been searching for her since she was born.
Since she was created.
With the help of her best friend Dylan, who just wants to keep her safe, and Maddox, a mysterious new boy who is prepared to get her answers, Drea will have to push her new skills to their limit as she uncovers nothing is quite what it seems.
As she uncovers…Eugenica.
About the Author:
A.M. Rose is the author of Road to Eugenica, and writer of young adult novels of all genres as long as they have a hint of romance, the drinker of too much coffee (with way too much coconut creamer), and lover of all carbohydrates.
Currently, she lives in Houston, TX with her three boys (yes, her husband is in that count) and three cats. When she isn’t writing about swoony boys or ways for her MC to get into trouble, she is an avid reader, critiquer, (is that even a word?) and trampoline enthusiast.
A.M. Rose is a graduate from San Diego State University with a BA in Communication and a minor in underwater basket weaving. (Okay, maybe not the basket weaving part.)
Tour-Wide Giveaway:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Interesting question and agree context is an important consideration
ReplyDeletesounds good
ReplyDeleteThis seems crazy to me. The banning I mean. Inappropriate language? Has anyone even listened to teens talk? Swearing is normal. Remember that old movie The Goonies? If you watch the original you'll find that it's full of swear words and that movie is a classic.
ReplyDeleteContext makes all of the difference in the world. Aside from that, has no one figured out that banning a book is one of the best ways to guarentee that people will want to read it?
ReplyDeleteI just loved todays post and I would love to read your book.
ReplyDelete