Response to "Darkness Too Visible"

The article, "Darkness Too Visible", by Megan Cox Gurdon is a persuasive nonfiction article about how young adult books are too inappropriate and dark for teenagers to be reading. Megan Cox is pushing for readers to side with her in thinking they should have a limited selection of books. She explains how this generations books are far more revulsive and skeptical than books in past generations. What teenagers are  reading now may seem gruesome to many parents and adults. Some may disagree but others are on her side.

Megan gave many examples of "inappropriate" books. One that she mentioned was called "Shine." This book contains sexual assault, drinking, homophobia, and crystal meth. Megan Cox used these key words to frighten the reader into thinking young adult books are completely detestable. Megan also addresses other possible things you may encounter in young adult realistic fiction, such as sex, drugs, and free language. These words are used to make the reader have a negative feeling, which lead them to think young adult books are incongruous and out of place in the hands of teens.

Megan clearly wants to influence the readers to go against young adult books. I strongly disagree with her. I think that if a parent thinks a book is unsuitable for their son or daughter, they have the power to confiscate it. In other cases where a parent is liberating and the child believes the book is adequate , they should have the right to read what they want without a problem. If you did somehow ban young adult books from teenagers, many people including me would be fuming with outrage.

Reading Response: "The Moon and More", by Sarah Dessen

Reading Response / Blog Post                                                                 
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Life is a gift. You will never know what opportunities are out there unless you let your fear go and follow your heart.

I know that my family and I have made many decisions in our lives that have either benefitted us or have not. But in the midst of tough times we breathe and with confidence and knowledge we conquer the issue at hand.  You may sometimes fear your future, but all you have to do is embrace it and stay optimistic. It is your life and you are in control of the path that you take.

            The “Moon and More,” by Sarah Dessen is about a small-town girl named Emaline. In the midst of her hectic summer working and preparing for college, a student named Theo, and his so called boss from New York pay a visit to Colby in hopes of making a movie starring a famous artist who lives in town. Surprisingly Emaline becomes a large part of the production. Due to the long days spent with Theo, working on the movie, their perplexed relationship grows stronger. As she learns new things from him, she finds answers to the big questions lingering in her life. This book is meaningful for teenagers because it gives insight to the struggles and decisions we may come to experience.

            Not long after Columbia University accepts Emaline, her father tells her that he can not pay for her tuition. The promise he has kept since the beginning of High School. Emaline’s father has never been fair to her and the rest of her family. This was the way he thought he could make it up to her, but like many other times he failed to do so.  Despite Emaline being furious she starts accepting the fact that she will be attending the community college fifteen minutes away. As a result she stops aspiring to her dreams and thinking about her future. But as she meets new people she realizes that there are so many opportunities that she was not chasing and she becomes aware that there is more that she can do with her life. This demonstrates to teenagers that even though you do not get what you want, you still should make the best of it. For example, if you do not get the job that you have interviewed for but instead you have to accept a second possibly lesser job that in the end this may benefit you nevertheless.  This could prove to be frustrating and irritating but the result can be positive if the person uses all that they are given and stays open and inspired. Never stop dreaming about a bright future, because if you do, you will miss out on what life has to offer.  Just like Emaline almost did. 

            Later on, Theo’s boss whom is hated offers Emaline a job. Theo advises Emaline not to take it because of his constant struggles with his boss. Emaline is conflicted about whether she should listen to her boyfriend, but finally goes with her gut and decides to do it. Luckily Emaline scores many new opportunities, and experiences much more then she would have otherwise. Soon after, Emaline finds herself on an airplane headed to New York City, where she discovers a whole new world, as well as new people, new things to see, and a different atmosphere.  This turning point in Emaline’s life is meaningful because it shows that she trusted herself and did what was best for her.  This sentiment is exactly what all teenagers should take into account within their own lives as they are being challenged with the many decisions while maturing.

            Emaline ends up realizing that knowing about different parts of the world and different places is a beautiful thing. The author states, “ The thing is, you can’t always have the best of everything. Because for a life to be real, you need it all: Good and bad, beach and concrete, the familiar and the unknown, big talkers and small towns.”(pg. 435) Emaline has struggled with this concept but as she grew as a person and stepped out of her shell, she realized she will need to experience the new in order to gain what life has to offer. Teenagers have and will always come to a point in there lives that they will be faced with a decision or are trying to find out who they are, where they belong, and where life will take them next. The most important lesson to learn is that you have complete control over what you decide to do and where you decide to be. Being exposed to different places and experiences will only benefit you and will spark new relationships and opportunities.

            Sometimes I wonder, what if someone planned out my life for me and told me exactly how to live? I would never be able to do the things I have dreamt of doing. I would never be able to make my own choices. My life would not be considered mine. It would be considered someone else’s. This brings me to realize that I should never let anyone take advantage of me, or push me to do things that I think are wrong for me. Our lives belong to us and only us.  “The Moon and More” has and will bring this point up for many teenagers who read it, which will help shape the their lives. It will provide a guide to the hardships and the life changing decisions we might come across in our futures. This book has given me an open feeling about transitioning into adult hood. Trust yourself and make decisions based on what and who will benefit you. Go with your gut and follow your path. Fear should never stop you. You should crush it and absorb the many things that are out there instead. Never cease to learn and discover. You should live a life filled with joy and sorrow, approval and disapproval, love and loneliness, gain and loss, and everything else in between because you will not always experience the good but also the bad. For a life to be lived to it’s fullest you will need both to learn and to thrive.