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.