Good Books about Terrible Things: Edgy Material for Teen Readers

Although teenagers are exposed to the seamiest sides of life in violent video games and sexy television programming, when it comes to what teens read, many adults have tried to protect some idea of an innocent childhood. Well-intentioned moms and teachers write indignant letters and Amazon reviews if a novel contains sex, rough language, or raw violence … even if the overall merits of the book make it both appealing to young readers and likely to endure. So how do sex, violence, and cruelty fit into the literary canon for teens? How do they work together with the sense of hopefulness that many tastemakers say is the hallmark of literature for young readers? Books discussed may include Justine Larbalestier’s Razorhurst, Sally Gardner’s Maggot Moon, Lois Lowry’s Number the Stars, and Meg Medina’s Yaqui Delgado Wants to Kick Your Ass. I’ll also discuss my experience publishing The Kingdom of Little Wounds, which deals frankly with rape and medical practices in the sixteenth century