Twilight Mania Yes.... but in 4th Grade?!

[Michelle Rinker]

Hi Everyone-

I have no doubt that your students are being swept away by the whole Twilight hype... here in Yangon I haven't seen the books on the shelves since August and all 4 books in the series have holds placed on them a mile deep.

I did want to seek other international school K-12 TL's advice as to how to handle younger students who are requesting to read the Twilight series. At ISY, we have a single library (PK-12) and even though the Twilight books are in the YA section, many of the ES students are asking for them and I find myself a bit lost for what to say.

After last month’s SLJ article entitled "A Dirty Little Secret" and discussions surrounding the issue of self-censorship, I don't want to go that route..... but are they really appropriate for 4th graders?!

Looking forward to your comments-

Michelle
International School Yangon Myanmar (Burma)

[Lisa Patton]

Hi,
I don't think it is appropriate for grade 4 students. In fact, we have it as a grade 6 and up check out only. We did this based on numbers of copies (and do for other books, as well). I just don't have a big enough library to satisfy all of the kids who want to read it (I would need more than 10 copies each!) Though we have some sophisticated readers, I felt that the hype surrounding the books was pushing kids to read the series who weren't ready for it.

When younger students came to me to talk about checking out the books, I said that if their parent or guardian wanted to contact me, I would be happy to talk about it (and check it out to them if they wanted their child to read it). Not many parents followed up (though many students came to talk to me). No parents approved the check out and I had only positive comments from parents who talked to me about this policy (and this is the only book about which parents have contacted me this year).

So, I guess my cop-out is that I let the parent censor it for me, so I don't have to be the one to do it. But as parents are the ones who will be furious at me if they end up thinking the content is inappropriate, then I let them make the call.

Lisa
Canadian International School (Singapore)

[Michelle Rinker]

Hi Lisa-

Thanks for your reply and input- I found it helpful. I too have made the books available to Grades 6 and up (the 4th graders that I mentioned got their own copy elsewhere). I like your idea of offering to speak with their parents- this puts the ball in their court-

Incidentally, my daughter is in 4th grade and it is her friend that is reading Twilight. I asked Sophia if she thinks she would want to read it and she said, "maybe in a few years- there are too many other good books that I want to read right now!" Her gracious way of knowing that she probably isn't ready for vampires!

Thanks for the input!

Michelle

[Ann Krembs]

Excellent response. I usually encourage them to read it in a few years--or even just next year. And then I try to find something else that's really good for them to read. I have only had 5th ask to read it--not 4th. That is sooo young!

That "Dirty Little Secret" article also had me thinking of all the times I might censor just for the sake of protection. While reading it I was like, "Uh oh, they're talking about me." We all must do this to some extent. What I really like seeing is when students themselves self censor. They might bring a book back to me and say, "Emmm, I'm not ready for this one yet." That's great reading I think.

Ann

[Susan H]

I am so glad you brought this up because I am facing the same exact battle. I have a k-6 school in a somewhat conservative community. I have read the books and think that the series as a whole is not appropriate for my young kids. For the most part when this is an issue and the kid wants the book, I see if the high school has a copy that I can borrow and then write a short "Is this book ok with you for your child?" note home to parents and have the kids return it. I get about a 50-50 response, some that say sure, some that say no or absolutely not. I find that this is more of a division of parents that care and parents that could care less about their child. However, I AND the high school have too many requests to make this option feasible with this book series, so I am telling the kids it is too mature for our school but they are welcome to buy them on their own, and I am shocked at how many actually have bought them because we are not from a community with extra money.
So am I self-censoring the book because I think it is too mature? YES! Is this right? I don't know. I am looking forward to the responses. I don't think anyone would challenge the book, but I still think it is not something I want the average 4th or even 6th grader reading.....have you READ it? Is this for me to choose? I think that the 'politically correct' answer is no, this is not my place, but on the other hand I only have so much money and if I spend $100 on this series, that is $100 I am not spending on other books that might benefit ALL of my students and not just a select few who are mature enough for this.....
I can't wait to see other responses!

[Lisa Patton]

I am also surprised at the number of younger kids who have shown up at school with Twilight in hand! Your point about parents who care and those who don't....is a good one. More often than not, I have parents who ask me what my opinion is saying "you read all of these books - what do you think? Would you let your child read it?" This puts us back in the censorship-seat again. But is it really censorship? I am not saying never read this book. I am saying there are better choices for a particular student right now. Wouldn't we do that if a book is not at an appropriate reading level? For Whom the Bell Tolls is not on my middle school book shelves. Neither is Catcher in the Rye. How is that really different? It is helping students learn to make good choices, isn't it? This is why bringing in the parents seems like an important piece of the equation.

We have an independent reading "menu" for our gr. 7/8 students that is based on the IB Learner Profile. Students choose 5-6 books total in the year to read and respond to from this list (about 10 titles per profile - of which there are ten). Clearly LOTS of choice. But we still send a letter home at the beginning of the year, with the list attached, to keep the parents in the loop. This list includes something for every level, including some classics, modern classics, high interest. In the letter, we encouraged parents to come in and borrow the books from the list and read with their kids. Only 2 parents came in and borrowed. Last year, we included The Golden Compass, expecting a bit of controversy. We had none. Not even a discussion.

I think if we look at it as helping the kids learn to make good (appropriate) choices for their reading level, then steering a grade 4 student away from Twilight seems like a no-brainer. And not censorship, but best teaching practice.

[Susan H]

I was doing ok with this issue, and I had simply said no we do not have it to my kids. But then this week the bookfair came. Of course I did not know what exactly was and was not going to be there so when the kids asked "Is Twilight going to be there?" I said it was possible. However when the THIRD graders started asking for this, I explained that they would have to have parent permission IF it was even there (just as I would do with Harry Potter or any book that I think is over their heads in length, depth and content all combined). I put my foot down and said no way when a FIRST grader asked for it. Now luckily it was not at the bookfair. But I was amazed at how many parents came up to me on parent night and would let their little kids read it. One even went as far as to say that they watched the movie together and it was fine. I have not seen the movie, but based on my experience the movie does not always tell you everything about the book. What do you do then? When a parent over-rules you and wants to give their child a completely inappropriate book?