`Gossip Girl’ revisited
I’m writing to express my disappointment in the essay about the “Gossip Girl” books (July 9). It is not as balanced as many of the excellent essays I enjoy on Sundays in this section as it reflects only a narrow look at young-adult literature.
I always have respect for parents who are involved in their teens’ lives and especially what they are reading. I have read all of this series and reviewed them for teenreads.com. We had the author out to the Schaumburg Township District Library as part of a panel on girl series last fall. While I would classify the “Gossip Girl” series as mature, I would not call it “pure smut,” yet I would not give it to a 12-year-old girl.
Characters even on shows such as “7th Heaven” are frank about young-adult sex, and books also try to address the realities of today’s teens to maintain any hope of appealing to those same teens. There are few teen titles that do not address serious issues; even “The Princess Diaries” series now feature Mia as she is considering when she wants to first have sex with her boyfriend. In other Meg Cabot titles the character does make that step.
When author Cecily Von Ziegesar came out to Schaumburg she said she felt that parental concern over her series should lead to good conversations about sex and other choices. I know that the series has brought many new teens and their parents into the library looking for the titles, which we carry in the high school section.
It is a shame that Ms. Conder did not go to the library and ask for suggestions. I see many such parents whose preteens are reading beyond the children’s-books level yet are not ready for the content of teen titles, and I have titles ready to give them. There is, for example, a series called “Clique” for younger readers with much of the style of “Gossip Girl” without the mature themes. The Young Adult Library Services Association (www.ala.org/yalsa) publishes many lists of titles for different ages and comfort levels within the 12-to-18-year-old age range we serve..
Amy Alessio, teen coordinator of the Schaumburg Township District Library and member of the board of directors of the Young Adult Library Services Association
The article by Gail Conder on the “Gossip Girl” books was very good. I have a 12-year-old, and she looks for books to read in the young-adult section not only at the bookstores but at the library. The “Gossip Girl” books sound appropriate for ages 18 and older, definitely not for 12-year-olds.
Perhaps the young-adult section should be defined with another sign that says “18 years and older.” They should have a seperate section called “young teen” with age-appropriate material.
Thank you for the excellent article.
Pam Lapczynski,
Libertyville
