YA Argument Essay

            YA books are currently being challenged by many outraged parents, claiming that it is inappropriate and a violation to god. For example how “Go Ask Alice” the main character has a drug addiction, is being raped, and is a prostitute. Despite the graphic and mature topics, it shows them a glimpse of the real world. YA books shouldn’t be banned because of sexual depictions or blasphemy, instead, we can see how it can be useful to kids.

Even though some young adult literature can be a little uncomfortable to read, or it might hit a soft spot, it helps embrace their inner feelings and get a brief view of reality, so later on in life they wouldn’t be overwhelmed when they get older. Just like how Emma [a teen blogger] said “‘Good literature rips open all the private parts of us — parts like you have deemed too dark, inappropriate, grotesque or abnormal for teens to be feeling’”. Some teens may be going through this anyway, and the YA books that we are selling can help them feel better about themselves. Another example that Mary [the writer of ‘Has Young Adult Fiction Become Too Dark?’] states “we can’t shut them off from the outlet of experiencing difficult events and feelings in the relative safety and profound comfort of literature. Darkness isn’t the enemy. But ignorance always is.”. Not everyone one are born the same, they may be different from the typical teen. So with the darker topics that we are covering helps makes teens feel a part of the normal.

On the flip side, YA books can damage a child. Dome topics may help educational learning, but gory details are not needed. Such as the “Marbury Lens” "covered with impaled heads and other dripping, black-rot body parts: hands, hearts, feet, ears, penises. Where the f— was this?" No happy ending to this one, either.” These gruesome scenes are not necessary for young teens, they scare them away from reading these filthy books that they have encountered. Another example of this is how in “Scars” by Cheryl Rainfield is filled with contextual scenes, such as “the protagonist's father has been raping her since she was a toddler”. When the teens are reading these precise texts and imagining this, is that considered pornography?

YA books not only get the readers thinking about more complicated thoughts, it can help inspire them. Just like how Kristina Palmer, 17, read “The Hunger Games” and said “‘It was just great writing, even if you could barely imagine being in a situation like that.’”. These YA books encouraged Kristina to imagine and visualize a complex scene. It can help give readers imaginative ideas to write stories for school, and they might not know that.

Over all, YA books are being read by young teenagers who are between the ages of 12 to 18. It is up to the reader’s choice to read the book that we are currently having an argument about banning the unfitting.