FYI, Below is from the Valley Patriot.

I might not be the best person to comment on this ...

I don't remember any controversial books on my high school reading list back in the puritan ages (I do remember having to read six books each summer - pick any six from a list of about 25 - or was is pick three fiction and three non-fiction??).

I suppose I wouldn't mind these two books being optional but I certainly wouldn't require everyone to read them. And, I think it shows poor judgement since obviously these books offend quite a few students in addition to some parents (and maybe even yours truly). I'm guessing you could find some similar titles without the need to be so graphic. By choosing these titles as the only required summer reading for most 11 graders makes me wonder what gets taught in Literature classes these days.

Best wishes,
ahbgone

N. Andover: Rape and incest on summer reading list

The level I and Level II summer reading agenda for the North Andover High School 11th grade students has many parents up in arms, but the teachers have the support of Superintendent Marini.

The two assigned summer reading books are: The Bluest Eye by Toni Morrison and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky. Parents are upset and questioning the appropriateness of these books in light of the adult themes and graphic details on topics of drugs, rape, suicide, masturbation, and incest to name a few. Specifically, in The Bluest Eye, the main character, an 11 year old black girl named Pecola Breedlove is raped and impregnated by her own father. She then yearns to be white with blue eyes. There is also a rape scene in The Perks of Being a Wallflower during an alcohol party involving 15 year olds and both rape scenes are quite explicit, disgusting and disturbing to read. There are also no criminal consequences with these rapists, which would have at least sent to the high school readers some positive message. With so many wonderful classic books out there for our young people to read, I wonder what the teachers at the North Andover High School were thinking and what kind of class discussions they have planned. Maybe the press, school committee members and parents will be invited to these discussions.