Wild Things: YA Grown-Up discussion

This is an excellent YA book dealing with a lot of controversial topics in a funny and touching way. I wouldn't be surprised if it makes banned lists (it deals with death, racism, alcoholism, etc., and it talks about masturbation -- a lot.
Alexie is one of those rare authors who can write about something with humor and pathos at the same time, avoiding sentimentality, which to me makes it more effective. So, after that long spiel: this is the place to discuss said book...

And let's not forget that it has funny little illustrations in it. :)

To be honest, this was a much heavier book than I expected it to be. I thought it would be lighthearted and humorous, and at times it is, but it also dealt with a lot of heavy themes.

I read this book last month, and it made me want to read everything he's ever written. I actually listened to the audio version, which is performed by the author, and was done very well, I thought. Then I got the book at the end and the illustrations were terrific too.

You know, he does talk about masturbation, but aside from that, I found this book much easier to swallow than say, Looking for Alaska, which was also good, but focused on a group of kids who were pretty much always breaking the rules in some way. The main character of part-time Indian is such a good-hearted kid, who is unfortunately part of a dysfunctional family, but you just know that with the right family support he would be a terrific kid. He just wants to help everyone he comes across. I really loved him.

Laura wrote: "I read this book last month, and it made me want to read everything he's ever written..."

I couldn't agree more. Everything immediately went on my list. Actually, I was intro'd to him through a short story (The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fistfight in Heaven), and was interested enough to wasnt to explore him more. I just love his style, and he has such a strong voice.
As for the illustrations, this book was so overdue at the library cause I had certain illustrations (namely him as an Indian warrior on the basketball court) tabbed so that I could scan them, which I kept forgetting to do. I just didn't want to give them up.

I got a Border's gift certificate for Mother's Day and this is one of the books I'm going to get with it.

Yay! Enjoy, it is excellent. And share it with a kid in your life (given they are old enough); it is a great discussion piece.

Yeah, I really wanted to send it to my nephew as part of a grad. from high school gift, but I don't want to offend him with the masturbation stuff. Wouldn't it be weird to get a book like that from your aunt? I love the book though!

I think it would be okay to send. You could always wait to tell him you've read it until after he has.

I picked it up today (along with a couple of other books)and this looks like a great book!

I agree that you should send it, and both of you should just conveniently "forget" those parts when you discuss it. Just like everyone should read The Perks of Being a Wallflower, even though it has some *cough* risque material (my favorite line "Dear friend, Do you know what masturbation is? If not, it is fantastic!" Or something along these lines. I read this aloud one yr for a banned books read-a-thon, and there had been no one around for 10 mins or so, and I could see this line coming out of the corner of my eye, and two guys walking toward the door...They made it in just in time. And were quite stunned. Perfect timing.)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower is one of those books everyone and their mom tells me to read, but every time I pick it up I just can't get into it. It's been on my shelf for years.

And a banned books read-a-thon sounds like a lot of fun!

You must read it. Once you get into this kids head and get used to his voice, he's so hilarious and sincere. Plus, there is some major serious stuff going on to, but you have to wait to get at it.
BBW is fantastic. For the last 5 yrs I've worked as a writing tutor at my city's community college, and a couple years ago I decided to start a BBW readathon as a promotional thing -- you know, shock em into paying attention to us and knowing we are there, we can help, etc. It is a blast. I have moved on from there since, but I think I might go back just for BBW. Plus, all the books we displayed and read from -- mine.

That sounds great. I wonder if my library does anything like that, or something I could get involved in. I miss relating to teens about books. They have a whole children's room on the first floor but the YA area is just a corner upstairs.

I just finished The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and I have to say that this is definitely a new favorite of min. It was funny and sad at the same time. It was one of those books I couldn't put down and hated to see end. I gave it 5 stars, of course. I probably wouldn't have read this if it wasn't for you guys, so thank you!!!!

I just finished The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian and I have to say that this is definitely a new favorite of min. It was funny and sad at the same time. It was one of those books I couldn't put down and hated to see end. I gave it 5 stars, of course. I probably wouldn't have read this if it wasn't for you guys, so thank you!!!!

Awesome! I'm so glad you liked it. Was it for the challenge?

Beth, I loved this book too! I read it right before Wild Things began. Now I want to read everything he's done. I hope it's all this good!

I want to read everything he's done, too.

His book Reservation Blues won the American Book Award in 1996...

I just put it and a bunch of his other books on my TBR list.

Just picked this up as an audiobook, hope its good

I'd recommend skimming through a copy of the actual book, too, since it has some really great illustrations. has the first one and a half chapters available for preview (click See Inside) so you can get a taste of the drawings. Just looking at them again made me smile.

I loved the drawings!

I listened to it on audio as well. Sherman Alexie reads it, so I really liked listening to it in his own voice. I didn't realize I was missing cool illustrations until I wanted to see what page I was on and used Amazon's "Look Inside" feature. I got to see quite a few of them that way - until I had viewed my page limit and it blocked me from seeing any more. I also missed illustrations by listening to The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-time.

I "absolutely" loved this book. Laugh out loud funny, and sad too. Do you think it gives an accurate picture of life on the "rez"??

That's a good question. I am sure either way it opens up debate, cause its not a very flattering picture. I wonder if Alexie talks about it in any interviews...

Finally read it and LOVED it. The illustrations really made it, but I would have loved it without them anyway!

Yeah. My favorite was of him as a basketball "warrior" with feathers and war paint. Good stuff.

I got a chance to hear him speak at a writer event a couple years ago. He's done some public service reading spots on tv before, so I knew what he looked like (okay, but well...) After listening to him talk for a couple hours, I think every woman in the audience would have followed him back to his hotel room. He was just so amazingly cool. He would intersperse readings from his books, poetry, essays within his talk, and it was just amazing. If you get a chance to see him live, he really does a great performance, very thought provoking and funny.

Lisa wrote: "I new what he looked like (okay, but well...) After listening to him talk for a couple hours, I think every woman in the audience would have followed him back to his hotel room."


;)

I finished this on audio book finally and loved it, its read by the author and he gives the character a fantastic voice, definately one I'll be recommending to the kids at school

I enjoyed listening to it in the author's own voice as well, Katrina. But I missed the illustrations! I got to see some of them by using Amazon's Look Inside feature, but I still want to get a copy of the actual book to see all of them.

Katrina wrote: "I finished this on audio book finally and loved it, its read by the author and he gives the character a fantastic voice, definately one I'll be recommending to the kids at school "

How old are the "kids at school"? I do a Banned Books Week Readasthon at the local college, and the whole time I was reading this, I kept wondering how long it would take to show up on the ALA's most frequently banned and challenged. I know there is no way certain people are going to let this book slide. Do you worry about parent reaction when you recommend books?

LOl its already getting heat to be banned here in Illinois

Yeah, apparently there are quite a few places it's being threatened. There's some big to do over it in Oregon, I guess...

Oh, Oregon... apparently teenage boys are not acquainted with Rosey Palmer and her five friends there.

I wonder what would happen if the guy who protested/got the book banned in Oregon saw his son's internet browsing history. I bet his son is just like any other red-blooded American boy.

I just showed the article to my male roommates. Response: "I started stroking the salami when I turned 13"

hahahaha, ah the honesty of men.

HAHAHA oh gosh that is disgusting and hilarious. Stroking the sausage. What a euphemism THAT is.

And as far as banning it, I think that's ridiculous. Like 13-year-olds don't know what masturbation is.

It bothers me, too, because the dad that brought the case and was disturbed by masturbation talk only read a few pages. Why in the world is it that people who want to ban always only read "a few pages"? Get familiar with the work that you're challenging, and see if, once the offensive material is in context as it was meant to be read, if it is still offensive. Most likely, the answer is no, or it as at least balanced by the rest of the work: offensive with a purpose.
It's just so narrow and absurd. And lazy, lazy, lazy.

I came across Judy Blume's website while looking up censorship and book-banning, and I have to say she is very articulate in her views on censorship, and it definately makes sense.

Check it out if you are so inclined:

April wrote: "I came across Judy Blume's website while looking up censorship and book-banning, and I have to say she is very articulate in her views on censorship, and it definately makes sense.

Check it out ..."

Nice. I especially liked " They want to believe that if their children don't read about it, their children won't know about it. And if they don't know about it, it won't happen." I assume that is what masturbation-dad was thinking. And I am sure he would love me calling him that...
(laughs gleefully)

I was the person that asked Neil about parental concerns, and it's something I think about a lot because I am going to be a teacher. I have no intention to be cowed, but at the same time, I don't want to constantly risk my job and my sanity dealing with parents who raise objections and put up fights over books they haven't themselves read.

Misty wrote: "I was the person that asked Neil about parental concerns, and it's something I think about a lot because I am going to be a teacher. I have no intention to be cowed, but at the same time, I don't ..."


I think you need to (when teaching-esp. in a public school) realize there's a difference between requiring a book and having it available. I'm amazed at the number of parents in my somewhat conservative district who don't want anyone reading certain books-- some have requested Speak, Diary..., Twilight etc--being banned from the library. I can understand not wanting your kid to be forced to read a certain book, but you don't have the right to keep my child from reading it!

For instance, I thought the teacher doing a "Twilight" unit at my school was ridiculous. No one should be forced to read Twilight. It's not that great, but you certainly have the right to read it. Anything controversial should have other options.

wow! I'm kind of long winded--sorry!

Make sure your district has a good, solid policy for approving books and challenging them. That will help your case a lot!

I think it's harder in middle school than high school. I remember at my first job teaching 6th grade, a 7th grade teacher had her class read the Chocolate War. I was totally freaked that this was required reading, but she did an amazing job of presenting why she chose it. I'm not sure I'd want my kids to have to read it--some times that can really turn a kid off of reading. (My son was forced to read Emily's Runaway Imagination by Beverly cleary this year in 3rd grade. He hated it and now hates reading. Why not give him 3 books to pick from --and it's not even controversial!).

Oh well....it is a fine line to walk!!!

Speaking of Oregon . . . I'm from the town where that "news" article was published. When I read the article, I just rolled my eyes at the disgruntled parent.

I have read the book and really loved it. One reason I enjoyed it is because I don't think I've ever read a book about a modern-day native kid. I too loved how it made me think from Junior's perspective - his trying to straddle two worlds and what a struggle that was for him.

I know this is a generalization, but yes, it is a pretty accurate portrayal of "the rez." I am not a native person, but I've lived in the West most of my life . . . . However, I'm not sure if a native kid would be shunned by his community as Junior is in the story. It seems logical though doesn't it?

But. As a 5th grade teacher I wouldn't recommend this book to my students, nor my families. I'm not a prude, but my teacher-hat makes me cautious (it's just too hard to couch the masturbation thing in an educational way). I have however recommended this book to friends.

If I taught "olders" I would definitely read this book with them, especially since we live in the Northwest and Junior is from a tribe that these kids would know.

P.S. Please don't judge our fair town from this conservative article. It's one of the most beautiful and awesome places I've ever lived!

Laurie wrote: "P.S. Please don't judge our fair town from this conservative article. It's one of the most beautiful and awesome places I've ever lived!"

We would never. I was kinda surprised, because I always thought Oregon was fairly progressive. But there are idiots everywhere, right?

Yeah, I think 5th grade would be too young. But even so, I don't believe in banning. People need to realize there is a difference between banning and just not buying a book. You don't like it, don't buy it. It's not appropriate for elementary school, then don't buy it. But don't try to take away my right to buy it.

We would never. I was kinda surprised, bec..."

Too true! And I agree completely. I think the folks that get on those book ban bandwagons need to get a job, or a life, or something.

The sad thing is, that IS their life.

Tahleen wrote: "The sad thing is, that IS their life."

True story, last night I got pretty bored and started blog-jumping and I wound up on the blog of some lady prattling on about banning some TTYL book because there was sex. Of course, she hadn't read the book. I laughed and went to the next blog, as many of the comments were to the effect of either yes I'm going to call the school and ban this book, or hey lady, I'm a teen you can pry this book from my cold dead hands, and I felt putting my own two cents in would have been overkill. I feel like fifth graders probably shouldn't be reading this book, like I don't think it should be in the curriculum as there are many great age appropriate books out there, but this book should be accessible in HS libraries at the very least.

That makes me so mad! I've read that book, it's in L8R G8R, and it's not like an explicit sex scene. I mean the whole book is in IMs so that would not have been very probable. It's just a girl who goes through the decision of whether she wants to have sex with her boyfriend or not and decides that she does. It happens when you're a senior in high school, parents. IT HAPPENS. Regardless of whether you preach abstinence only education or ban books that suggest sex. Rant done.