[CALIBK12] Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants in Middle Schools

[Liz Brown]

Please share your professional opinion about the Sisterhood of the  
Traveling Pants in middle school libraries?

Recently a parent brought this book back to a middle school library  
with post-its marking objectionable pages (bad language, promoting  
under aged drinking, and scenes that the parent believed to be  
sexually arousing).   The parent did not read the entire book so did  
not learn of the consequences to the characters.  No formal complaint  
was made,  but the book was sent to the district level.  The  
Assistant Superintendent read the book and decided to pull all  
district copies plus other titles in the series to review "in  
house."   All middle schools have multiple copies of the first three  
titles in the series.

Since I was once the library coordinator in this district, and now do  
some consulting work for them, I was asked to review the book and  
make a recommendation to the Ass't Sup't.   My advice seems to be  
falling on deaf ears and I am afraid the district challenge  
procedures will be thrown out the window.   My last appeal was to  
suggest I would poll middle school library teachers throughout CA to  
gather their professional advice regarding the value or  
appropriateness of the title with their middle school students.   I  
will share your responses with district administration.

Please send your responses to me in a fresh e-mail, because the  
important issue now is the book and not the review process.    I  
don't wish to identify the district at this critical point, but I  
will certainly share the outcome with the listserv.  Thank you all  
for your wonderful assistance to me over many years.

lizlarry at roadrunner.com