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Near the beginning of the summer I started a series of posts about a case of book banning at a high school in Oklahoma. The book in question is Maureen Johnson's Bermudez Triangle. I figured if I really wanted to talk about the challenge I should probably actually read the book. So that's what I did this weekend.
The novel is a story of the friendship between three teenage girls. They call themselves the Bermudez Triangle, they have their own little chant - basically they are those girls that are inseparable but yet all have different personal interests. We all knew groups like that in high school. Nina is the smart one and is the head of student council. Avery is the musical one who also has a touch of bad girl. Mel is the quiet and shy one, the one they need to push into coming out of her shell. When Nina goes away to a special pre-college summer group Mel comes out of more than her shell - she also comes out of the closet. At least to Avery with whom she starts a relationship. They do not tell Nina although Nina is a bit preoccupied on the relationship front as she's starting a relationship with an eco-warrior named Steve. When Nina returns home she's put in the uncomfortable position in which her two best friends have started dating. It's not awkward because they are both girls, it's awkward because it's her two best friends and suddenly she's on the outside. Well, that and the fact that no one really knows about them except for her. And then, as often happens with high school romances, Mel and Avery's relationship goes up in flames as does her own with Steve.
This is a portion the objection that was raised to the book by a parent in Bartlesville as copied from an email that Maureen Johnson received in April.
Homosexual content, unprotected sex, underage drinking, and reckless promiscuity are not values that belong in a school library. I understand there are parents or teens who are dealing with these issues, but not all parents want their kids exposed to this material. Personally, I would not endorse any of these types of book as “14-and-15-year-old-friendly.” Giving teenagers knowledge without guidance is irresponsible and dangerous. As a parent, I screen my 15-year-old’s television, Internet, video game, magazines, and books. There are things she’s not mature enough to handle, or are simply wrong for her. Parents are a child’s best line of defense in a world that rushes to grow them up too soon. This book, “The Bermudez Triangle” has no moral fiber, and wrongly promotes a “do whomever you want to discover yourself” mentality. There’s no mention of the myriad of diseases, pregnancy, destruction of friendships and lives that are very real consequences of a “sexual free-for-all” decision. I ask that his material be removed at once. You have a responsibility to the children at school to protect them and educate them. Let’s raise the bar a little higher, respect moral values and a parent’s right to guard that which has been entrusted to their care.
First of all - there NO SEX in this book. There's a kiss. There's a few references to making out. But really, in terms of half of the YA I've read it's pretty darned tame. It's certainly not a "sexual free-for-all".
Secondly the entire freaking book is about relationships can screw up friendships. If you tried to remove that from the book you'd have a couple of pages about music, student council and how much working in a theme restaurant can suck. What's more it's a pretty good book about teen relationships and friendships. High school is a crazy time. Friendships are intense. Relationships are intense. As for moral fibre I think that the message that you don't give up on your friends even when they mess up and hurt you oozes of moral fibre.
Let's call a spade a spade - the complaint against the book was raised because it dealt with a homosexual relationship. Two girls kissed. They held hands. They made out, which again, is not in the least explicit).
Next week I'll post about what happened in Bartlesville and where the situation with this book stands.
Contributing Editor Sassymonkey also blogs at Sassymonkey and Sassymonkey Reads.
