It was bound to happen sooner or later.
I had stocked my library with edgy titles. Where once the shelves were mostly full of “classic” YA titles and somewhat aged adult mystery novels, now they’re full of books about queer teens, unexpected pregnancy, parents with drug habits, and graphic novels. (Books with pictures! The horror!)
They’re all appropriately reviewed, of course, and many of them are award winners, some several times over–but when it comes to content, they don’t pull any punches.
So it shouldn’t really come as a surprise that I recently got my first book complaint.
As librarians, we tend to talk a lot about intellectual freedom and defending our teens’ right to read whatever they want. But when push comes to shove, how do we really respond to book challenges in the heat of the moment?
As my pulse raced and I struggled to maintain eye contact and speak clearly (stammering is a personal struggle for me when I’m on the spot), I felt immensely grateful that I’d attended Sex in YA Lit: From Blume to Block and Beyond at last year’s Annual Conference in Chicago.
For those of you who weren’t able to attend, the panel–made up of librarian (and author!) Lynn Biederman, sex therapist Marty Klein, and YA author Laura Ruby–discussed the history of sex in young adult books, but also offered up some practical suggestions for handling book complaints, since so many challenges involving YA titles have to do with sexual content. The most valuable piece of advice they offered:
1. Sometimes the parent or community member just needs to feel like someone is listening. Indeed, many face-to-face complaints will never turn into a formal challenge if you let the complainant get it all out of their system. It’s crucial not to interrupt or talk over anyone, no matter how much you might disagree with their opinion.
To this advice, I would add some of my own, gleaned from my recent complaint–an experience that turned out overall to be a positive one:
2. Don’t fake agreement. This one can be tough. Many of us were taught that active listening means body language like nodding. While it’s true that nodding and occasionally saying “Sure” or “Mm-hmm” indicate that you’re listening, they can also suggest you agree. You can acknowledge a complainant’s point of view without agreeing with it.
3. Let your policies back you up. If you don’t have a collection development policy, write one now. It’s vital that your policies support you, and it’s equally important that your co-workers and supervisors or directors are familiar with those policies so that they can back you up. Make sure these documents are available to the public, but be familiar enough with them that you could discuss them face to face as well.
4. Know your materials. We all have to rely on reviews and recommendations to some degree. While I’d like to believe there are librarians who have read every book in their YA collections, for most of us that’s not a realistic goal. (I know I’ve certainly been guilty of not reading as much of my collection as I’d like.) But the more books you’ve read, the more you can meaningfully discuss if they’re ever challenged. For those titles that you haven’t read yet, make sure you know at least the basic plot points.
5. Acknowledge that not every book is right for e
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This actually happened! I really want the book but I have no clue who said that...so sad.
Hi Mary,
One of my writer friends just emailed this to me: "Jacob (her son) just read that book that you were accidentally signing and he loved it. LOVED it." So happy that there are so many fans of 10 Lucky Things--the few Unraveling buyers that get our conjoined book will have a great read! :)
Regards,
Lynn
btw small world-- my friend says she has same agent as you.
This is INSANE! I think the only thing you can do, Mary, is go slip your book cover on a LOT of Lynn's books and take those to your signings for a while!
Oh, and yes, the contest..
Um...The name POPPED into my head. J.K. Rowling. (Isn't that the right answer to everything?)
Hi, Lynn Biederman! So glad to have you come by!
Thanks for the feedback from Jacob! How very cool--
small-world!
And, hi, Yat-Yee! Well, if you're up early tomorrow, you can google it and see what you find! Sorry this is so hard! I thought it would be easier as she just did a big interview in a major newspaper last week.
;-) Hey, Becky. Nope, isn't JK, but great guess. Love your idea about me slipping my book cover over Lynn's book!
(((*)))
Mary Hershey
My w.a.g. (wild ass guess) is for author Steven King.
I have to say, though, I'd rather not be in prison even with unlimited books to read.
I just wanted to let you know that I love this blog so much that I nominated it. Check out my blog for details.
Okay, I googled since this is Sunday. Annie Proulx. I enjoyed reading the article: thanks!
Hi Mary,
Yes, do feel free to use yr book jacket to sell my book too! But don't forget I also had your book glued into my hardcover. :)
Meanwhile, how have we not discussed this whole incident in the context of title of your book--10 Lucky Things That Have Happened To Me Since I Nearly Got Hit By Lightning. Remember so far only one "conjoined" copy has been found and it fell into MY hands. National Weather service puts chance of being hit by lightning at 1 in 5,000 odds. The copy I went to sign--OUR copy--was 1 in 6,000- (that's the # of copies of Unraveling in first printing.) Hence, this is really the 11th lucky thing that happened to you (Effie)--as there was a better chance of being hit by lightning!
~Lynn
Gosh, Lynn-- you're like a math whiz! And, wow-- I have 11 Lucky Things! Who knew??? Bonus.
:-)
Mary Hershey