TTYL is written to appeal rather narrowly to young women near the age of 16; readers any significant distance from that demographic will find the book rather light and fluffy. The book is part of a series including TTFN ("Ta Ta For Now) and l8r g8r ("later, gator"). My review of TTYL will have to stand for the whole series, because I am NOT reading the others.
The book contains occasional strong language and some references to (but no outright descriptions of) sexual activity. Some alcohol use occurs, but no smoking or drug use. Actions have consequences, as when drinking leads to public embarrassment. One character, through naivete, gets herself into a potentially sexual situation, but her friends intervene in a way to prevent anything from happening.
Frankly, the material some might find objectionable is quite light in TTYL compared to that found in many other books marketed to the around-10th-grade age-group. Few parents who have actually read the book will object to their 15-year-old reading it.
In spite of its age-appropriateness, TTYL is frequently challenged. It appears on the American Library Association's list of Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2008 and Ten Most Frequently Challenged Books of 2007, for rather unlikely reasons listed as "offensive language, sexually explicit, unsuited to age group". A superintendent actually removed the book from a middle school library in the Round Rock (Texas) school district, in spite of a review committee's recommendation that the book be retained.
It is clear that most book challengers never read the books they challenge.
It's true. If they read it they might actually see past the "controversial" bits and see the depth and value the books have to offer.
ReplyDeleteAlthough this one probably doesn't offer much in the way of depth: People can choose to read whatever they want. You don't have to like it, but don't take the choice away from someone else.
And this is coming from someone who can't stand fluffy novels. Well, that's a bit of a generalization, there is some choice fluff I like. Are you planning on reviewing Boy Meets Boy ? It is quite possibly one of the sweetest stories I hav ever read, it's in the vein of Baby Be-Bop .
I hope you had happy holidays :).
I may look into Boy Meets Boy. Or... if you remember enough of the details, we could collaborate on a review.
ReplyDeleteI can certainly do that! I'll spend a little time on Amazon to refresh my memory.
ReplyDeleteI'm going to sound pretty thick here but, how would we go about collaborating?
Send me a message at the email address listed on the right-hand side of my blog, and we can talk about it.
ReplyDeleteHow can you read ttyl online?
ReplyDeleteI wanna read the book online for free, is it possible, and on which site?
ReplyDeleteBelive me, I do too, how do you think I ended up on this site? its a really good book though.
Deletewow
ReplyDelete