My neighbor said she'd never let her kid read 'The Giver' because it's 'too dark'

We were chatting at a block party last weekend and she said she heard it was about a kid who learns his perfect world is a lie. I told her I read it in 7th grade and it made me ask my first real questions about freedom, which is kinda the point. It hit different because she's usually so chill, but the idea of a book making kids think seemed to scare her more than the story itself. Has anyone else had a normal conversation about a banned book turn into something deeper like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

jordan_torres24d ago

Funny how the same people who want smart kids get nervous when a book actually makes them think. It's like they want the questions to come with a pre-approved answer sheet.

nancysanchez23d ago

Isn't it the same with a lot of work meetings? They ask for your honest input but really just want you to agree with the plan they already made. It feels like they want a smart team, but only if the thinking stays inside the lines they drew.

brookep6210d ago

Oh man, I totally get that. I used to think those meetings were just how things worked, but now I see it's just fake listening. It really does shut down any good ideas before they even start.