New perspectives through controversy

THERE are currently many Young Adult (YA) novels on the shelves and though they are popular among their target audience, many are not well received by critics because of their unrealistic and sometimes hazardous portrayal of teenagers, especially girls.

And yet, authors seem to write more and more of these stories.

If the future seems bleak for books, we could always look to the past. Of course there were bad books in the past too, but the past has something the present does not - the filter of time.

So what about controversial books? Are they considered good books? There are classics that were only considered controversial and inappropriate for young people because of the subjects they broached - racism or homosexuality, for example. These topics may seem completely middle-of-the-road now, but when these novels were first published, things were very different.

This is the reason we should read controversial books - because of their subject matter and because by exposing yourself to these ideas, you will be able to expand your views of the world and perhaps learn something about yourself as well.

To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee (1960)

This is a story about a family that is going through hard times and how it reacts to and overcomes them. The story is narrated by a girl as she grows and matures, and the story’s protagonist is actually her father, Atticus Finch.

Through her story about her father, readers get to see the things a growing girl might face, including the hardships that occur to the entire family and the hard truths that everyone has to learn while growing up.

This American novel is renowned for its humour, but the controversy around it stemmed from the fact that it deals with very serious issues such as racism and rape. At the time it was published, racial inequality was still rife in the United States, so one of the major plot points (a white lawyer defending a black person) was hard for a lot of people to swallow.

There were also issues with some of the language used; there are a lot of racial slurs and profanity. The fact that a lot of the time the children characters are the ones using these vulgar words caused (and still causes) many to question the novel.

Despite all this, the novel is considered a classic tale of a family and a country going through difficult times in their shared history, and the protagonist, Atticus Finch, is seen as one of the most engaging and enduring heroes in fiction. Modern readers will be able to compare the differences between living in those times and now, in that country and in this, and think how much things have really changed.

Lord Of The Flies by William Golding (1954)

The main reason this novel was controversial was because of its portrayal of violence among children. The story follows a group of children stranded on an island, how they try to govern themselves and how this attempt fails and anarchy spreads among the children. Away from adult supervision, the children seem to become wild, raising questions about how “civilised” the human species really is.

Another reason this novel was deemed controversial was because it deals with the subjects of human nature and individual survival versus the common good, all driven by children characters.

It was, and still is, difficult for people to acknowledge that the human traits brought up in the story exist within all of us.

The Harry Potter Series by J.K. Rowling (1997-2007)

This series is quite new compared to the other books in this list, but many people consider these books “modern” classics.

Most of the questions raised about these books came from a standpoint of religion; the controversy stemmed from the portrayal of witchcraft as a fun and even glamorous vocation for children.

There was so much dissent and controversy surrounding these books, which were essentially a series of school stories, that people took to the streets in protest over school libraries stocking them and some groups even publicly burned the books.

Despite all this, the series’ popularity has endured. Though the stories are set against a backdrop of fantasy and magic, they tell timeless tales of friendship, adventure, growing up and young people overcoming great odds to do what is right.

The Perks Of Being A Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky (1999)

This coming-of-age novel can be considered a YA fiction and has received mostly positive reviews. The movie adaptation, released a few years ago, has only made it more popular. Published just a few years ago, this book is not really a classic either, but its genre – it is a Bildungsroman – certainly is.

The novel is about a teenager, focusing on a year in his life, as narrated by him. Critics have commented on its realism and the teen-relevant issues brought up in it. The story also deals with homosexuality, the use of drugs by teenagers and suicide, which is where the controversy surrounding it stems from.

Several groups in the United States have called for its banning, and it has actually been banned in some school districts.

It is, however, still a good story of how an introverted young person finds understanding and friendship in the process of growing up.

What now?

These are just some of the many “controversial” books that you could read. Though some people may consider them inappropriate for young people, the best way to determine whether or not this it true is to read these stories and decide for yourself. They key is to remember which era these stories were written and set in (even the more modern ones) and to keep an open mind.

If you feel that these stories are not for you, stop reading. If you feel that they are interesting, keep going. Either way, you will learn something about the world, other people, and yourself.