Fly on the Wall: How One Girl Saw Everything by E. Lockhart
There is nothing spectacular about this book, but I couldn't put it down and I keep thinking about it. It's about a teen girl who I think most teen girls will relate to in one way or another. She only has one good friend, she likes this boy who is in a clique she isn't in, her folks are getting a divorce, her one friend is starting to get distant, her art teacher is getting on her case, and so forth. Then, she becomes a fly on the wall of the the boys locker room.
Her first day on the wall is mostly about naked boys and sexuality. I think it is done appropriately for the average teen, but some parents will be shocked and appalled. Frankly, I'd rather have a child of mine reading this book than trashy romance novels or looking at porn that perpetuate stereotypes, make sex more mysterious, and are simply unrealistic. This doesn't glamorize nudity or sexuality, it tries to demystify it as much as possible. There is kissing and making out, but no actual sex.
Aside from that, our girl really learns to see things from other people's perspectives for the first time. She doesn't emerge as this totally changed, new person. But, she does make a few positive changes that help her reconnect with her friend, initiate a friendship with one of the boys in the clique she realizes is a lot like her, stand her ground with her art teacher, and ask the boy she likes out.
Another well-done aspect of this book is the side story about homosexuality. Like kids will do, two of the teen boys tease other boys by calling them gay and making other terrible remarks. Some kids don't mind, those that do shrug it off as teens being teens. But, one boy finally confronts the others. He tells them that it isn't okay. And, it comes out that his father is gay. It is a side story that is handled very well. This is a different, good approach to talking about homosexuality.
I think there are a lot of good things in this books for teens and their parents to talk about. I would recommend parents of teens read this too. They may not like it, but there is a lot of truth in this book about what many teens are going through.
Her first day on the wall is mostly about naked boys and sexuality. I think it is done appropriately for the average teen, but some parents will be shocked and appalled. Frankly, I'd rather have a child of mine reading this book than trashy romance novels or looking at porn that perpetuate stereotypes, make sex more mysterious, and are simply unrealistic. This doesn't glamorize nudity or sexuality, it tries to demystify it as much as possible. There is kissing and making out, but no actual sex.
Aside from that, our girl really learns to see things from other people's perspectives for the first time. She doesn't emerge as this totally changed, new person. But, she does make a few positive changes that help her reconnect with her friend, initiate a friendship with one of the boys in the clique she realizes is a lot like her, stand her ground with her art teacher, and ask the boy she likes out.
Another well-done aspect of this book is the side story about homosexuality. Like kids will do, two of the teen boys tease other boys by calling them gay and making other terrible remarks. Some kids don't mind, those that do shrug it off as teens being teens. But, one boy finally confronts the others. He tells them that it isn't okay. And, it comes out that his father is gay. It is a side story that is handled very well. This is a different, good approach to talking about homosexuality.
I think there are a lot of good things in this books for teens and their parents to talk about. I would recommend parents of teens read this too. They may not like it, but there is a lot of truth in this book about what many teens are going through.
0 comments:
Post a Comment