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Nancy Gruneisen asked this question about Orbiting Jupiter:
I am a huge Gary Schmidt fan and have read this book. I honestly think it should be categorized in the young adult section rather than children. I think it's more for middle schoolers versus elementary school kids. Thoughts?
Susan This is a wonderful book and I will be presenting it to 7th - 9th grade students this week. As an English instructor at the college level, and a lawye…moreThis is a wonderful book and I will be presenting it to 7th - 9th grade students this week. As an English instructor at the college level, and a lawyer, I have a take on this that is most likely a little more technical than others. A primary issue raised through a legal lens is the issue of consent. There are multiple types of legal consent raised here (that will be the topic of my presentation). One is a discussion of laws that declare when a minor is considered legally competent to consent to sexual relations. The challenge with that discussion is that in some States (mine included) there is a "Romeo and Juliet" exception which actually mitigates the sexual act between Joseph and Maddie and most likely Joseph would not have been in detention for his actions. In some States this result is possible, but not in many States. So this does take the book into more mature terrain. I never take a definitive position on restricting a book but wanted to at least lend this information to the conversation. (less)
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Orbiting Jupiter
by Gary D. Schmidt
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