Leah Rachel answers “Would this book be appropriate for a...”

Jennifer asked this question about The Hate U Give (The Hate U Give, #1):

Would this book be appropriate for a middle schooler? Language? Sexuality?

Leah Rachel von Essen I honestly think that (obviously to reasonable extent) children should be allowed to read what they're interested in. When I was 12, I read books abou…moreI honestly think that (obviously to reasonable extent) children should be allowed to read what they're interested in. When I was 12, I read books about AIDS, about racism, books with sex scenes in them, because they were at the library and I was interested. In the conversations that ensued, between the books and me and between my parents and me, I learned tons by way of empathy, the world, and how to handle myself. I learned about consent as well as female pleasure (my parents hardly filled me in 100%, but I have friends who didn't know about female orgasms, and I did). This is an excellent book that deals with racism through drama. It uses AAVE and profanity, and there are references to sex, but nothing that a 12-year-old can't handle.(less)

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