This book was in the school library. Publisher is Scholastic, probably the biggest children's publisher in North America, maybe the world. They're the ones that have the book club flyers and book fairs in schools across the USA and Canada.
Look at the cover. The prepubescent central character is obviously emphasized above the older teenage characters flanking her. No way that kid is more than 9.
Now check out the back cover. Again, the emphasis is on the youngest character, who is clearly prepubescent. Nothing indicates this book is not aimed at 3rd - 5th graders. https://files.catbox.moe/4f2u9a.jpg
Here is the part my student showed when I asked what was inappropriate. First, my eyes landed on the violence on the right-hand side of the spread, but then she said it's more than that. The two teenaged boys are unmistakably leaning in for a deep kiss when they are interrupted. https://files.catbox.moe/ticcxr.jpg
Loved the Scholastic book fairs as a kid. There were a lot of wonderful books that were promoted, and none of them were pushing the agenda that hard. At least, none I ever picked up.
Books for that age really don't even need to have any form of romance at all, they should be about adventure or some such to stoke and encourage the growth of a child's imagination, make them think and challenge them with more suitable concepts.
Absolutely. Kids that age are disgusted (or at least act disgusted) even if you're talking about a married man and woman kissing. They certainly are NOT into romance at all, nor should they be. That's why this book is either a deliberate bait and switch grooming attempt or the publishers were just desperate to get it published to fulfill their DEI quotas on multiple fronts, since it is not only checking the rainbow tickbox, but it's an Asian author and a story about immigrants. I have nothing against the latter 2, but I'm saying someone ought to have told the author to revise the story because in terms of target audience, it doesn't hit.
This book was in the school library. Publisher is Scholastic, probably the biggest children's publisher in North America, maybe the world. They're the ones that have the book club flyers and book fairs in schools across the USA and Canada.
Look at the cover. The prepubescent central character is obviously emphasized above the older teenage characters flanking her. No way that kid is more than 9.
Now check out the back cover. Again, the emphasis is on the youngest character, who is clearly prepubescent. Nothing indicates this book is not aimed at 3rd - 5th graders. https://files.catbox.moe/4f2u9a.jpg
Here is the part my student showed when I asked what was inappropriate. First, my eyes landed on the violence on the right-hand side of the spread, but then she said it's more than that. The two teenaged boys are unmistakably leaning in for a deep kiss when they are interrupted. https://files.catbox.moe/ticcxr.jpg
Shame.
Loved the Scholastic book fairs as a kid. There were a lot of wonderful books that were promoted, and none of them were pushing the agenda that hard. At least, none I ever picked up.
Books for that age really don't even need to have any form of romance at all, they should be about adventure or some such to stoke and encourage the growth of a child's imagination, make them think and challenge them with more suitable concepts.
Absolutely. Kids that age are disgusted (or at least act disgusted) even if you're talking about a married man and woman kissing. They certainly are NOT into romance at all, nor should they be. That's why this book is either a deliberate bait and switch grooming attempt or the publishers were just desperate to get it published to fulfill their DEI quotas on multiple fronts, since it is not only checking the rainbow tickbox, but it's an Asian author and a story about immigrants. I have nothing against the latter 2, but I'm saying someone ought to have told the author to revise the story because in terms of target audience, it doesn't hit.