This is one book we are vehemently contesting at our public library:
(Curtsy to SafeLibraries)
The three R's in education were almost racy, raunchy and risqué.
Embarrassed city Department of Education officials yanked an eye-popping book from 371 middle and high schools because it contains sexually graphic material - including crude street language - that somehow landed on the recommended reading list for students.
The 300-page book - "Deal with It! A Whole New Approach to Your Body, Brain and Life as a Gurl" (Pocket Books) - has chapters called "The Boob Files," "What's Up Down There" and "Mystery in Your Panties."
Department spokeswoman Margie Feinberg said the sexual primer was mistakenly put on the list of suggested classroom library books and was delivered to schools. But she emphasized that the book was ordered removed before classes started last month because it was deemed inappropriate for adolescents to read.
.....
The authors call masturbation the "ultimate safe sex" and say while it's not talked about as much, girls play with their private parts as much as boys. There's also discussion of sex toys.
It tweaks the "double standard" in society that it's OK for boys to have premarital sex, but not girls.
Parents were outraged.
"Who was the genius who purchased this book? Didn't they look at the book before they ordered? This shows they don't know what the he** they're doing," said Queens parent Carmen Santana, whose 12-year-old attends middle school.
"It's disgusting. It's so insulting. It uses ghetto language."
Even students were surprised that the popular teen book made the public school reading list.
"Some of it is X-rated. Only mature people should read it," said Christina Rosario, 17, a senior at Stevenson HS in The Bronx who bought her own personal copy at a bookstore.
"It talks about sex and all the positions."
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Library Journal' book review: This sumptuously colorful and solid puberty guide for girls gets high marks for comprehensiveness and attention to detail about physical development, sex, emotions, drugs, family, friends, relationships, school, spirituality, politics and activism, "being yourself," and money. The main messages concern accepting diversity in bodies and lifestyles, taking responsibility, and finding help when you need it. The diversity message is enhanced with numerous "we've been there" quotes posted to the gURL.com web site, while the "finding help" message is enhanced by many internal cross references and extensive referrals to books, organizations, and other web sites. Lesbian and bisexuality issues are well covered, and interesting sections address less common topics like how ideals of beauty have varied across history and how the "perfect look" in every fashion photo is carefully and artificially crafted by the full-time work of a dozen people. The authors founded and now run gURL.com, which has won several awards. Highly recommended for all public libraries.
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