Comments on: Swear Words in YA Fiction 2.0

By: Kris Dinnison

Kris Dinnison — Thu, 08 Dec 2011 05:35:57 +0000

I have been a person who works with kids and a person who writes for kids. I know that putting swearing (or sex, or drugs, or violence, or religion, or….) in a book may mean some people won’t buy it. But if the swearing feels more true to a character than not swearing, I leave it in.

By: Kate Ternus

Kate Ternus — Sat, 01 May 2010 13:53:14 +0000

Sometimes, an occasional hell or damn just flies out of a character’s mouth. Call it heat of the moment, or natural to that character, there it is. Even so, to clean it up and substitute a euphemism makes it still a swear word…and, if it’s quite obviously a substitute, well, it’s an even bigger swear word since an adult has obviously tried to pain it out like grafitti on a wall.

By: Erica Olson

Erica Olson — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 22:18:53 +0000

Bongo – If you’re still around, I’m adding the “Erica is all-knowing” part to the bio of my query. Thanks for it.

By: Toni

Toni — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:44:05 +0000

P.S.: Though I didn’t specify swearing as the bad behavior, my opinion is that if the shoe fits your character they must wear it.

By: Toni

Toni — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 00:39:08 +0000

Mary, your post has come in the nick of time. As someone who has worked with kids as well as written for kids, I struggled with this issue in my first published novel as well as the writing I continue to create. The MC of my MG gives her father “gator powder” so that he will fall asleep, giving her the opportunity to run away (he’s abusive and works as a gator wrestler in the Everglades). Though I thought I’d catch lots of flack for this, countless students who have read my book (it’s taught in my district) have never metioned the gator powder once when I go in to do a book talk with them! Neither do the teachers who teach the book. Instead, the kids key into my main character’s feelings of abandoment and helplessness and her ultimate victory.

By: Bongo

Bongo — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:52:07 +0000

Surely there should be a limit to how many Marys can contribute to one blog. There’s only one Bongo, Franz and Erica.

Yes, I’ve decided: The Marys should definitely discuss this and one of them must change her name. I’m partial to Mustafa. But perhaps this should be put to a vote.

Or, since Erica is all knowing, perhaps she should decide the new name. Crapper perhaps?

By: Erica Olson

Erica Olson — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 21:36:00 +0000

Mary – I don’t know why I’m adding to the Bongo discussion, but FYI – there was a post in the previous swearing discussion by someone named Mary who referenced her two children. I’m sure the rest of us knew it wasn’t you by the absence of the kidlit icon and the fact that you could click on her name and go to an entirely different blog. As for the post, I commented in the last discussion. Swear words are what they are. No more, no less.

(Oh yeah, Franz – I think I not only heard that Crapper invented the toilet, but I’m pretty sure I’ve contributed to spreading the rumor. Shit.)

By: Bongo

Bongo — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 16:51:14 +0000

Dearest Mary,

Ahhh, that’s the fire that Bongo so loves! So no kids, huh? That is a relief. What about the minivan? That could still be a deal killer for me. I do have an image to uphold.

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 15:02:00 +0000

Mary, I usually hate this, but I feel compelled to clarify –

My “your” as in “your pro-swearing slogan” refers to Mary. But then I switch to “you” later as in “maybe you think” – and that’s a general “you” — SOMEONE is bound to think I’m too restrictive with my current policy with my children!

This always reminds me of the importance of reading your ms in a different way — i.e. on a printout, or a different computer. Things always pop out at you that didn’t when you proofread in your original software!

By: Amy

Amy — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:54:23 +0000

It’s funny – I feel like I am in the anti-swearing camp simply because I don’t do it myself & I don’t prefer it, but the statement that most fits me is “It’s okay to have swearing in a book, if it fits” – your pro-swearing slogan.

We all have different thresholds for what we find offensive. Some are offended by swear words. Some are offended when they see a white character on the cover of a book with a non-white protagonist. Slurs of all kinds — the very definition says that they are insulting remarks, but some are not bothered by them, even if they are in the group that is meant to be offended. Who are we to say that those who ARE offended are “wrong”? I’d agree that it’s wrong for them to impose their beliefs on others, but they are certainly entitled to feel what they feel and even express those feelings.

I think there’s a HUGE difference between not recommending a book with swear words in it and actual censorship or banning. My oldest daughter reads far above her grade level and has for some time now. We often look for books in the teen section, but I am careful about what I recommend to her. There are just SO many choices out there – if something is a little off-color to me, chances are great that I’ll find another terrific choice that is not at all off-color. When she gets to middle school, I’ll feel more comfortable recommending some of these other books. But I have not yet run out of great books to recommend that don’t have a lot of swear words.

That being said, if SHE were to choose a book that’s a little off-color — well, then, that’s okay with me. It would have to be really bad for me to actually take it away from her, and I’ve never had to do that.

Maybe you think I’m being too restrictive. It’s likely your neighbor thinks I’m not being restrictive enough. In the end, I do what works for me and my daughter. Hers is the only opinion that matters.

Thanks so much for the link to Gayle Forman, KellieD. IF I STAY is one of my very favorite books!