Should Books have a rating like R or PG 13 or PG on the back of it like a video game ??
I have been thinking that it would not be good to have ratings on it because everyone has a different take on it , and my experiences growing up affect how I read a story from someone else.
But as a parent it would nice to know if there is bad language, sex , drugs in the book.
I guess that this would never happen because it would an added to cost to publishers to add this little thing on a book. I also think that it would ruin book covers too.
I also think that movies too are the same way. Not all families let kids watch the same kind of movies.
What are your thoughts on this ?? Would you want to see it ?? Would you pay extra for it ?? Are there authors that you wouldn't let your child read ??
I'm not sure about a rating system, but I do think that including a brief disclaimer at the bottom of the back cover or inside at the beginning of the book might be a good idea. However, I'm not a parent, and I honestly don't know how involved parents are these days in what their kids are reading...so I don't know how much of a positive impact this would make.
ReplyDeleteMy parents didn't keep track of what I read as a child/teen because they were way too busy holding down multiple jobs to support our family. Nonetheless, they worked very hard to instill in me good values, and thus, they trusted me to make the right choices regardless of what I read, watched, or listened to entertainment wise.
Rating systems for books tend to be a very controversial subject. Right now many publishers will publish age ranges on the inside cover of the hardcover books, but others don't and often I don't agree with the ages listed. The problem is the ratings can be too subjective. What might offend me might not offend someone else and vise versa.
ReplyDeleteI have thought that sometimes it would be nice if it was something that just lets you know you might find objectionable language (L), Violence (V), Sexual Situations (S), Drugs (D), or Alcohol (A)? That way you would not what was present and if foul language offends you, you could avoid it.
On the other hand I worry that labeling a book would give parents reasons to object to a book being in the library without even reading it first.
It's a tricky issue and I see both sides.
Not sure how well that would work -since opinions on those subjects greatly differ.
ReplyDeleteI think parents just need to be involved in what their children are reading - if you don't have time to read a book, its not hard to research it - some blogs like Reading Teen note the content of the book, in their reviews.
I don't give them a rating but I do mention the content.
ReplyDeleteI think a rating would be fun. G, PG, PG-13, or R. I kinda love the idea. Go for it!
Oh your blog scared me! It changed LOL
ReplyDeleteI don't see anything wrong with informing parents about content but I'm not sure I like the rating system. In movies with a PG-13 rating there may not be nudity or sex but tons of crude off color humor and extreme violence that I wouldn't want my kids (if I had any) to see.
I think it should be more of: this book contains sexual content, drugs, violence etc
I also think parents need to go by more than just a standard rating. I know when I read Speak which was banned I was stunned at how much that guy who recommended the banning got it wrong. There wasn't one thing that was bad for teenagers in that book. It's a beautiful story that could help countless teenagers.
I don't think books should be rated PG or anything like that, but it would be helpful to have a content warning, such as death, violence, sex, etc, because those are the kinds of things that certain people go out of their way to avoid and don't like to be surprised by.
ReplyDeleteI received my copy of Ten Things We Shouldn't Have Done today and it says this on the back underneath the blurb:
CONTAINS MATURE CONTENT.
NOT SUITABLE FOR YOUNGER READERS.
I like that. It blends with the rest of the text, so doesn't ruin the cover in any way, but - although it could be a little more specific on WHAT mature content there is - might help indicate to parents who DO monitor what their children are reading that they should maybe try the book before giving it to their kids.
Thats why I am asking all because I do know its a tricky issue.
ReplyDeleteBella- that is great that they did that on the book.
karen- Banned books yeah another that would be tricky too because tough subjects and those books need to out there too.
Pixie-- I agree Reading teen is good that they do that and also involved with reading but not every parent is involved.
Melissa-- I totally see it both sides of it too.
marg-parents do make the difference with kids and trusting them to make the choices.
I don't really think a rating system is necessary because everyone's idea of what's offensive is different. Just think about all the innoculous books on the banned book lists. Every year I'm surprised something made it on there. Plus, we already have a rating system of sorts by publishers. Often you can look at the publisher and know what to expect. Harlequin Blaze is going to be different from their Love Inspired line. Zondervan isn't going to put out the same stuff as Ellora's Cave.
ReplyDeleteI think that books that have an excessive amount of language, sex, drugs etc. should note it on the back, but I don't think a rating system would work. That's what the age categories are there for, when it's okay to get your kid out of the "children's" section and into "young adult" books is up to each individual parent. There's always the internet to do research about authors and books, and I know some parents that won't let their kid read anything until they've read it an approved of the title, which can be time consuming but they at least know what their kids are reading. Books used as required reading are becoming more iffy as far as language and content lately too. I had to read Catch-22 in 12th grade, which is full of the F word (and was generally confusing). I know 12th grade everyone was already subject to the word either at home or with friends, but still I didn't think it needed to be in the required reading for the English course.
ReplyDeleteJess @ The Midnight Bookworm
I don't think it would work. Kids would probably flock to the ones that warn of sex or mature content anyhow ;) I also think it all depends on how the subject is covered. Remember Judy Blume back in the day, she introduced us to a lot and I would hate to see her book contain warnings and cause parents to say 'no' to kids who want to read the book because of this.
ReplyDeleteGreat question Julie..;)
ReplyDeleteI dont think books should have a rating say like movies or things with visual action but I do think warnings or maybe letters would be wise, especially on YA- like V-violence or S for sexual stuff...
I put on a rating content in all of my reviews just to let readers know hey this, this and this are talked about. I cant tell you how many emails I've received that thank me for telling them there was a rape scene in so and so book....
PS...Like the update...dont you just love the 2-C layout better??
Personally I'm not in favor of a rating system for books. But a note like "contains x, y, and z" would be okay (as mentioned above). I try to watch TV/movies with my kids, or have seen it before they do so I know the content. It's all so subjective. I may take issue with something deemed age appropriate for my kids, and may not have an issue with "inappropriate" material.
ReplyDeleteInteresting discussion, thanks!
I don't really like the idea of a rating for a book. For reasons I can't really explain, I put books on a different planet than movies and music. For me, they are much more subject to a whole host of reviews and what's explicit to one may not be to others. With movies, obviously sex and whatnot is visual and right there, so I understand why it would be rated and not intended for kids but with books, it's a little different.
ReplyDeleteI think reading reviews of books before you give them to your children is important.