“The ‘sick-lit’ books aimed at children: it’s a disturbing phenomenon. Tales of teenage cancer, self harm, and suicide…” by Tanith Carey

In the article, “The ‘sick-lit’ books aimed at children: it’s a disturbing phenomenon. Tales of teenage cancer, self harm, and suicide…” by Tanith Carey, Carey describes inappropriate themes in young adult fiction. She explains the many dark themes targeted for young readers. She shows that many young adult fiction books have serious medical issues such as cancer, eating disorders, and other self mutilation methods. Reading books like this can cause readers who have self harmed before, get back into the habit again. It can also give people who have never thought of the idea before the motivation and want to self harm. One thing Carey does is show the perspective of someone who was affected by these books. Jess, a girl who already self harmed, said “I’d finish reading and immediately reach for my blade.” She also only gives examples of books involving cancer or self harm; she shows no examples of books with other issues that are also in the young adult fiction category. Another thing she does is, she refers to young adult fiction readers as children or young people but not simply as young adults.  She makes young adults seem like victims of young adult fiction to convince readers that young adult fiction can and does harm “children”.

                Tanith Carey wants me to think that reading young adult fiction is harmful to the young audience it is intended for. She points out how it teaches young readers about serious, real life issues. She uses example books that have either cancer or self mutilation in them. “Coincidence? Hardly. Another children’s novel- Before I Die- about a 16- year- old British girls who, you will have guessed, is dying of cancer.” She makes us think that ‘children’ are being exposed to serious issues that are way too complex and harsh. Another thing she does is show quotes from people who were affected by these books. She includes a quote from a girl who started self harming again because she read “Red Tears” by Joanna Kenrick.  She gets us to think that it was directly and only the book that made her tip back into her bad habit again. She makes us think that these books can hit too close to home to read for some previous self-harmers. Finally, she really emphasizes that these books should not be given to people under a certain age and can relate to self mutilation. She quotes Laura Haddow from selfharm.co.uk, who expresses that young persons should not read young adult fiction unless under adult supervision. She points out how parents should check on what books their children are reading so they don’t fall victim to self harm. She wants us to think that only a specific group of people are eligible to read these books.

                I understand her point of view; I can see how these books may seem very inappropriate for their intended audience. However, I think it may be a good thing that these books are somewhat inappropriate. Carey points out how these books include very serious issues such as cancer and self mutilation. I think reading books about these topics is a good alternative to finding out about them. Young adults need to know about these issues, they can’t be sheltered forever, and some young adult books can be good teaching texts. She also points out how it has made some people slip back into self harming and even got some teens to start self harming. I think that as long as the reader of young adult fiction has someone mature, like a parent, there for them then they should be safe from self harm. These books can be very good for someone who has self harmed or is thinking about it. Reading these books can give them something to relate to. These books also can convince readers to think that they’re not alone. Phil Earle, author of Saving Daisy, says, “When young people are lost in such traumatic states, it’s vital they don’t feel alone.” This shows the importance of young adult fiction and how it can help struggling teens.

                In conclusion, I think that young adult fiction is good for teens. I think it can be inappropriate and hit close to home, but it can also be a teaching tool and something to relate to. I understand Carey’s point of view and I understand why young adult fiction can be considered dark, but I think only under specific conditions is it unsafe to read.