Lois Lowry on yet another challenge to The Giver.

The Nashua Board of Education recently voted 7-1 to require parental notification if elementary school teachers plan to use The Giver in classrooms.  They also voted 5-3 against removing it from the elementary school libraries.  The challenge came about after a teacher read the book to a fourth grade class and a parent objected.

Fourth grade does seem a bit young to me for that one, especially as a classroom book -- I would think that the students who would be mature enough for it would be in the minority.  Obviously, I'm glad it stayed in the library -- that way the kids who're up for it will have easy access, too. 

Lois Lowry is of the same opinion:

When asked about the school board's decision Tuesday, Lowry said she agreed with it. She recommends the book for children in sixth grade and up and said she has a grandson in fourth grade and couldn't picture him reading it."I do think fourth grade is too young," said Lowry, in a phone interview from her barn in Maine.

...

Lowry said she would never support removing the book from the elementary school libraries.

"Every parent has the right to monitor what their own child reads, but I don't think any parent has the right to supervise the reading of other peoples' children," she said.

Comments

[Brian F.]

"said Lowry, in a phone interview from her barn in Maine."

Am I the only one who finds that statement funny?

[Jordan]

No you're not. I hope to someday be as cool as her and call a barn my home.

[Shannon]

I believe I read this in fourth grade, I can't quite remember. But I was in a gifted reading program, I think we were reading 6th or 7th grade reading level books. It has been a while since I have read The Giver, why would it be challenged?

[Leila]

It gets challenged pretty regularly (usually in middle schools), and it's the euthanasia and references to suicide that people tend to object to -- too bad, since it's such a powerful (and excellent) book.

And guys, I agree about the barn -- Lois Lowry is made of awesome.

[Rose]

It also has a lot to do with Government controlling your life and lord knows we don't want to raise children who question the government or other authorities.