Challenged in MO: It's Perfectly Normal.

From the Detroit Free Press:

The book, titled “Perfectly Normal,” contains cartoon drawings of naked people and others involved in sexual acts. It’s available at middle school libraries. And although it indicates it’s meant for kids 10 years and up, it’s still making some parents uncomfortable.

“Most of the time, when I showed this to parents, their jaws just hit the floor,” parent Tim Schmidt said. “They were shocked and then their next reaction was outrage.”

The article incorrectly lists the title as Perfectly Normal, and doesn't mention Robie Harris by name, but the somewhat A Current Affair--ish (i.e. fear-mongering, HIGH DRAMA, SCARY PIXELATED IMAGES) segment at KSDK shows the cover of the book.

This is a great example of how much tone and inflection can affect the way that we ingest information: the written article is basically just a transcription of the television spot, but it comes off as pretty dry and straightforward, whereas the televised version of the story comes off as totally leaning in the ZOMG THERE ARE NEKKID CARTOONS IN OUR SCHOOLS WON'T SOMEONE THINK OF THE CHILDREN direction.

Comments

[Jennifer]

Nobody protested it at my library. They just stole it. And then stole it again. GAH.

[Leila]

Like this, you mean? :)

[Jennifer]

Probably. They just....mysteriously disappeared. But I won in the end. I got it added to the school's recommended reading for sex ed in 4th grade *smug face*. And our current copy is still here. Uh...I think. Yeah, haven't done inventory in a while, better check that...