[CASL-L] [EXTERNAL] Re: Bear Town by Fredrik Bachman

[Alexandra Stevens]

We have it in our collection at GHS and have never received any pushback,
the students who have read it have loved it.

The entire book revolves around the beloved hockey coach's teenage daughter
being raped by his star player at a high school party and everything that
follows as the incident tears the town apart. It's a fantastic book (and
wonderful series) and as a parent, I would view it appropriate for my
high-school aged children to read any book in that series as I think
Backman handles the issues so well and so realistically from the
perspectives of the teens and the adults. That being said, every teacher
who plans on teaching it should read it because they will spend a good
portion of time discussing rape tramua, toxic culture, complicity, athletic
culture, justice, etc. These are important discussions but not easy ones to
have in the classroom. I also think these are classroom discussions that
11th and 12th graders are better suited to have than those in younger
grades. And the teachers need to know that administration is on board and
has their back with regard to its selection as a required read. Under the
current circumstances, I don't believe *Beartown *would be approved as a
required read in my school/town.

https://cbldf.org/2018/10/beartown-pulled-from-nc-high-school/
https://www.lhsdoi.com/18618/features/cracking-open-the-curriculum/

Alexandra Stevens
Media Specialist
Greenwich High School <http://www.greenwichschools.org/ghs>
203.625.8001

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On Tue, Jan 17, 2023 at 11:24 AM Jen <jlarkin24 at gmail.com> wrote:

> We have it in our collection - along with all of his other titles.  Never
> had any pushback - but having it in our collection and using it in a
> classroom are two different things.  That being said - we use a lot of
> "controversial" titles in classrooms at our school, like Handmaid's Tale,
> Kite Runner, etc.
>
> Is the English Department Head supportive of the decision?  Admin?  Does
> your school have a policy in place when adding a book for instructional
> purposes?
>
> Jen Larkin
> School Librarian
> EO Smith High School
>
> On Tue, Jan 17, 2023 at 11:21 AM Martha Wright <marthawright at gmail.com>
> wrote:
>
>> Hello fellow school librarians,
>>
>> The English teachers here are considering making *Bear Town* required
>> reading.  They noted some sexual assault content in the book and are
>> concerned about getting pushback from students.
>>
>> We are wondering:
>> - Do you have this book in your collection?
>> - Have you ever gotten any push-back regarding this title for the content
>> mentioned above or anything else in the book (I have not read it)
>>
>> Thank you so much for your input and help,
>> Martha Wright
>> Killingly High School
>>
>>
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