I absolutely loved reading this book as an adult.  My initial reaction was, "Teens and parents and teachers NEED to read this book!!"
HOWEVER, I would strongly suggest that the before "requiring" students to read Bear Town that the faculty check in with the School nurse, Psychologist, and Social Worker.  The events and descriptions in the novel could be triggering for students who have experienced trauma. 

~ Heidi DeFlippo
     Library Media Specialist
        East Farms School
     Twitter: @EFLMC

"Reading is the key that opens doors to many good things in life. Reading shaped my dreams, and more reading helped me make my dreams come true." - Ruth Bader Ginsburg

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."  — From Aesop's Fable:  "The Lion and the Mouse"






On Tue, Jan 17, 2023 at 11:50 AM Alexandra Stevens <alexandra_stevens@greenwich.k12.ct.us> wrote:
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
203.625.8001
 
    


On Tue, Jan 17, 2023 at 11:24 AM Jen <jlarkin24@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@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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