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Violence in Children's Books
Robert Muchamore has stirred the waters of writing for the young with recent comments. He believes kids of today want some violence in their books. They now think writers like Julia Donaldson and Michael Morpurgo, as "deeply uncool." I am conscious of this thinking and do have some violence in my latest effort now with interested publishers. However, I do not believe in writing violent scenes for violence's sake, but it must be important. What are your views? Of course we are not talking about picture books, but.....there's a helluva lot of violence in nursery rhymes isn't there?
Comments
Michael Morpurgo has written of violence, what about War Horse and Private Peaceful?
If you are talking about writing violent scenes where there is no come-uppance, then I do not think that is appropriate.
I'm never likely to write stuff for children, but I guess you have to make a judgement about what kids can reasonably 'take on board'. I suppose it depends on individual kids.
In an ideal world our kids would never witness or experience violence, but that is not the world many kids live in.
If the book gives a positive message by the end, showing that perhaps, there is an alternative, or that the violence does not have to continue blighting that character's life, then I've no problem.
But violence being added in just because it can be. Then no.
It's his own fault; he deserved it!
You have to recognise that, as a 'baddie' might well be reading the book, if all they get from a book is the same 'you are bad and deserve come-uppance', or in this case, death, then how will they ever start building a better them? Certainly if the baddie is a character that the reader has some investment in, I don't think they should be killed off - a satellite figure perhaps.
I never got over the death in 'Lord of the Flies'. That was a goodie getting killed of course!
I would NEVER kill a child! Heavens above!
What must you think of me, Liz!!!
O:-)
What was the target age I wonder?