Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

There's nothing wrong with homosexuality or bi-sexuality. But if your kid believes in Santa Claus, needs occasional help washing the shampoo out of her hair, has to be told repeatedly to get dressed because it's time for school, likes Shopkins, and has handwriting like a 3rd grader because she IS a 3rd grader, then I'm pretty sure she's not ready to explore the idea of bi-sexuality. Let kids be kids. Jeez. What's the rush? The main girl in this book is BOY CRAZY (hence the heart above her head on the cover art.) She's easily offended when boys won't kiss her. Why won't they kiss her, you ask? Because the boys are gay. They're all gay, or bi-sexual. Why? Because the story takes place in a drama club. (Note to the author: Not all boys who do theatre are gay-- it's pretty cliche to think so.) Though I do really like that gay kids are represented here-- we definitely need to see more diversity in romantic story-lines. This book is perfect for kids 6th grade and up, but it should say precisely that on the cover so parents with younger kids can skip it. The first two books in this series are intended for kids 8 and up. Along comes the 3rd book. The kids who read the first two want the 3rd-- so mom buys it. You end up with a bunch of 2nd, 3rd and 4th graders reading a book about one girl's obsession with getting a boyfriend, and the gay and bi-sexual boys who thwart her efforts. Scholastic, you blew it. Why not put the *new* age range on the cover? Or better, write an *honest* synopsis on the back so parents get an idea of what their kids will be reading. How are we supposed to know that the 3rd book (in a series initially intended for 8-year-olds) is no longer intended for 8-year-olds? Childhood is short and getting shorter. Kids get two seconds in life to NOT focus on boy/girl craziness before it completely takes over their lives. Why do we, as adults, insist on robbing them of those two seconds? If you're looking for good books with plot lines that aren't boyfriend/girlfriend driven, try Katherine Applegate's Crenshaw and The One and Only Ivan. Or Where the Mountain Meets the Moon by Grace Lin-- anything by Grace Lin. The Night Fairy by Laura Amy Schlitz. Molly Moon's Incredible Book of Hypnotism is great! Woof by Spencer Quinn. The Heidi Heckelbeck series is fun for 2nd and 3rd grade reluctant readers.