The Weekly Debate (10): Drugs and YA

source: NYDailyNews

Many YA books today deal with drugs in some shape or form, and I'm not going to lie, I like reading about drug problems, as perverse as that may sound. However, I feel like some YA books are starting to send the message, perhaps unintentionally, that teenagers doing drugs is acceptable, "normal" even. And I cannot stress enough how that IS NOT OKAY. Did everyone hear that? As simple as it sounds, DRUGS ARE BAD FOR YOU and you should run away from them like they're the devil. Because they really are, in disguise. *shifty eyes* So, should books be promoting drugs to innocent little teens like me? N-O.

Let's get some facts straight:

A) Teens do drugs.
B) Teens like drugs.
C) Teens die from drugs.

If A, B, and C prove to be true, therefore DOING DRUGS IS NOT COOL AT ALL.

I'm not going to lie and say I'm a saint - I'm not, and neither are most, if not all, other teens. I know friends of friends who do drugs, but since I don't actually know them, I can only think of them with dissaproval. As for my close friends, they aren't into drugs at all. I don't need to do drugs as a teen and neither do my friends.

As stereotypical and harsh as it may sound, the people that regularly read books generally aren't the ones who are willing to screw over their life with drugs. Do you see that kid who does marijuana behind the school during class going to the school library and checking out YA books? Not really. So though there are teens that do drugs and, thus, believe that doing drugs is normal, the ones that actually read YA books are most likely teens that haven't done drugs but now possibly conclude that - oh! - maybe doing drugs will make me popular... NOT. I recently saw an ad for some great Disney Hyperion books in the an issue of Seventeen magazine, soon followed by an article about the bad effects of getting high. I think that sort of proves that books and drug-abusers do not mesh. Sorry.

I really, really hate singling out authors/books, but am I the only one that was slightly disturbed by The Beautiful Between by Alyssa B. Sheinmel? (SPOILERS! stop reading now if you don't want to hear them) Essentially, the two main characters bonded over SMOKING. And may I please emphasize again that cigarettes = drugs = NOT COOL. What aggravated me the most about Connelly and Jeremy's daily late night smoking was that Connelly didn't even like smoking, yet she still goes outside and pretends to smoke with Jeremy so that he'll stay with her. To her, it's the only way to keep this super cool/awesome/rich/[insert other great praise here] prince. Excuse me for not having my eyes mist at this sentimental moment, but it sounds like peer pressure to me. I don't think I need to say again that drugs are NOT... yeah. Oh, and don't forget the part where fingerless smoking gloves are a sign of intimate affection -- right. I haven't seen any debates on this yet, so perhaps I'm the only one who feels so strongly about drugs being the stem of a relationship but that's just the message that I get as a fellow teenager. Am I just silly, immature, and overreacting? Maybe. *Side note: Please don't misconstrue this as me bashing the book because though I strongly object against this specific part of Connelly and Jeremy's relationship, there is still redemption to be found in subtle messages of loss and moving on.

There can be an argument made that adding drugs makes a story more realistic. I'll openly say that, yes, it often does and, in fact, can be the reason I enjoy a book more. But what I'm saying is it's about HOW you use drugs in a story. Books such as Crank by Ellen Hopkin and Go Ask Alice both talk about drugs but they talk about the negative effects of them in gory detail -- and that's what makes these books so amazing. Gory detail isn't necessary though, and alcohol is denounced in lighter books such as Cracked Up to Be by Courtney Summers and Leaving Paradise by Simone Elkeles. These books prove that there are many great YA books out there that are trying to address serious problems, but there's also the fact that there are the scattered ones that, while they don't promote drug use, don't discourage it either and instead regard it as normal.

You know and I know that drugs are harmful. But I also know that my little sister read YA books in elementary school, and it would kill me, as well as possibly herself, if she got the wrong message because she didn't know better. Books need to say that drugs are BAD, even if subtly; it doesn't need to be a huge proclamation, but they definitely don't need to continue reinforcing stereotypes like the one that all rock stars do drugs. Really. What books today really need to say is: Don't go smoke to be someone you're not. Don't go drink away your problems. Don't give up some, or even all, of your life for a temporary high.

Hey, it's possible that I'm just extremely sheltered and overreacting teen girl. It's possible that you don't agree. It's possible that you think I'm too morally uptight. It's possible that I am way paranoid. (However, it's certain that I still do NOT like The Beautiful Between's application of smoking.)

Since there are so many possibilities, what do you think of YA books today in concern with drugs? Do you think things need to change or are they fine as is?

-- Looking for another fun question? Visit Eleni's latest Monday's Question of the Day over at La Femme Readers! :)

Guest Post: Angie Frazier + Giveaway!

Today I'll be turning over a blog post to Angie Frazier, the debut author of Everlasting that just came out yesterday! She's been recieving some glowing reviews, and if you love historical fiction, Everlasting has a premise you'll definitely want to check out. And if you're looking for a swoon-worthy sailor,  here's Angie to elaborate a bit more on that...

Very-clickable links: {website}, {blog}, {amazon}, {goodreads}

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It’s far time sailors got some better PR, don’t you think? The stereotypical drunken sailors with scruffy faces and hairy potbellies just won’t do. And I’m not talking about Pirates either. Pirates have received plenty of attention lately, thanks in part to Orlando Bloom and Johnny Depp (okay, okay, thanks ENTIRELY to Orlando and Johnny…nice work boys).

No, I’m talking about honest to goodness sailors…those rugged men of the sea who have an impermeable manliness to them. Men who cause women to fall desperately in love and then feel the need do overly dramatic things like this when their ships don’t come home:

In the spirit of reenergizing the worn out Sailor Stereotype, I’ve come up with a short list of reasons why Every Girl Should Fall For A Sailor:

1.) Sailors are never lazy. They’re always doing something productive. In fact, many sailors were competitive with their fellow shipmates, and when an order was given the boys would race one another to get the task done first. Nothing like a healthy dose of friendly competition to stir the blood.

2.) Sailors know how to sew—and that’s just plain sexy. You can’t diss a burly man who knows how to wield a needle and thread.

3.) Sailors look death in the face every single day and laugh at it. They’re daredevils who live for danger and the unknown. What isn’t sexy about that? Think Man vs. Wild with Bear Grylls meets The Deadliest Catch. Or, okay, just think about Bear Grylls. Yum.

4.) Sailors know how to spin a good yarn. As a writer, I can dig that. Who wouldn’t enjoy listening to an exciting, impossible-to-believe story, followed up by a sea chantey or two?

5.) Sailors are loyal. They work hard, they stick to it, and they stick together, no matter what. Until a fellow sailor dies, and then they auction off his belongings among the crew. But that’s just practical, and yes, practical is attractive too. :)

Why do you think Sailors are sexy?

Thank you, Angie! At this point, I'm fairly convinced that sailors are sexy, and the only thing left that Angie didn't mention that would make me love a sailor, possibly even more than vampires and werewolves, is whether he would be able to COOK. And cook well. Rench pastries would be good... ;)

Anyways, Angie has generously offered up one finished copy of Everlasting to a lucky winner, so you yourself can find out how sexy sailors really are.

Sailing aboard her father’s trade ship is all seventeen-year-old Camille Rowen has ever wanted. But as a girl of society in 1855 San Francisco, her future is set: marry a man she doesn’t love, or condemn herself and her father to poverty. On her final voyage before the wedding, the stormy arms of the Tasman Sea claim her father, and a terrible family secret is revealed. A secret intertwined with a fabled map, the mother Camille has long believed dead, and an ancient stone that wields a dangerous - and alluring - magic. The only person Camille can depend on is Oscar, a handsome young sailor whom she is undeniably drawn to. Torn between trusting her instincts and keeping her promises to her father, Camille embarks on a perilous quest into the Australian wilderness to find the enchanted stone. As she and Oscar elude murderous bushrangers and unravel Camille’s father’s lies, they come closer to making the ultimate decision of who - and what - matters most.

Rules:

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Review: Hourglass by Claudia Gray

Claudia Gray's website here // $11.55 from {amazon}

Series: Evernight, #3
Publisher: HarperTeen (March 9, 2010)
Hardcover: 352 pages
Summary: from {goodreads}

Bianca will risk everything to be with Lucas.

After escaping from Evernight Academy, the vampire boarding school where they met, Bianca and Lucas take refuge with Black Cross, a fanatical group of vampire hunters. Bianca must hide her supernatural heritage or risk certain death at their hands. But when Black Cross captures her friend—the vampire Balthazar—hiding is no longer an option.

Soon, Bianca and Lucas are on the run again, pursued not only by Black Cross, but by the powerful leaders of Evernight. Yet no matter how far they travel, Bianca can't escape her destiny.

Bianca has always believed their love could survive anything . . . but can it survive what's to come?

Rating: View my rating system.

My Thoughts: Okay, I’m going to start off with some things I feel need to be said: 1) It’s extremely hard for me to rate series books because I only buy series I really, really, REALLY love (for the record, the only series I have bought are: some children series, Harry Potter, Twilight, Perfect Chemistry, and L.J. Smith’s Night World), 2) I usually don’t have as much to say when talking about series books for some unknown reason, perhaps because I feel like my few thoughts have already been expended on the previous books, and 3) I am a COMPLETE Balthazar fan, if that means any difference to you at all. Sorry, Lucas.

On to the real review, Hourglass is definitely a paranormal read. There are the centuries-old yet undeniably attractive vampires, the fierce vampire hunters, and then an entirely new, chilling something introduced in this book three of the series. With this intense mix, there just has to be action – and there is. The aspect of the book I can find myself complimenting the most is the action, which was definitely non-stop with mystery and intrigue. Hourglass picks up right where Stargazer left off, with Bianca struggling to remain inconspicuous with Lucas and the gang. However, that turns out to be easier said than done when you’re on the verge of changing into a vampire, have a crazy vampire headmistress hunting your vampire hunter buddies down, and have a best friend that would kill you in a heartbeat if she knew what you really were. If that sounds crazy, it’s only the tip of the iceberg. Hourglass certainly proves that Claudia Gray knows how to weave an intricate story, continually working in new twists and turns to make sure there’s never a dull moment.

Character-wise, Hourglass was “okay.” I liked seeing more of Vic and his new vampire friend, Ranulf, both of with are eccentric in their own, endearing ways; Ranulf is the centuries-behind vampire, where Vic is just Vic, for lack of better words. They’re close seconds to Balthazar in vying for the spot of favorite character, and make the perfect, strange match. Then, of course, I have to mention Balthazar, who is as Prince Charming as ever, swooping in and trying to save the day. I don’t see what charm Lucas has over him but, apparently, Bianca sees something there I don’t, and their relationship is actually what I struggled the most/am still struggling with. I’ve never been a huge Lucas fan, but his and Bianca’s love felt at times stereotypical and, frankly, a bit annoying. Bianca has no choice to feed on Lucas, he gets turned on, etc. and their extreme willingness to sacrifice for each other aggravated me, even if it was meant to be sweet. The way I look at it, there’s a line you have to draw for self-preservation regardless of how much you may love another, yet Lucas and Bianca lack this distinction and feel the need to constantly proclaim their undying love for each other. I’m not trying to degrade their romance, but, frankly, I did not see it standing out among the many other forbidden love relationships. Overall, I felt a degree of disconnect from Bianca and wish that there could have been a bit more emotional exploration along with the packed action.

Ultimately, after finishing Hourglass, the one thing I want the most is some form of closure. Hourglass flowed like the intense middle of a book, fortunate in that it came without the slow introduction though unfortunate in that it lacked the wrap-up conclusion. I arrived at the end expecting a mini-conclusion, but instead found myself confronted by a situation I never would have dreamed of. If you're looking for a suspenseful cliffhanger, you'll definitely find a great one in Hourglass.

Romance: 3.0. I'm sorry I'm biased here, but one word: Balthazar.
Cover: 3.5 - It matches the Evernight theme very well, though the full frontal shot is a bit bland.
Writing: 3.5
Characters: 3.0  
Plot: 4.0

Bottom Line: Hourglass is a fast-paced, action-packed blend of romance, mystery, and danger that will never fail to surprise with its sharp turns and twists.

Will I continue reading this series? It's not my favorite series, but yes, the ending has served it's purpose in sparking my interest to find out what happens next. I cannot rest in peace until this mystery is solved.

Source: Thank you to Jackie Jou and HarperCollins Children's Books for the copy!