I started reading this book last night and all I have to say is OMG. Not to sound like an old prude, but I am SHOCKED by some of the stuff in it. My husband loves The Wire, so I know who Felicia "Snoop" Pearson is, but I had no idea that she was not just some actress HBO picked up to play a role. It is not the drugs and violence that astounds me, but the fact that 10 and 11 year olds are having sex! Of course I am aware that it happens, but the ease with which she mentions it makes me think that it is pretty widespread. I finished Boy Toy a few days ago and although it is fiction, the attitudes of Josh and his friends about sex seem more in tune with what I thought was the norm. Of course they are suburban kids and Pearson is from urban Baltimore, but it still surprises me. Also where did Pearson learn to "strap-on?" She never mentions a specific moment, so maybe it was just part of the conversation because she hung out with older people? Do these kids know about birth control? This worries me because if schools are not teaching proper use of condoms and the pill in the earlier grades, than these girls are going to end up pregnant without the resources to make informed choices. I think it is great though the way that Snoop deals with her sexuality. She really speaks eloquently about homsexuality. I
am loving this book and find my jaw dropping with every turn of the page. I think I am going to ask my husband to dig up his DVDs of The Wire tonight so I can watch them again to see Snoop in action!
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Glad you liked this book. It is amazing and disturbing that girls that age are sexually active...and sad, too.
ReplyDeleteAs for the frank talk about strap-ons, I'm never surprised to hear the things I hear when I go and talk to teens--Actually, now that I think about it--we should have had Chris talk about some of things his teens used to talk about--I had NO idea that teens knew that kind of stuff existed. I was shocked...and it's hard for anyone to shock me.