[ISLMA-Share] Genius Files Question

Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association islma at list.railslibraries.info
Thu Aug 11 09:07:49 CDT 2016


I won't pull the book, but I certainly won't encourage teachers to use it as a read aloud. I probably won't recommend it much either, cause I have a hard time promoting a book that I really just hate. Which is a shame, because in our one-to-one district, the opportunity to follow along on the road trip on your device is super cool. Mainly, I wondered what people felt about it and if discussion happened over this. Frankly, the attitude presented over and over that of course the boy twin is smarter and the leader of the two bothers me more than the use of the word retarded. It is unrelenting and the message is ugly - if you're a girl, you follow a boy, cause he's the leader. I think Gutman thinks he is presenting the boy (Coke) as annoying and a know it all but that just doesn't stop me cringing over lines like "Coke was a few minutes older and Pepsi couldn't make up her mind, so she let him choose" (or something like that - that isn't a direct quote). And though Coke is "corrected" when he uses the term retarded - the correction has an icky, "you need to be politically correct" connotation, not a "stop using hurtful words" kind of tone. 

Helen 





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From: "Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association" <islma at list.railslibraries.info> 
To: "Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association" <islma at list.railslibraries.info> 
Sent: Wednesday, August 10, 2016 11:26:11 AM 
Subject: Re: [ISLMA-Share] Genius Files Question 

Yes, and the context of his use of it was more offensive, and the character never changed as a result. These are great opportunities for discussion and argumentative writing. 



On Wed, Aug 10, 2016 at 8:22 AM, Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association < islma at list.railslibraries.info > wrote: 





Just for information, the 2017 Bluestem book Rain Reign by Ann Martin also has the word "retarded" in it when the dad refers to the special needs classroom. 





Peggy Burton, Librarian 

Williams Elementary School 

1709 S. 9th Street 

Mattoon, IL 61938 

217-238-2800 

From: islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info < islma-bounces at list.railslibraries.info > on behalf of Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association < islma at list.railslibraries.info > 
Sent: Tuesday, August 9, 2016 11:00:55 PM 
To: islma at list.railslibraries.info 
Subject: Re: [ISLMA-Share] Genius Files Question 
I am not sure if it will allow me to attach this photo, but it is a photo of Author Dan Gutman's response to similar complaints. He responded in October on his FB page. I am not agreeing with him in any way, only sharing. 

On Tuesday, August 9, 2016, Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association < islma at list.railslibraries.info > wrote: 

<blockquote>

Oh my goodness this is just awful to hear. We had Mr. Gutman at our schools last year...it was quite an honor because he no longer does school visits. 

While I've read many of his books, I did not feel that I need to read the Genius Files. 

Whatever possessed him to use the term "retarded," and how did it ever get nominated for an award? 

Kids check out this series as choice reading and I wouldn't have the opportunity to explain why or why not Mr. Gutman used such a vulgar term. 

Unless someone, who has read the book, can give me just cause for the term...I'm pulling the book. 

Very disappointing, but I thank you for pointing this out to us. 

Linda 

“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.” 
—Jenny Han, The Summer I Turned Pretty 
_________________________________________________________ 
Linda M. Polak, MLIS 
Director of Library/Information Services 
Sunset Ridge School (Grades 4-8) 
525 Sunset Ridge Road 
Northfield, IL 60093 
polakl at sunsetridge29.org 
(847-881-9449 ) 
Fax: 847-446-6388 


On Tue, Aug 9, 2016 at 7:08 PM, Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association < islma at list.railslibraries.info > wrote: 

<blockquote>

I also noticed those two things (girl twin not as smart, retarded) and they bothered me. I also felt like the book wandered in terms of plot. I've never served on an awards committee, but I know they work very hard to choose books for the list. It's impossible to know what they discussed and what other books were rejected. 

I guess, as Joanne said, it is a good opportunity for discussion. However, I'm not sure that I will be able to mention it every time I book talk the book. (Or if it is even appropriate to.) If I do, will those two things be the only things they notice about the book when they read it? 

Pam 

On Tue, Aug 9, 2016 at 3:25 PM, Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association < islma at list.railslibraries.info > wrote: 

<blockquote>

Hi Helen -- 

I really could not believe this book made it to the final Bluestem list. I had a problem with the two things you mentioned as well as the violence and, really, the lack of a coherent plot. I think that if Gutman had just written a funny realistic fiction book about the family roadtrip and all the unusual roadside attractions they visit, it would have probably made a much better book. When I discuss this with my Bluestem Book Club students, I intend to bring up the problems that I have with the book. It will be interesting to hear what the students have to say about it. 

Joanne 

On Tue, Aug 9, 2016 at 3:04 PM, Email list for the Illinois School Library Media Association < islma at list.railslibraries.info > wrote: 

<blockquote>

Anyone had any experience with discussion of a couple of things that are disturbing me about this book? 

1) several instances of a major character repeatedly using the word "retarded" 
2) many references to the girl twin not being smart? 

Am I being over sensitive? This is really bugging me..... 

Helen Bibler 
LLCD - Heritage Lakes School 


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