Out of Shadows by Jason Wallace, which is set in a boys school in Zimbabwe, is littered with highly offensive sexualised language: the book abounds with words and phrases such as Wanker, Prior the Wire, Wire-Puller, bum chum, taking it up the arse, dick, cock, etc etc. Also, offensive words such as piss, shit, bastard, black bitch, poof, queer etc etc . occur constantly throughout the book. Ironically, this book which supposedly highlights racism, actually encourages the reader to think racist thoughts, through the many negative comments and anecdotes it relates about black people. It also contains many slurs against boys with homosexual tendencies. The theme of torture and murder occurs in the book, and although it is not explicitly condoned, it is none-the-less disturbing.
Verdict: I am not happy for my 17yr old boy to be reading this material. I think it glorifies murder (when the victim is not viewed as “good”) and the use of guns and crude, disgusting language. I think that there are many other better books out there which can highlight the themes of Racism and the Moral Dilemma of “Would you kill a character like Adolf Hitler if you knew in advance what he was planning to do?”, wihout the added crude language etc.
(Laura B. Mother of 17yr old, Co.Meath)