The Boy Who Lost his face by Louis Sachar,which has been recommended for first years, promotes Paedophilia , with teenage boys looking at pictures of naked young underage girls:
“Most of the girls were pretty young, probably under seven years old, but there were a couple of girls who were at least fourteen or fifteen”
Although the author describes the protagonist of the story feeling “disgusted” with himself “ he still kept looking” and “here he was getting his kicks by looking at them” . The author also writes that one of the girls “....about nine years old……..had the happiest face he had ever seen. She looked like she was just laughing her head off”.
The Boy who Lost his Face also promotes disrespect towards parents e.g the main character, David, giving his Mum the finger. Later, when David’s dad comes to discuss the incident with him, they seem to come to the conclusion that it’s not really that bad a thing to do: it’s really only bad because we, as a society, has decided it is a bad thing to do.
Verdict: I do not feel happy about the issues raised in this review. Please let us ask for this inappropriate book to be replaced with good literature. I have read other books by Louis Sachar, and found them rather bleak. I want my young son and daughters to read hopeful books which will inspire them and fill them with optimism for the future!
(Bridget L. Co.Cork)
Verdict: So are we now promoting paedophilia in English Class??! Come on parents -it’s up to us to ask for our kids to be exposed to GREAT LiITERATURE! Anyone can read this tripe in their spare time…
(Mary H. Co.Clare, Mum to 2 teenagers)