I am a Friendswood resident who is upset that the mayor and city council find fault with endorsing the book “A Curious Incident of The Dog in the Night-Time” by author Mark Haddon.
One council member even went so far as to say the book could “pollute” young minds.
As a high school English teacher with 13 years of classroom experience, I feel compelled to reply.
There are many classics taught in the classroom that contain profanity, violence, sexual situations and other controversial situations that may be offensive.
They need to be there to challenge their appropriateness in society. For example, how can author Harper Lee challenge racism without portraying a character like Bob Ewell who is a racist bigot?
It is through his words and actions that we find fault with his words and actions. Yes, the words are harsh and the actions violent, but they open our eyes to the discrimination and racism that offends society in the book “To Kill A Mockingbird.”
I was once asked to stop teaching this book, because an African-American parent flipped through the book and saw the “n” word and immediately deemed the book inappropriate for her daughter to read.
If ever there was a book that condemned racism, it is this one. Once this parent read the book, she realized the mistake she made.
It is my experience that most of the time these books are offensive to those who have not read the book. By flipping through the pages and reading passages out of context, it is possible that “A Curious Incident” would raise some eyebrows.
Yet when one reads the book, he or she realizes that this story is a journey into the mind of an autistic boy. It is a rare glimpse into the world of a child who doesn’t process information the same way most people do.
By reading this book, the reader will gain a sense of understanding and compassion toward those who are different and who think differently.
The reader will also enjoy an entertaining, sometimes funny and very touching story about a family struggling to love and care for a child who, in the end, teaches them a great deal about life and what is most important.
I believe, after reading this book myself, that it is appropriate for young people as well as older ones to read and discuss.
Let’s face it — books are mirrors to the society in which we live. If we want to look into our souls and see who we are, we need to read challenging books that make us think.
We need to expose ourselves to stories and viewpoints that differ from ours in order to learn from them.
I applaud Galveston County Reads for choosing this particular book, because I do believe it has the power to challenge stereotypes, causing readers to become more introspective and compassionate.
The book encourages discussion among parents and children, teachers and students, and, now, even mayors and council members. Bravo.
