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The Scrotum


The Newbery winner this year has the word scrotum on the first page. I bought the book on Friday but haven't cracked it open yet. Then I read in the NYT today about the author's inclusion of the word scrotum: "The book's heroine, a scrappy 10 year old orphan named Lucky Trimble, hears the word through a hole in a wall when another character says he saw a rattlesnake bite his dog, Roy, on the scrotum." Come to find out, librarians are not ordering the book because they don't think kids should read the word scrotum. Isn't that odd? I want to read the article with the sixers and cincos. We've been talking about the power of words. Scrotum never seemed very powerful to me before, but I guess others think differently. When I read the sentence my first thought wasn't, "OMG, scrotum!" But instead, "Roy! Great name for a dog!"
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Undomestic said…
This has been a topic of conversation on a list-serv I'm on to discuss middle level books (many YA authors, librarians and teachers are on it). Many felt the article was very one sided....as it was. MOST librarians are not banning the book. I can't believe that using a scientifically correct name is grounds for such an "uproar." I'm finishing Notes from a Midnight Driver today, and then starting Higher Power of Lucky tomorrow.
3:23 PM
Anonymous said…
I hope most librarians aren't banning the book. I can't wait for a parent to complain about the book so I can use the word "scrotum" a million times in about 5 minutes.

I wonder how parents felt when I explained to their kids that I had BREAST cancer.

When I read the book I just chuckled as I ripped through the paragraph.
jw
8:34 PM
Anonymous said…
First we hear about a club changing the marquee for the showing of "The Vagina Monologues" to replace the offensive word with "Woohaa", now scrotum is under fire?

In less than 20 yrs these kids could be our doctors. Instead of a trip to the OBGYN will we head to the "Woohaa Diagnostic Center"?

Hey maybe we will all get lollipops after the exam. I knew there was a bright side.

Sisterwoman Joy
8:57 AM
Anonymous said…
I remember reading about how Victorian women would go to the doctor with breast pain and would have to say things like "I have a pain in my upper left stomach." You know, upper upper stomach..We still need to describe the things referred to by the taboo words so people find new words to describe them anyway. It really is bizarre though that the technical terms are now somehow shocking.
10:23 AM
Undomestic said…
Oh, you've got to read author Scott Westerfeld's response to the NY times article on his blog. It's great!

http://www.scottwesterfeld.com/blog/
10:14 PM
Undomestic said…
Okay, so I finished this book, and I have to say, I was kinda disappointed. I loved it at first, but then the end was just so rushed and lacked any kind of depth (or maybe I do???). Anyhow, I'm surprised it won the Newbery. And I can't see my students loving it.
5:57 PM
LH said…
i gave it to a cinco last week, so i'll see what she says.
i love that scott westerfield blog.
i haven't read any of his stuff.
8:05 AM
Undomestic said…
Have your read Westerfeld's The Uglies? I really enjoyed it. I thought it lacked strong characterization, but the story could lead to so many great discussions with students. I haven't read the other ones in the trilogy yet.
11:16 PM
LH said…
I bought that for teen daughter, but i'm not sure if she read it.
he has a new series called the midnighters that were in the book order. kids seem to like those.
he's a great blogger i believe.
9:15 AM
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