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Sunday 1 September 2019

Books that deal well with tough topics

This prompt from Long and Short Reviews took some consideration. I admit that I spent a lot of time in high school being chased around by the librarian who wanted to recommend me "worthy" books while I just wanted to read "Little House on the Prairie". I admit that I tend to avoid books that deal with tough topics after having yet another special about drugs pushed on me.

That said, I do remember a few which were actually readable.

Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret. I didn't always like Judy Blume, mainly for her habit of having every piece of dialogue trail off into ellipses, but this coming-of-age book about a girl and her period ticked all the boxes.

The Pistachio Prescription. Paula Danziger was one of my favourite writers as a teen, and this book handled divorce with sympathy and humour.

This Place Has No Atmosphere. Another Danziger novel about a girl whose family moves to the moon, leading her to miss her friends and new boyfriend and have to accustom herself to life in space. A little lighter than other Danziger novels but it dealt with the topic well.

So which books did you think handled tough topics appropriately?

12 comments:

  1. Are You There God? It's Me Margaret is a wonderful choice. I'd totally forgotten about that book.

    My post.

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    1. I think every school librarian pushes that on people.

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  2. I think Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret, is the only Judy Blume book I didn't read. Haha. But I'm with you - I have two teenaged daughters and a husband with a million health issues. I have enough real life in my real life. :)

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  3. When I was a kid, all of us girls passed around "Are You There, God? It's Me, Margaret." It was pretty much mandatory reading! Good choice.

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    1. We also sneaked "Forever" around but I didn't particularly like that one.

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  4. I forgot all about Are You There God, It's Me, Margaret?
    Good list! I'm looking for this one, This Place Has No Atmosphere, now.

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  5. All are books with difficult issues.

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  6. I've heard of the "It's Me, God..." but I was already in high school when it came out (yeah, I'm old). The others are new to me.

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