Non Fiction Article Summary

In the article “ Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood”, by Sherman Alexie, published in the Wall Street Journal, the author responds to Megan Cox Gurdon’s article, “Darkness Too Visible” and takes the opposing side. Alexie thinks that teens should be able to read about dark subjects because teenagers should be able to read about the experiences they themselves, or someone they know, may be going through. In the beginning, of the article, he explains how he speaks with many kids who went through similar tough situations and were inspired by his book. He continues by explaining why Meagan cox Gurdon is wrong when she argues teens shouldn’t be exposed to dark subjects. He explains that he wishes he could have read a book as a teenager similar to the one he wrote because it would have helped him feel less alone. He concludes by stating that he writes for teens so they don’t have to face their troubles alone because he remembers what it feels like. He writes in blood because he remembers what it felt like to bleed.

Sherman Alexie uses a lot of craft moves to strengthen his argument. He gives many real life examples of teenagers going through the situations Megan Cox Gurdon believes are not appropriate for children to be reading about. Alexie says after reading Megan Cox Gurdon’s “complaints about the “depravity” and “hideously distorted portrayals” of contemporary young adult literature,” he “laughed at her condescension”. This shows he thinks her ideas are so ludicrous that they are comical; making the reader want to also think her article is ridiculous. He gives his story when he was a teenager, saying that he wishes he could of have YA books to read when he was going through hard times like many teenagers are now, convincing the reader that it helps teenagers with hard situations to read YA books

I completely agree with Sherman Alexie. It is important for kids to be able to read about topics that are relevant in their lives. It is ok to write about a topic for a certain age group especially if that age group is experiencing those hard topics in their lives. At the end of the article, Alexie says, “I write to give them weapons-in the forms of words and ideas- that will help them fight their monsters.” This quote stands out to me. It shows that the reason Alexie is writing is he wants to help teenagers fight and read about similar fights their fighting so they wont have to experience what Sherman Alexie experienced. So they won have to fight their battles alone.