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I've read a couple of these books and I hate them. That's a strong and unusual statement from me as I encourage my students to read anything they can get their hands on--comic books, magazines, trade books--as long as they are reading, decoding and comprehending, it is helpful. But these books are vile!

There are no redeeming features to these books. I know the article says this, but it is much worse then they admit in the article. They are poorly written with little character development or plot. The theme for each seems to be "let's all go be deviants and laugh at those who are good." There is a air of normalizing harmful behavior with the idea that "this is what all families are like." Well, no, all families AREN'T filled with druggies and alcoholics and girls who are just plain mean and nasty.

One of my students brought one in last month and we spent an entire class period reading it aloud and pointing out areas that we disagreed with. I read aloud every day from Bill Bennett's book and we compared the lessons taught in the different books and discussed which one makes you a better person. Even my learning disabled kids were disgusted with some of the descriptions. I had to be very very careful with what I read because some of it is pornographic.

I would never allow my daughters to read these, and thankfully that is not a fight I will need to make as they have already formed their tastes in books. But for those of you with 'tweens' just pass these by in the book store and find something else.