NF Responce

        In the article "Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood," Sherman Alexie wants me to think that YA books don't harm kids, they in fact help them. He talks about the fact that for many kids YA books are an escape, and not just for the under privileged. A millionaire's son spoke to Alexie. "I want to be a writer," he said. "But my father won't let me. He wants me to be a solider. Like he was." "I don't want to be like my father ," that young man said. " I want to be my self. Just like in your book." This show that books like this can help kids living in poverty or in riches. These books teach kids that they can be themselves. When kids with horrible lives read these books it gives them hope. They see people in terrible situations pushing back and standing up for themselves, and that inspires these kids to do the same.  He wants the reader to know that YA books have inspired and helped millions of kids.

        There are many ways the author makes me think and feel what  he wants me to. One thing he does is he points out flaws in his opponents' argument. He talks about the fact that no kid has ever said anything about having trouble with the mature content in his books. Also, he gives personal anecdotes. This is very effective because it's his personal experience, not just some study. He gives examples of lives that his book has changed. Another thing he does is use very powerful language. Words like; "redemptive" and "condescension". He uses these words to describe some things that Meghan Cox Gurdon said.  All of these techniques are very effective.

        I agree with Sherman one hundred percent. I have read many YA books and I don't see the world as a horrible depressing place. That is the basis of the oppositions' argument. They think it's not smart to introduce kids to the subjects in these books, but they are forgetting that these books aren't for kids. Also, we can find all this and more online.  They say someone that has suffered from abuse, for example, might have a relapse, but that is just not true. They can connect to these books more than anyone, and it helps show them that they aren't alone. It shows them that if they a bad situation you can get out of it, and you can have hope. I think that this is a very important message to get across to all kids, even those that don't have horrors in their life.