Darkness Too Visible Response

Niko Amber 803
October 23, 2014


In the article, “Darkness to Visible,” by Megan Cox Gurdon, Gurdon discusses her opinion of Young Adult [YA] literature. Gurdon makes the claim that YA literature is too dark for the age group it targets. The author supports her claim by writing about how sinister she believes YA fiction is. She states, “[YA fiction is] so dark that kidnapping and pederasty and incest and brutal beatings are now just part of the run of things of novels directed, broadly speaking, at children from the ages of 12 to 18.” The author made this point to show the type of content that is typical in YA books. Gurdon strongly opposes the content of YA books and writes about it in her argument essay.

Gurdon uses specific craft moves to manipulate readers into agreeing with her claim. For instance, she begins her essay by using narrative about Amy Freeman, a 46-year-old woman who was looking in a bookstore for a YA novel for her thirteen-year-old daughter. Freeman left the store empty handed after finding no books that she deemed age appropriate. The author wrote this story to inspire the reader to identify with the experience of Amy Freeman. Gurdon’s article was published in The Wall Street Journal, she knows many of her readers will be adults who are looking for books for teenage children. The author also uses the loaded word “ghastly” to describe the subject matter of YA literature. The word ghastly is negatively charged. The author used this word to make the reader feel as though YA books are inappropriate and contain frightening content. The author wants the reader to release all thoughts about YA fiction being good for teens.

Gurdon’s assertion, that YA fiction is too dark for teenagers, is an opinion I do not agree with. I believe that certain YA books may have content that is too mature for some teenagers. However, I believe that it isn’t up to adults to prohibit what teens are reading. It is up to teens to know themselves as readers, and know what they feel comfortable reading. I believe that contrary to what Gurdon states in her essay, teens between the ages of 12 and 18 understand their personal boundaries. Teenagers know if they can handle books about self-multination, for example, or if they need to stay away from books on that subject matter. Adults should not ban YA books, because they don’t know everyone’s story, background and sensitivities. In conclusion, adults shouldn’t ban books but instead should make sure teens know the subject matter of the books they are planning to read, and whether or not they are ready for it.

And Then I Found Out the Truth

Niko Amber  803                                                                                            10/16/14

Reading Response

And Then I Found Out the Truth

There is something about losing your mother that is permanent and inexpressible - a wound that will never quite heal           —Susan Wiggs

And Then I Found Out the Truth, by Jennifer Sturman, is a story about loss and finding independence. In the novel, Delia is a teenager whose mother, T.K., suddenly dies while on a boating expedition in Central America. T.K.’s death forces Delia to move from her beach-side house in California to New York City, where Delia learns life lessons, while trying to unravel the mystery of her mother’s death. Sturman symbolically illustrates the ways in which the death of T.K. impacts Delia both negatively and positively.

            Many readers may be surprised by Delia’s reaction to her mother’s death. Although many teenagers have a hard time coming to terms with the death of a parent, Delia absolutely refuses to believe that her mother, a widow, is dead. Instead, Delia believes her mother is lost at sea. Delia thinks that her mother is too organized to suddenly die in a freak accident. Although, Delia believes her mother is alive, the absence of her only parent takes a toll.

            American novelist Susan Wiggs states, “There is something about losing your mother that is permanent and inexpressible - a wound that will never quite heal.” However, for Delia the effects of her mother’s death were not all negative. Delia experienced a period of growth while mourning for her mother. 

            In the beginning of the book, Delia takes a physics test, which she fails. The test symbolizes the ways in which T.K.’s death negatively impacts Delia. T.K. is a science wizard; she studied at Stanford University and created her own science-based company. However, Delia did not inherit her mother’s aptitude for science. In the past, the only way Delia had been able to pass science class was by receiving constant tutoring from T.K. When Delia fails her first science test after her mother’s disappearance, she begins to understand the ramifications of her mother’s death.

            Although Delia struggled with her mother’s absence, Delia made significant realizations about her self during the time she was living with her aunts in New York. The restrictions that Delia’s mother put into place were dropped under her aunt’s supervision. Delia no longer felt obligated to live up to the expectations that she would equal her mother’s success. Delia began to live her life based on her preferences rather than arbitrary rules her mother put in place. For example, Delia’s mother only believed in buying clothes from L.L. Bean catalogs. When Delia moved to New York she was no longer regulated in her clothing choices; she could finally express herself through fashion.

            While Delia suffered though her mother’s absence, she reaped great rewards in discovering her independence. She learned how to live without the restrictions of her mother, and although she got off to a rocky start in her science class, she managed to get her grades up. At the end of the book, Delia got a got an A on her physics final. It’s likely the author, Jennifer Sturman, wrote And Then I Found Out the Truth to show teenagers that while they may go through hardships as they are developing into adults, something good can come out of a bad situation.

            Delia’s experiences throughout the book are relatable to many teenagers. Although the story revolves around a mysterious death, the foundation of the plot is a coming of age story. Specifically, And Then I Found Out the Truth is about a girl who loses her mother, only to find her independence, individuality and resilience. This is a universal theme that resonates with many teenagers, because all teens have to go through separating from their mothers to find who they are as individuals.