Khayla Carway
810
Should Ellen Hopkins books be banned from middle school libraries
Many students around the world face depression and being drug abusers.There are many reasons for why students hurt themselves or use drugs. For some students they don’t know what the outcome of drugs and bullying is. In many Ellen Hopkins books she shows what happens to students that do go through bullying , depression and underage drinking and the stories don’t end happily, telling of true stories that most likely happen everyday. Middle school libraries should not ban any books by Ellen Hopkins',because her books educate students by showing the consequences of drug use and bullying.
In Ellen Hopkins “Crank” trilogy describes, to readers how kristina a high school honor student, was introduced to "the monster". In the book the monster is a metaphor that refers to drugs such a "Meth"and when Kristina intoxicates herself she becomes "Bree" a character that drives Kristina to do stuff that she would never dare to do. As Hopkins explains the experience of doing "Meth" is like a person that prevents you to being stable and forcing you to do stuff that you would rather not. As Hopkins points out:
" He jumps into your head and opens your mouth,making it spout your deepest darkest deception."
A new survey from the national center on addiction and substance abuse at Columbia University states that about 17 percent of high schoolers drink, smoke or use drugs during the school day. Many believe that it is a very small amount of students, but if students are performing these acts during school imagine what students may be doing on there freetime. If students aren't enforced to learn that putting drugs, cigarettes, and alcohol damages your body,especially at young age, then this problem will not just disappear and will continue to get worse overtime. In many Ellen Hopkins books the reader is lead to understand students doing dangerous acts or being peer pressured into drugs and choose unsmart decisions.
In Hopkins "Tilt" the reveals how six different main characters that are going through struggles are all facing forms of depression, bullying or self-bullying. Many students relate to "tilt" because it shows explores characters that are gay, or secretive, obsessed, popular, and children of divorce parents. Hopkins wrote this book to show students they are not alone in experiencing these problems. As hopkins explains through her characters:
"Behind a fake smile. I wear it all the time. Everyone says how I always look so cheerful. Shows what they know I guess..."
There are about 7 types of anxiety and depression that students and adult can face daliy. Research has shown that over 15 million people men and women suffer from social anxiety disorder typically beginning around age 13. Many students face these problems everyday, and don't know what do or where to go. In Hopkins' book she shows the readers how they're students like them and some take the wrong step so you can learn from what they did learn from their mistakes.
One major conversely aspect of many of Hopkins books does contain sexual content, drug use and underage drinking. Many parents and adults are concerned that readers might encourage and get the impression that students have to copy the characters in order to handle there problems. Ellen hopkins books doesn't just show readers that intoxicating is a good way to make yourself feel better but shows all the dangers as well.
