One of the most dreaded questions I get on a regular basis working at the desk is "Is this appropriate for my child?"
As a librarian, it is hard for me to distinguish the line between censorship and telling a parent whether something is or is not 'appropriate' for their kids. For the most part that is because it is not my place to make that call. Libraries are, as a whole, places where censorship is not condoned. So, for parents/caregivers that want an easy answer, they are going to be sorely disappointed asking their librarian.
I do not agree with censoring a child's reading habits BUT I do not take issue with parents truly wanting to make sure their children are not reading about topics before they are ready. It is a parent's right to do so. It is not, though, my responsibility to decide that. However, I am aware of a trend in Young Adult (YA) currently where many books feature explicit sex and other content. For kids that are high-level readers, but still in elementary or middle school, it is not an easy quest finding them books that do not contain sex. It can also be uncomfortable to let them loose on the YA collection to find their own books when a parent has no way of knowing which ones might not be 'appropriate' for their kid.
Is this to say I would not feel the same when I have my own kids reading in that collection? Not at all! My job as a librarian is to provide access to materials without censoring or judgment. My job as a parent will be to make sure that my kids enjoy reading, that they do not feel shame in reading about topics they are interested in, and that when they are uncomfortable reading about something they come to me to ask questions. And I certainly would not want them to read something sexually explicit or violent if they are, in my opinion, too young or immature to know what they are reading. BUT that is my opinion :). And parents can have their own opinions and beliefs but as a professional my job is to step back and remind the parent that they have to be the one to make that call for their own children.
That being said, I do not have issue with finding books and supplying a list that is considered 'clean'.
My definition of 'clean' are books that:
1. Do not have explicit sex (but may feature a love story or romance)
2. Are considered to be appropriate for grades ranging 5-9 (many of the books are appropriate for younger AND older audiences but I was striving for a mid-line)
*They may still have strong language and some violence, depending on the topic. Parents that have concerns should do their background research.
Below is a list, in author order, of STAND-ALONE titles:
*For a list of "Clean Reads" series, click here
Alexander, Kwame - The Crossover: A Basketball Novel
Anderson, Laurie Halse - Fever, 1793
Auxier, Jonathan - The Night Gardener
Avi - Sophia's War: A Tale of the Revolution
Avi - The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle
Beasley, Cassie - Circus Mirandus
Bell, Cece - El Deafo
Blakemore, Megan Frazer - The Water Castle
Boyne, John - The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
Bradley, Kimberly Brubaker - The War That Saved My Life
Bray, Libba - Beauty Queens
Bruchac, Joseph - Code Talker: A Novel about the Navajo Marines of World War Two
Clayton, Emma - The Roar
Cooney, Caroline B. - Goddess of Yesterday
DiCamillo, Kate - Flora & Ulysses: The Illuminated Adventures
DiCamillo, Kate - Raymie Nightingale
Dooley, Sarah - Ashes to Asheville
Draper, Sharon M. - Out of My Mind
Draper, Sharon M. - Stella by Starlight
Elliott, David - Bull
Ende, Michael - The Neverending Story
Erskine, Kathryn - The Absolute Value of Mike
Funke, Cornelia Caroline - The Thief Lord
Gaiman, Neil - Coraline
George, Jean Craighead - Julie of the Wolves
Gerber, Alyson - Braced
Graff, Lisa - A Tangle of Knots
Hale, Shannon - Rapunzel's Revenge
Hiaasen, Carl - Chomp
Hiaasen, Carl - Flush
Hiaasen, Carl - Hoot
Hiaasen, Carl - Scat
Holm, Jennifer - The Fourteenth Goldfish
Hunt, Lynda Mullaly - Fish in a Tree
Ibbotson, Eva - One Dog and His Boy
Jamieson, Victoria - Roller Girl
Kadohata, Cynthia - Cracker!: The Best Dog in Vietnam
Kehret, Peg - Runaway Twin
Kephart, Beth - This is the Story of You
Korman, Gordon - Ungifted
Lai, Thanhha - Inside Out & Back Again
Levine, Gail Carson - Ella Enchanted
Levine, Kristin - The Lions of Little Rock
Marillier, Juliet - Wildwood Dancing
Martel, Yann - Life of Pi
Martin, Ann M. - A Dog's Life: The Autobiography of a Stray
McKinlay, Meg - A Single Stone
Messner, Kate - Wake Up Missing
Meyer, Carolyn - Girl With a Camera: Margaret Bourke-White, Photographer: A Novel
Mikaelsen, Ben - Touching Spirit Bear
Moodie, Craig - Seaborn
O'Dell, Scott - Island of the Blue Dolphins
Palacio, R.J. - Wonder
Park, Linda Sue - A Long Walk to Water
Paterson, Katherine - Bridge to Terabithia
Paulsen, Gary - Hatchet
Payne, C.C. - The Thing About Leftovers
Philbrick, W.R. - The Last Book in the Universe
Philbrick, W.R. - The Young Man and the Sea
Preus, Margi - West of the Moon
Rivers, Karen - Love, Ish
Sachar, Louis - Fuzzy Mud
Sachar, Louis - Holes
Selznick, Brian - The Invention of Hugo Cabret: A Novel in Words and Pictures
Sepetys, Ruta - Salt to the Sea
Sloan, Holly Goldberg - Counting By 7s
Smelcer, John - Edge of Nowhere
Speare, Elizabeth George - The Witch of Blackbird Pond
Spinelli, Jerry - Stargirl
Spinelli, Jerry - The Warden's Daughter
Stead, Rebecca - When You Reach Me
Stiefvater, Maggie - The Scorpio Races
Telgemeier, Raina - Sisters
Telgemeier, Raina - Smile
Vanderpool, Clare - Moon Over Manifest
Wolitzer, Meg - The Fingertips of Duncan Dorfman
Woodson, Jacqueline - Brown Girl Dreaming
Zusak, Markus - The Book Thief
This certainly is not a comprehensive list. Many of these authors have other books that fit my parameters and there are many other books out there in the world. I did find many items that were listed as middle grade novels, intended for this age group range, that also spoke to an older audience. Sometimes that is the best way to go if you have major concerns about content. If you are interested in my list for series with the same parameters, click here.
Also, for those interested in tools that can guide you in making an informed decision about what is, or is not, appropriate for your child, visit my list of series of "clean reads". I have a list of a few resources/tools to guide you in making the best decision about content if you do not want to read every book your child is interested in reading before they do.
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