Welcome to Buzz Worthy News where the stories are awesome and not at all well-written. Need your YA industry news? This week Kat Kennedy is here to give it to you straight.
In this week’s Buzz Worthy News: Judy Bloom Blows up on Trigger Warnings, New Harry Potter Play on the West End, Looking For Alaska has a director and lots, lots more!
Buzz Worthy News is Cuddlebuggery’s weekly news post bringing you all the best information about the book and blogging world, particularly for the venn diagram of people who overlap between the two. For new releases and cover reveals of all the best Young Adult fiction, check out our Tuesday post: Hot New Titles.
Judy Blume Strikes Out at Trigger Warnings
Judy Blume blew up about trigger warnings this week when a Time journalist questioned her on the issue.
TIME: You’ve been very active in fighting against censorship. Have you heard of trigger warnings?
Judy Blume: No, what are trigger warnings?
Some college students want trigger warnings in front of classics like Ovid that would say, “There’s going to be a reference to murder or rape here, so if you’re particularly sensitive to that, then don’t read this.”
That is making my blood boil! And I have heard of it, now that you tell me what it is. I mean, please! Let’s grow up.
Why does it make you upset?
Why are we treating college students like babies? You’re supposed to be challenged in college. We can have our beliefs and still read and discuss things. We don’t have to become zealots and say, “This has to be removed, and this has to be removed” and “You have to be warned here because oh, my goodness! Oh, my goodness!” There are many, many challenges to books. All you have to do is look at a bulletin of the National Coalition Against Censorship or the ALA’s Freedom to Readnewsletter and you will see that there are still plenty of things being challenged. The desire to censor or ban or challenge is contagious.
Time seems to have misled Judy Bloom a little bit, and even if they didn’t, Judy Blume still kind of really has it wrong.
1. Trigger warnings are usually mostly passed on by reviewers and book recommenders. Some people may be advocating that they be placed on books, but that is not how they, as they are now, are treated.
2. You are not a baby for needing a trigger warning for material that will trigger a traumatic event. Trigger warnings exist to help survivors and vulnerable people avoid material that will cause extreme emotional distress to read about. They are not to warn people away from books or media. They are simply a statement of content.
3. Trigger Warnings are very different to censorship. Nobody is saying, “Don’t write books about suicide.” Nobody is saying, “Don’t sell books about war.” Nobody is saying, “Make it harder for people to buy books about eating disorders.”
The only request being made is that it’s easier for vulnerable consumers to be educated about media that could adversely effect them. It’s a complicated issue that deserved a lot more time, attention and thought than an author being baited into giving erroneous, misleading opinions on it to fuel a clickbait article.
JK Rowling Announces New Harry Potter Play
I’m sorry but some serious flailing is needed for this announcement! The Queen has stated herself that there is to be a new Harry Potter Play to open at West End!!!!!!!!!!!!
I'm also very excited to confirm today that a new play called Harry Potter and the #CursedChild will be opening in London next year.
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2015
HARRY POTTER AND THE CURSED CHILD.
You mean like how all his children are cursed with horrible names?
I don't want to say too much more, because I don't want to spoil what I know will be a real treat for fans. #CursedChild
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2015
However, I can say that it is not a prequel! #CursedChild
— J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) June 26, 2015
Not a prequel! So it really is about the fact that Harry Potter didn’t name a single one of his kids Remus Lupin but managed to sneak Severus in there somewhere?
Sorry, kinda have issues I have to work through.
Jack, Jon and Sonia Freedman are the dream team apparently behind this incredible news!
AND it will not be a musical. So we know that much.
Looking For Alaska Has Director
The latest news in John Green novels being adapted into movies is that a director has been picked for Paramount’s adaptation of Looking for Alaska. Rebecca Thomas has been chosen to direct the third instalment of John Green’s popular young adult novels. John Green announced the hiring on his twitter account this week and has also spoken about what a personal story Looking for Alaska is for him.
https://twitter.com/johngreen/status/613869801698672645
No word yet on which role Shailene Woodley will take up in the film.
Gayle Forman is Writing for Adults Now
Apparently sick of those ill-begotten youths that launched her career, Forman is striking out for the older crowd at last, having sold her North American Rights for her latest novel, at auction, to Algonquin.
“After a decade of mining the young-adult experience, I was ready to turn my attention to marriage and motherhood. It felt like the time to write a novel starring people my own age,” Forman explained in a statement. “I have been reading Algonquin books for years, so it’s a bit surreal to now find myself in the prestigious company of authors like Robert Goolrick, Sara Gruen, Tayari Jones and more. Needless to say, I am thrilled to be publishing my debut adult novel with Algonquin.”
Amy Gash, senior editor at Algonquin closed the deal with Michael Bourret – Forman’s agent.
Fangs for the Fantasy
gah the whole idea of “treating people like babies” totally misses the point – it’s not about treating people like babies – it’s about being aware that trauma victims exist, that it’s hard living with that and it would be nice it people helped, just a little, in making that navigation a little bit easier and a little bit safer
Equating trigger warnings to censorship is as ludicrous as equating criticism to censorship – commentary is not silencing
Kat C
I still can’t believe they are going to make a Looking for Alaska and Let It Snow movie and there haven’t even been any talks of making a Will Grayson, Will Grayson movie. When they make the Alaska trailer I’m sure Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska will look like practically the same movie.
I think at one point JG said Hollywood isn’t ready for Will Grayson, Will Grayson , but I think it could be and it feels to timely. I imagine it like a Pitch Perfect-Glee-ish type movie.
Natalie M.
I think the Harry Potter play will be about Teddy Lupin and his figuring out whether he suffers from the werewolf curse like his dad. Just a speculation. 😀
Zareena @ The Slanted Bookshelf
I definitely am not in agreement with censorship but I do understand that trigger warnings are sometimes necessary and is a whole different discussion. On the happier news, a Harry Potter play!! Now I am seriously wondering what it will be about… but such a long time to wait 🙁 Thanks for sharing the news!
Katherine
I’m really excited to see Gayle Forman reaching out. She’s a really great YA author and hopefully her adult books will be just as good, with maybe some people branching from adult to YA as well through her new book. I’m not that excited about the Harry Potter news, mostly because I have never been a huge fan of that series. I am pretty upset about Judy Blume’s reaction though. I have found trigger warnings helpful, especially for material that might not be mentioned in the summary. Many of my friends with anxiety problems also like these so they keep reading as a safe experience and something that is enjoyable.
La Coccinelle @ The Ladybug Reads...
Judy Blume’s comments are disappointing. Does she not understand the point of trigger warnings? The fact that someone had to explain them to her suggests that maybe her comments are a bit uninformed. Or does she just not care about trauma victims?
Beth W
I blame the interviewed for Judy Blume’s misunderstanding of trigger warnings. I mean, look at the way they phrased it! Totally misleading.
Personally, I don’t subscribe to trigger warnings (I think it’s reasonably obvious when a book has darker themes, especially if you read the reviews and what age level it’s deemed appropriate for) even though I’m a survivor of trauma. But I don’t judge folks who feel more comfortable finding out about potential emotional triggers before diving into a book. No one should be ambushed any more than they should be totally shielded from being challenged.
Also, cracking up about your Shailene Woodley aside.
Carina Olsen
Yay for awesome news Kat 😀 Thank you for sharing about it all. <3 I'm thrilled about the Harry Potter play news. But now I wish I could go see it, hmph 🙂 And hahah, I also have issues with the names of his children 🙂 Wishing he had just given them new names, and not of those who are dead :p Oh, well. Gorgeous post sweetie 🙂
Briana @ Pages Unbound
I think the thing about trigger warnings is that the way they are currently handled is pretty sporadic. Someone who wants to have trigger warnings would basically have to Google every book they want to read and hope they stumble across a blog post that mentions there is content some readers might want to avoid.
I don’t really follow this issue, so I don’t know how strong of a contingent there is advocating for putting the warnings on book covers, as the article suggests, but it doesn’t seem far-fetched to me that some people would think this was the way to go. The problem is that once trigger warnings are made “official,” either with notes on book covers or in some “official” Internet database, things get sticky. People are going to have to agree on definitions (legally, there are people disagreeing about what rape is, so it could happen here too) and on a hierarchical system. Does a graphic rape scene get a different label than a mention, without description, that a character is raped?
Plus, there’s the issue of books that don’t need trigger warnings. Do they get a label or get put on a list that they’re “clean?” Because, if not, how does a reader know if they’re safe or if it’s just that no one has evaluated and categorized the book yet? And will people be angry if an “official” warning misled them somehow? (ie: someone determines a book doesn’t need a warning, but a reader disagrees)
Just some things to think about. I’m not against unofficial sharing of trigger warnings in any way, but if the movement goes towards an official system…there are going to be challenges sorting it all out.
Joséphine @ Word Revel
I think the reason Judy Blume’s response to trigger warnings was so indignant was that the explanation given to her wasn’t clear. Personally, I can understand why trigger warnings might be useful but I wouldn’t want them to be slapped onto the front, if that’s really what some people are advocating. For those of us who aren’t affected, trigger warnings also are a form of spoiler. Maybe if they were printed at the back or copyright pages, they’d be helpful.
Although, lists such as those that booklr people have put together on Tumblr are a great resource as it is because they can be more specific about particular trigger warnings. Including them inside a book would lead to the question of which trigger warnings to note to the exclusion of other possible ones.
Vane J.
Trigger warnings ARE necessary. I agree with you: They’re not to shoo readers – they’re to WARN people about something that might trigger emotional distress in him/her. She saying taht seriously annoys me.
And yay for the Cursed Child! Did you see J.K.’s epic responses to many people asking her if it was a prequel? So hilarious xD
Shannelle
I think that trigger warning bit wasn’t handled properly. It’s important especially for victims of something like rape, and some people just aren’t okay with violence. And I’m glad people respect that and put trigger warnings. They’re not for everybody, they’re for peole who might be disturbed by something.
Lyn Kaye
That makes me sad about the trigger warning issue. You have no idea how something affects someone else. It isn’t trying to cut out content from a book, it is like a rating on a movie – it lets you know what is in it and if it is something you can handle.
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