I thought that Jessie’s answer to my LUKE question was interesting. She mentioned a scene between Luke and Emily that she loved that involved the first time (and only time) they have sex.

The following is an excerpt from a review on Amazon – it is obviously written by an adult. The title is “DO NOT BUY! Parents Be Warned!!!” Read on:

“When I read it I was assaulted with sex, sex, and more sex. Now, the author does not go into details about any sexual encounter but it is all that the main characters think about and talk about. Parents, unless you want your children to be constantly thinking about sex, do not let them read this book. I always find it disappointing to find a book with so much promise only to have it ruined by something as unecessary as sex.”

Really? All they think about? My God, Emily had enough to worry about – like betraying her friends, her family falling apart, getting into college, fitting in back in her old school, deceiving Luke. Who has time to think about sex?

Must say, the vehement tone surprised me. Because in the grand scheme of things, I think my books deal with issues pretty realistically. I’d hate to avoid or ignore a topic or issue because it’s “off limits.” And especially when, to me, it feels like the honest thing for the characters to do. Growing up I read books that dealt with sex and I didn’t end up in a home for wayward girls with bad thoughts.

You can’t change people’s opinions. But to those that think books should sidestep topics simply because they pose moral implications I say: The only thing unnecessary when writing books for teens is to treat readers as if they don’t have the ability to form their own opinions and make their own decisions.