I like violence, sex, and drugs...

Every Monday, in my 90-minute 11th grade English classes, we have independent reading. I have been pleasantly surprised at how much the students actually enjoy this time to read to themselves in a quiet (somewhat) environment. The only rule is that you have to read a book (no daily newspapers or magazines allowed), but any type of book is okay: manga, graphic novels, urban fiction, Moby Dick...it's all valid for independent reading.

After six weeks of independent reading, I had the students write a summary of what they have read as well as a note to me about what they'd like to see in my measly classroom library which is mostly composed of books people in my neighborhood put on their stoops. All the good books I find (books in urban settings, with characters that are teens of color, that might have some mild drug dealing, etc. within their pages) are snatched up and passed around immediately, leaving the less desirable books on my shelf. I'd like to supplement my library, but I want to make sure I buy things the kids will read.

Some responses from Monday's assignment =

"I like books about violence, drugs, and sex. Action books really."
"I like to read about kids being abused, killing, things related to teens, and action."
"The book I'm reading is Tasting Cindy. I'ts about a married housewife that has sex with other men when her husband is away. She was blackmailed by her husband's brother. He forced her to have sex with him and his mistress. She does it because she don't want her husband or her mother to know about her secret sex life."

WOW.

I am still constantly surprised by my students desire to read such pornographic books. I read some of this smut over their shoulders and I blush. It poses a hard question as to what we can allow in school. We certainly would not show a pornographic film in class (even if it could potentially supplement a lesson!), so should we allow such books in school? How can we police this work? What actually constitutes the crap from the plain, old urban fiction that might have some cursing and drugs but is still far from a porno?

Above is my fave student book from a few years back: Homo Thug. A man gets sent to prison and has to find love in the arms of another man.

The people who write this "shit lit" are rich, fo' sure.