I understand your point, though I wouldn't call it "fluff," which sounds harmless, and I don't think it is. I'm glad it resulted in a good discussion of the meaning of a Bat/Bar Mitzvah, but I doubt that will often be the result, certainly not in the general public, which will, I think, pick up these books because they sound so with-it for the age group. My concern, which remains, is that far more readers will identify with the book as it is presented -- including all the non-Jewish kids who attend B'nei Mitzvot many times (at least in my area). These are not savory pictures to be showing the world, and not good to be reinforcing the unhealthy ideas they present to Jewish kids. I have no doubt that the girls like them, but that doesn't mean they're good for them.
Madeleine Cohen Oakley Messages and opinions expressed on Hasafran are those of the individual author and are not necessarily endorsed by the Association of Jewish Libraries (AJL) =========================================================== Submissions for Ha-Safran, send to: Hasafran @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu SUBscribing, SIGNOFF commands send to: Listproc @ lists.acs.ohio-state.edu Questions, problems, complaints, compliments;-) send to: galron.1 @ osu.edu Ha-Safran Archives: Current: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/maillist.html History: http://www.mail-archive.com/hasafran%40lists.acs.ohio-state.edu/history.html AJL HomePage http://www.JewishLibraries.org
