"Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood" by Sherman Alexie

       The article "Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood" by Sherman Alexie, is a counterargument to Megan Cox Gurdon's, "Darkness Too Visible". Gurdon's article claims that Young Adult fiction is too vulgar and inappropriate for young adults. While Alexie's article claims that the topics of these "inappropriate will not traumatize an already abused kid. I agree with Alexie's proposal, because he gives examples of his claim, Gurdon does not expand on her thoughts.
       In Alexie's article, he says "Does Ms. Gurdon honestly believe that a sexually explicit YA novel might somehow traumatize a teen mother? Does she believe that a YA novel about murder and rape will somehow shock a teenager whose life has been damaged by murder and rape? " To show that many kids have already went through these experiences. He goes on to use himself as an example of this claim. "They wanted to protect me from sex when I had already been raped. They wanted to protect me from evil though a future serial killer had already abused me." This proves his claim and is an example that he gives supporting details to his argument.
       On the contrary, Megan Cox Gurdon does not support her claims with examples. When she says "It has to do with a child's happiness, moral development and tenderness of heart." But then she never expands on this idea. She goes on to ask what do you think is a child's mind when reading a YA novel. As if she knows, but in Alexie's article, he recounts a real story of a teenager telling him what was on his mind.
       So, is YA fiction too dark? Is a good inquiry, but the way Gurdon explains it is not good enough to compare to Alexie's argument of the benefits of these books.