Banned Balls
It's not only dirty words that can get your novel banned from school libraries. Apparently even technical terms for certain body parts are also a no-no. Words like: scrotum. Actually a pretty funny word when you think about it, right? Let's all say it together: "Scrotum, scrotum...sca-ROH-HO-HO-tuum...!"
The fact that this novel is a Newbery Medal winner doesn't cut the least bit of ice: http://publishersweekly.com/article/CA6416737.html?nid=2788
So there I was, writing Before/After, wondering how many swear words I could officially get away with. These are inner city kids, right, and yes, they swear (not unlike many of the suburban kids I hear). To not have them swear would be utterly ridiculous. I drew the line at a particular C-word, the ultimate female insult, the # 2 mother of all nasty words. It was the perfect word for my villainess to use, but I cut it off in the middle because, well, it's gross even by my standards, and it crossed my mind that I might have a teeny-tiny problems if I tried to slip it in. Still, the first two letters are there, and everyone who reads it will know what it is.
But scrotum? A proper biological term? Part of the uproar may be due to the fact that the word appears on (gasp!) page one. One educator comments that, because of this word, she's unable to read the book out loud to her class. Well, if it truly embarrasses you, honey, why not, um, just skip over the word? Substitute something else? Something waaay classier, like "balls" or "sack". I mean, "testicles" would work, too, unless you'd prefer something more subtle, like...hmm, maybe "jewels?" Yeah, "jewels!" Heh, now there's a euphemism if I ever heard one. :)
The fact that this novel is a Newbery Medal winner doesn't cut the least bit of ice: http://publishersweekly.com/article/CA6416737.html?nid=2788
So there I was, writing Before/After, wondering how many swear words I could officially get away with. These are inner city kids, right, and yes, they swear (not unlike many of the suburban kids I hear). To not have them swear would be utterly ridiculous. I drew the line at a particular C-word, the ultimate female insult, the # 2 mother of all nasty words. It was the perfect word for my villainess to use, but I cut it off in the middle because, well, it's gross even by my standards, and it crossed my mind that I might have a teeny-tiny problems if I tried to slip it in. Still, the first two letters are there, and everyone who reads it will know what it is.
But scrotum? A proper biological term? Part of the uproar may be due to the fact that the word appears on (gasp!) page one. One educator comments that, because of this word, she's unable to read the book out loud to her class. Well, if it truly embarrasses you, honey, why not, um, just skip over the word? Substitute something else? Something waaay classier, like "balls" or "sack". I mean, "testicles" would work, too, unless you'd prefer something more subtle, like...hmm, maybe "jewels?" Yeah, "jewels!" Heh, now there's a euphemism if I ever heard one. :)