Book review? Native son

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My daughter has to read Native Son by Richard Wright. I have never read it, but a short review on common sense media mentions “sexually explicit setting” which has me concerned. She is an innocent 16 yr old looking into a single vocation. I’m not sure if it would be appropriate. Would any of you have any information in regards to this book. I’m afraid I can’t read it in time for her.

Thank you for any help.
 
Native Son is a book about a 20 year old black man named Bigger Thomas, the story goes through his experiences and a crime he commits. There are some themes that involve sexuality but that is not the bulk or majority of the book and from what I remember it was very tastefully done. Native Son has been required reading in some school systems for decades. I think its an important read. I think I may have been younger than 16 when I had to read it for school.
 
“Sexually explicit” is the least of it. “Native Son” is a fairly graphic story of murder, poverty, and racial conflict. Richard Wright was a Communist of the Stalin era.
 
MomaMary8 said:
My daughter has to read Native Son by Richard Wright. I have never read it, but a short review on common sense media mentions “sexually explicit setting” which has me concerned. She is an innocent 16 yr old looking into a single vocation. I’m not sure if it would be appropriate. Would any of you have any information in regards to this book. I’m afraid I can’t read it in time for her.

Thank you for any help.
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I was very naive and innocent as a 16 year old and I was introduced to “sexual” experiences from a magazine while I was babysitting. I was not prepared for it … I think you have every right to talk to your child’s teacher and/or principal at the least. There has to be something else your child can read that would give her the same premise for which Native Son was written. Or, you might want to read it with her, in order to give her the guidance that she surely will need. Just some thoughts …
 
I remember reading the book Native Son. I liked the book. I remember teading Black Like Me also. I don’t remember if I read the book in high school or not, but I don’t remember feeling it was inappropriate.
 
I read Native Son as an innocent high school student and I don’t remember anything sexually shocking. There’s a pretty graphic murder and body disposal, though.
 
PaulfromIowa said:
“Sexually explicit” is the least of it. “Native Son” is a fairly graphic story of murder, poverty, and racial conflict. Richard Wright was a Communist of the Stalin era.
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Thank you Paul. I highly value your opinion. Sadly, schools assume all children have been exposed to sexual content in inappropriate ways.
Lookingforjoy said:
I read Native Son as an innocent high school student and I don’t remember anything sexually shocking. There’s a pretty graphic murder and body disposal, though.
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Nothing “shocking” or nothing sexual? Some are more easily shocked.

Thank you everyone. I’m still trying to discern how to approach this AP class
 
I would never presume to tell someone what is appropriate for their child nor how to approach it but as a former AP student, writer, teacher and graduate student I usually urge against parents insisting on book substitutions. Books like Native Son as well as “Black Boy” Richard Wright’s other most famous novel are important culturally and academically as are a host of other novels, poems, and plays that discuss difficult subject matter. AP curriculum is designed to prepare a student for the rigorous discourse of a college classroom. A student will be expected to read, analyze and discuss an array of material, from various writers that span a spectrum of beliefs, races, cultures, and philosophies. Rarely is there an option to substitute reading materials. I do not allow it with my high school students and I cannot imagine I will allow it with my community college students.
 
Native Son is a very dark book, but a fascinating read and a brilliant look at racism. It’s not a book that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, but it will really give you some food for thought. It’s one of my favorites.

The book is more violent than it is sexually explicit. But it doesn’t portray violence in a positive light.
 
Miss_Felicity said:
I would never presume to tell someone what is appropriate for their child nor how to approach it but as a former AP student, writer, teacher and graduate student I usually urge against parents insisting on book substitutions. Books like Native Son as well as “Black Boy” Richard Wright’s other most famous novel are important culturally and academically as are a host of other novels, poems, and plays that discuss difficult subject matter. AP curriculum is designed to prepare a student for the rigorous discourse of a college classroom. A student will be expected to read, analyze and discuss an array of material, from various writers that span a spectrum of beliefs, races, cultures, and philosophies. Rarely is there an option to substitute reading materials. I do not allow it with my high school students and I cannot imagine I will allow it with my community college students.
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Agree 100% with this.

No matter how sheltered somebody is, they will eventually be faced with the reality that different people think differently than them. It’s not going to help a kid if you pretend like these other beliefs don’t exist. Instead, it’s better to try to understand these other ideas and be able to rationally discuss them in a Christian light.
 
I don’t remember it being sexually explicit. I do remember a very shocking murder scene. If you are concerned you might want to pre-read it and talk about this with your daughter. However, I think the book has a lot of truth and merit in it. The violence is not written in a way to normalize it or to promote it.
 
awke said:
Native Son is a very dark book, but a fascinating read and a brilliant look at racism. It’s not a book that will leave you feeling warm and fuzzy, but it will really give you some food for thought. It’s one of my favorites.

The book is more violent than it is sexually explicit. But it doesn’t portray violence in a positive light.
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Thank you for your response. It was very helpful in regards to my question. 👍
Miss_Felicity said:
I would never presume to tell someone what is appropriate for their child nor how to approach it but as a former AP student, writer, teacher and graduate student I usually urge against parents insisting on book substitutions. Books like Native Son as well as “Black Boy” Richard Wright’s other most famous novel are important culturally and academically as are a host of other novels, poems, and plays that discuss difficult subject matter. AP curriculum is designed to prepare a student for the rigorous discourse of a college classroom. A student will be expected to read, analyze and discuss an array of material, from various writers that span a spectrum of beliefs, races, cultures, and philosophies. Rarely is there an option to substitute reading materials. I do not allow it with my high school students and I cannot imagine I will allow it with my community college students.
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As a college student, my child would be free to get another professor. As a 16 year old child, my daughter is not free to get another teacher, not free to express her thoughts, and not free to walk away from disturbing discussions. I am not impressed with the current rigor of AP classes and find many AP classes lacking in preparatory skills. Let’s bring back the Socratic method to really prepare our kids for class discussions.

As for cultural lessons, I can take her to my friends grave who was beaten to death with a baseball bat. I can show her where my brother was pummeled by a gang of 5-6 guys for his skin color. I can bring her to my childhood home that my parents had to leave because there were too many shootings near by and drugs being sold by a neighbor kid.

Education is a mind field and it is my God given duty to raise my kids and guide their education. I was asking about possible sex scenes being introduced to a young girl who has never dated, never kissed, etc. She is NOT developmentally ready for such discussions. As a parent I have a right and duty to watch out for her and tell any teacher so. I am the parent. Teachers are hired help. Please keep that in mind as you pursue your education and career.
Allegra said:
I don’t remember it being sexually explicit. I do remember a very shocking murder scene. If you are concerned you might want to pre-read it and talk about this with your daughter. However, I think the book has a lot of truth and merit in it. The violence is not written in a way to normalize it or to promote it.
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Thank you as well.
 
awke said:
Agree 100% with this.

No matter how sheltered somebody is, they will eventually be faced with the reality that different people think differently than them. It’s not going to help a kid if you pretend like these other beliefs don’t exist. Instead, it’s better to try to understand these other ideas and be able to rationally discuss them in a Christian light.
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What am I sheltering my child from? What beliefs, exactly?
 
As a college student, my child would be free to get another professor. As a 16 year old child, my daughter is not free to get another teacher, not free to express her thoughts, and not free to walk away from disturbing discussions. I am not impressed with the current rigor of AP classes and find many AP classes lacking in preparatory skills. Let’s bring back the Socratic method to really prepare our kids for class discussions.

As for cultural lessons, I can take her to my friends grave who was beaten to death with a baseball bat. I can show her where my brother was pummeled by a gang of 5-6 guys for his skin color. I can bring her to my childhood home that my parents had to leave because there were too many shootings near by and drugs being sold by a neighbor kid.

Education is a mind field and it is my God given duty to raise my kids and guide their education. I was asking about possible sex scenes being introduced to a young girl who has never dated, never kissed, etc. She is NOT developmentally ready for such discussions. As a parent I have a right and duty to watch out for her and tell any teacher so. I am the parent. Teachers are hired help. Please keep that in mind as you pursue your education and career.
.

It was not my intention to offend you nor was it my intention to imply that a teacher knows better than a parent what is in a child’s best interest as I believe neither. I was simply providing my professional opinion as someone who has extensive study in literature as well as experience in teaching it. You ARE within your rights to ask that an alternative work be given to your daughter for her to complete the unit of study, I was cautioning that it is not a wise idea to make it common practice to ask for book substitutions, unless of course you find the entire curriculum lacking in which case there is a decision to be made about placement or speaking to the Principal/School Board/PTA. A well thought out and executed curriculum builds on previous units and substituting texts can make it challenging for a student to gain a full understanding of concepts and discussions moving forward.

As for teachers being ‘hired help’ in a literal sense that would be marginally accurate but having that opinion does not create an environment that builds trust and allows for a teacher to share new concepts and materials in a way that could prove to be beneficial. I do however respect your opinion and your right as a parent to do what you deem best for your child. Wishing you the best.
 
awke said:
Agree 100% with this.

No matter how sheltered somebody is, they will eventually be faced with the reality that different people think differently than them. It’s not going to help a kid if you pretend like these other beliefs don’t exist. Instead, it’s better to try to understand these other ideas and be able to rationally discuss them in a Christian light.
Click to expand...
Miss_Felicity said:
As a college student, my child would be free to get another professor. As a 16 year old child, my daughter is not free to get another teacher, not free to express her thoughts, and not free to walk away from disturbing discussions. I am not impressed with the current rigor of AP classes and find many AP classes lacking in preparatory skills. Let’s bring back the Socratic method to really prepare our kids for class discussions.

As for cultural lessons, I can take her to my friends grave who was beaten to death with a baseball bat. I can show her where my brother was pummeled by a gang of 5-6 guys for his skin color. I can bring her to my childhood home that my parents had to leave because there were too many shootings near by and drugs being sold by a neighbor kid.

Education is a mind field and it is my God given duty to raise my kids and guide their education. I was asking about possible sex scenes being introduced to a young girl who has never dated, never kissed, etc. She is NOT developmentally ready for such discussions. As a parent I have a right and duty to watch out for her and tell any teacher so. I am the parent. Teachers are hired help. Please keep that in mind as you pursue your education and career.
.
Click to expand...
It was not my intention to offend you nor was it my intention to imply that a teacher knows better than a parent what is in a child’s best interest as I believe neither. I was simply providing my professional opinion as someone who has extensive study in literature as well as experience in teaching it. You ARE within your rights to ask that an alternative work be given to your daughter for her to complete the unit of study, I was cautioning that it is not a wise idea to make it common practice to ask for book substitutions, unless of course you find the entire curriculum lacking in which case there is a decision to be made about placement or speaking to the Principal/School Board/PTA. A well thought out and executed curriculum builds on previous units and substituting texts can make it challenging for a student to gain a full understanding of concepts and discussions moving forward.

As for teachers being ‘hired help’ in a literal sense that would be marginally accurate but having that opinion does not create an environment that builds trust and allows for a teacher to share new concepts and materials in a way that could prove to be beneficial. I do however respect your opinion and your right as a parent to do what you deem best for your child. Wishing you the best.

Thank you Miss Felicity.
 
I do believe Native Son is an important work in American Literature.
I agree with another poster that suggested you read it first and then determine if your teenager should read it
 
7_Sorrows said:
I do believe Native Son is an important work in American Literature.
I agree with another poster that suggested you read it first and then determine if your teenager should read it
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I’d love to, but the reading assignment is due in two days (first 94 pages)

FYI the book lists have changed at our school and I’m not up on all the lit choices. Everything has changed with Common Core. I’m playing catch up, sadly.
 
MomaMary8 said:
I’d love to, but the reading assignment is due in two days (first 94 pages)

FYI the book lists have changed at our school and I’m not up on all the lit choices. Everything has changed with Common Core. I’m playing catch up, sadly.
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Are there Cliff Notes on the book? Would those help?
 
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