Deep Thinking

Many titles cross my desk. My mail carrier anticipates Saturdays when I open the envelopes in front of her to show her what’s coming out. We’ll oooh, aaah and talk about our sons in the military. She’s a definite “Fred Factor person” or I’d be worried that she saves delivery for only those times I’m home to share.

But a month ago a series arrived that has put me in a deep thinking loop. Bearport Publishing has some unique titles and series. Many of the titles are marketed to grades 4-8, but I believe it is important to review each series to be sure they are appropriate for my elementary library collection and those particular students.

One of their series is Crime Solvers including these titles:
* Cold Case File
* Kidnapping File
* Murder File
* Robbery File
* Serial Killer File
* Terrorist File

From their web site the series is described as: Children become top-notch detectives as they follow investigators on the hunt for clues in these riveting stories of real-life crime solving! Readers will be fascinated to discover how police officers, medical examiners, and private investigators use criminal evidence and forensic techniques to crack the toughest cases. Each book is written in a narrative nonfiction format that will grab kids’ attention and engage struggling readers.

Absolutely this is an excellent series to show techniques, research, and how many people working together solve problems. There are interesting details and most of the information is middle and high-school age appropriate. My guidance counselor and I have discussed how many children are staying up late to watch all the versions of CSI. This results in elementary students having extensive knowledge of some grisly, gruesome, and age-inappropriate topics, but I can deal with those in school.

I have been so torn over Terrorist File: The Lockerbie Investigation by Amanda Howard. When I first scanned the title, I noted the details, the process, and the accuracy of information. When I asked my library assistant from England to review the title, she was appalled that there were photographs of the simple device used to build a bomb that resulted in so many deaths. I tried the title out on my youngest son who stated “It’s just wrong to tell little kids how to do stuff that can be dangerous.”

This is the same son who is learning lock-picking techniques after watching a television documentary on locks, viewing numerous videos on youtube about the techniques, and locating web sites with detailed descriptions of the tools needed to be successful. We have had a serious discussion on ethics and morality of knowledge. He claims that he needs to be ready in case I lose my house keys. I reviewed his search and none of the sites offered information on the ethics behind this “skill.” (to be continued…)

I then sent this title to the local alternative school to test their reaction at the high school level. They were totally “cool” with the topic, presentation, and ethics of the title. Honestly they didn’t understand why I even hesitated at the elementary level to put the title in the collection.

Off to the reaction of middle school librarians. They were ecstatic to see this series and planned to order many copies because it is age-appropriate and high-interest. They laughed at our sheltered viewpoint of protecting elementary students from perceived “dangers” when information is available on the internet for building bombs and other devices.

Yes, there are directions on the internet for bomb-making. I did a limited 15 second search and review because I really didn’t want the FBI/Homeland Overreaction Committee/Internet Police to come to my house and ask why I’m looking at those sites and why my youngest son was searching for lock-picking tools.

So, am I fooling myself in thinking that this topic is inappropriate for my elementary students? Maybe, but I answer to the parents of my community, my administration, and my own sense of ethics/morality. I will be happily sending this title to a middle school librarian to use with her students, but after viewing my collection development plan, I have decided this is not appropriate for the educational needs of my students.

What would you have done?