Why the Goosebumps series gives parents "goosebumps" for the wrong reasons

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The Goosebumps series is enjoyed by many children and young adults alike including me. Through some  research as to why the Goosebumps books were challenged I discovered some very interesting things.

At first it seems that the main reason that the Goosebumps series was and is still challenged today is because of its content being inappropriate, but according to some they believe the goosebumps books are inappropriate for children for other much different reasons. Diana West is quoted in the Kirsten (1997) article saying the aim of such "shock fiction" is to induce a repeated "fight or flight" reaction, a strangely pleasurable sensation in which "stress-induced panic takes over the autonomic nervous system." The result is "reading as glandular activity" -- "a crude tool of physical stimulation, wholly devoid of mental, emotional or spiritual engagement. She then goes on to state that in her view "Goosebumps debase the act of reading, and more important the reader himself".

Some people who feel the book has no need to be challenged or removed from school libraries don't see the problems with the book, they see a book they can enjoy and read anytime they want. Bestcovery.com even regards the goosebumps series as the 4th best children's book series for grades 1-5. and in most reviews by people who have read the book they have all been fairly positive and the scary scenes and themes that some people seem to have a problem with does not seem to effect the reviewers.

An article in NEA Today about the two sides of the debate on weather or not the Goosebumps series is inappropriate for children brings up some very interesting points. Suzanne Wargo who believes that kids should be allowed to read the Goosebumps series states that any child who is reading is an improvement over one who is not. Kids love to read about scary ideas and scary situations. These books reach them where they are. Are they great literature? Certainly not. But. given the last-paced electronic age today's kids are growing up in. Goosebumps keeps young people reading--and that's worth a lot Wargo (1997). She then goes on to say telling kids they can't read something will only increase the attraction. My mother wouldn't let me watch The Three Stooges because she thought it too violent. I grew up with many a young boy my age pretending to poke and slap in imitation of the Stooges' brand of comedy. It only made me more eager to sneak around the rule and find out for myself. Wargo (1997)

However Alberta Graham who believes that the Goosebumps series is inappropriate for kids not because of the themes of the books but because of the way Stine the author writes. She believes that his books have "little educational value" and also she is "opposed to any series of books that creates a single-genre rut that children have trouble breaking out of" Graham (1997)

R.L. Stine the author of the series has commented on his books being on the ALA list of 100 most challenged books and he has said "I'm proud and humble. I think it’s more a sign of success"

In the end like with the Harry Potter series it all comes down to choice. Parents can choose weather or not to let their children read the books, Unlike the Harry potter series though there seems to be more to it than just being inappropriate for that age level some believe that the books are inappropriate on the grounds that it provides no educational or good value. But kids don't just read for value or educational purposes they read to be entertained and sometimes to take their mind off real world problems.




REFERENCES

Kersten, K 1997, Goosebumps is shock fiction, Center of the American Experiment, viewed 10 September 2010,
http://www.americanexperiment.org/publications/1997/19970129kersten.php

Jones, J 2010. Goosebumps, BESTCOVERY, viewed 10 September 2010,
http://www.bestcovery.com/goosebumps

Wargo, S, Graham, A 1997, 'Should kids read Goosebumps?', NEA Today, vol 16, issue 3, Education Research Complete, EBSCOhost, viewed 10 September 2010

CNN.com 1999, R.L Stine A chat with the best-selling children's author, CNN.com, viewed 10 September 2010,
http://edition.cnn.com/COMMUNITY/transcripts/stine.html

RESEARCH PROCESS, FINDINGS AND OTHER DISCOVERIES SO FAR.

So far I have found great success using EBSCOhost and Google, EBSCOhost gave me some great results since I am looking for articles on books which articles about them may be out of date and unavailable through regular channels. from there I attempted to find news clips or other videos about the challenging of the 2 series I have covered so far. To find the clips I mainly used youtube with some great success. I found that there was alot more information on why the Harry Potter series was challenged than why the Goosebumps series was challenged.