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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Young Writers poetry book - basically an extortion racket?!

38 replies

FusionChefGeoff · 28/05/2021 22:49

Just wrote huge rant and lost it.

Fucking You g Writers have 'selected' my child's poem for publication in a £16.99 book!!

No, they haven't. They have put everyone's poems into a book as a disgustingly manipulative money spinner and due to way it's been positioned to the children, it would be the most heartless parents who didn't fork out.

Can't believe this shit is endorsed by school.

AIBU to be pissed off?!?

OP posts:
Pinkyxx · 29/05/2021 17:29

They don't publish everyone. My daughter entire year group were entered this year and only 6 out 65 were chosen to be published.

Totally agree though £16.99 is a total rip off.

Looubylou · 29/05/2021 17:43

My son's school entered the children without telling us. We were chuffed when we got the letter, and it was believable as poem was really good. Then realised loads were being published - some were shockingly bad 😂. Also thought, wait a minute...... how did they get our address??

Original poster
FusionChefGeoff · 30/05/2021 13:48

After this plus a quick chat on the mums WhatsApp group I've emailed the school.

I'm a bit scared as I'm a proper goody two shoes so this is very much outside my comfort zone but apparently one of the not chosen children (who has struggled with school / lockdown learning and may have SEN but I'm not sure) was devastated and that just sucks.

Will see what they say!

OP posts:
Jayceewhy · 30/05/2021 14:19

I’m a bit confused, your first post is annoyance they choose everyone for a money spinner - but you go on to indicate it’s unfair because children are upset they aren’t chosen?

Buy it if you want, don’t buy it if you don’t want.

Original poster
FusionChefGeoff · 30/05/2021 21:00

It's a double whammy!! It's extortion for the 95% that are selected and crushing disappointment for the tiny number that weren't.

OP posts:
MorganKitten · 30/05/2021 21:06

Is that still a thing? I have the two books my poems were put in when I was at school.

DolphinFC · 30/05/2021 21:23

Art Exhibition

They take an A4 piece of art the school would've given for free, the put it in a frame that costs £2.00 then sell it for £7.99.

Total scam!

Siepie · 30/05/2021 21:32

We had this when I was at school, although I don't know if it was the same company. At least 90% of the entries were "chosen". The books people had purchased were handed out in class. One lad's family had bought about 10 of them, thinking this was a big achievement. He got teased for weeks. Never been happier to have parents who didn't believe in me Grin

modgepodge · 30/05/2021 21:35

@DolphinFC

Art Exhibition

They take an A4 piece of art the school would've given for free, the put it in a frame that costs £2.00 then sell it for £7.99.

Total scam!

Oh yes!! We did the art one at my school once actually, I’d forgotten that. They also set it up like a gallery for parents and grandparents to come in and admire the artwork before choosing whether to buy.

If it raised money for the school, I actually wouldn’t mind so much as either a teacher or a parent (eg the Christmas cards). If the school doesn’t even get a cut then it’s particularly rubbish. I’ve only heard about the poetry book one on here. If schools knew 2 out of 30 kids (or whatever) would be left out I’m sure they wouldn’t go for it - inevitably it will be those who are weakest in English and who will most likely be the most upset about it 🙁 that’s really low in my opinion.

Lampshade362 · 21/04/2023 14:20

Our school just got hoodwinked into this. Every entry the school submitted which was (I’m told) about 90 has been selected. We only discovered this once we’d bought the book. Got incredibly rude emails back from the company telling me how unreasonable I was being for not being happy for other children.

ChildrenOfTheQuorn · 21/04/2023 20:21

MorganKitten · 30/05/2021 21:06

Is that still a thing? I have the two books my poems were put in when I was at school.

I didn't realise either! Still have my book from about 25 years ago. I think it's a nice keepsake tbh...

thelionthewitchtheaudacityofTHISbitch · 21/04/2023 21:44

DolphinFC · 30/05/2021 21:23

Art Exhibition

They take an A4 piece of art the school would've given for free, the put it in a frame that costs £2.00 then sell it for £7.99.

Total scam!

I get you! But I can now finally confess to a crime. My ex sent his parents in to "buy" the DC "artwork" on a day when my mum was collecting DC from school. So when she went to "buy" the artwork which I had agreed with DC we would buy, take a copy, and send original to ex, she couldnt, but they could arrange a copy. She agreed. I stalked the school office for weeks. When the art work came in I walked in brazenly, swapped labels and walked out. The office staff knew me, knew that was beyond unusual, and decided to say nothing. DC now (a late teenager) if they are in a mood will ask me which is the original. I always say - doesnt matter as soon as you get your own place this is yours! And ask your Dad for the other one - then you will have the original!!

Exhausteddog · 21/04/2023 21:50

My DS (13) is pretty cynical and twigged that it wasn't a) optional to enter as they all had to do a poem in class and b) he was not specially selected, everyones poem was in there.
....but I still ended up buying a book I dint especially want!!

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