To think that this book should not be sold to young girls?

[WandaWomblesaurus]

twitter.com/Waterstones/status/1623584986740953091?s=20&t=WU0D0fzc6ClGJC5R-gJnuw

Waterstones tweeted celebrating a book that is about transing girls. Here is one of the illustrations from the book.

AIBU to think that this is directly promoting self harm to young vulnerable girls?

Agree. We know a girl who had a double mastectomy at 17. Tragic.

Following on my previous post about more organised calls to action-

We have more and more high profile women winning important cases and getting media reporting, but surely it’s time for everyday women & mums (like me and many other readers/posters) to take action?

I don’t believe in Twitter wars, so is there a way to organise protests (Tate, Waterstones HQ, just from the last few days!), boycotts and inundating their press office/CEO/board with official complaints?

The line must be drawn here, surely. Every day something abominable normalised for our children. I just can’t take it anymore.

So you’re aware that we DO ‘censor’ books and other media in this way because it’s not suitable for children, and that’s fine, but also we shouldn’t?! Or is it just this particular book that you don’t want ‘censored’/only sold to adults?

Wow that's depressing.

(And transphobic to imply that men have willies and no fatty lumps! Any gender can be in any body, surely, or is there something about being a man that requires a male body, like what those terrible bigots say?)

To all those saying this is a harmless book and no biggie, if a book came out at young girls promoting anorexia and bulimia would you say the same thing? If a book came out promoting cutting and self harm? If not, why not? Why is it ok to have literature promoting self harm if it’s in the name of gender but not for other forms of body dysmorphia?

This.

Is it Welcome to St Hell?

Are there books which are recommended for trans teens?
I am dubious about this one being short-listed for a book prize, because I believe the demographic (genuine trans boys) is very, very small, but maybe it is a good book for those kids.

What age is the 'older readers' category aimed at?

Maybe the answer is to really support the appropriate books (I assume the other books are appropriate, which may be erroneous) on the shortlist. Tell Waterstones about the really excellent literature for young people that exists out there. Repeatedly. And why it’s both good and appropriate.

They aren’t going to listen to why didactic books promoting body dysmorphia are harmful, so maybe drown them in praise for the kinds of books they should be celebrating.

They’re pushing the lie that puberty blockers are reversible . It’s shocking.

It's not a book explaining puberty, it;s a graphic novel, semi-biographical, called'
Welcome to St hell: my trans teen misadventure'.

Seems pretty clear that it's the author's experience of being trans. You can't censor everything in the world that you don't agree with.

At 11 i was reading adult books, everything from Dickens to Danielle Steele and everything in between. There's not much you an do if your kid wants to read a graphic novel about trans people. They'll find far more on the internet.

'To all those saying this is a harmless book and no biggie, if a book came out at young girls promoting anorexia and bulimia would you say the same thing?'

if a book mentioned the experience of anorexia and bulimia, then yes. just as some books for older kids talk about parents in prison, drugs, bullying, sex, smoking etc.
Books showing drug use don't turn your kid into an addict, books with gay or trans people portrayed don't turn your kids gay or trans, books with criminals or pirates, don't turn your kids into criminals or pirates...

The author has a bio on Stonewalls website....

www.stonewall.org.uk/people/lewis-hancox

So it's a graphic novel about the adolescent experiences of its author, a trans man.

I think kids are able to understand that much.

Trans boys who read it will likely relate to some or much of it and feel less alone.

It's only "despicable" if you don't believe people can be trans.

Although thinking back unsure if we're allowed to share links to their website? Oh well, MN welcome to delete if we're not....

more an opportunity to empathise....maybe along the lines of Tracy Beaker
Ffs! Listen to yourself 🙄

It is the same as Pro-Ana.

Waterstones is promoting self-harm by selling it.

It's despicable because it is propaganda aimed at children to promote self harm and mutilation.

True. @CTRALTDEL they don’t. But then those books aren’t telling kids how to become pirates are they? Why do you think websites promoting anorexia are banned? Is it because
a) teenage girls are really impressionable and, already suffering from anxiety about their changing bodies, could be persuaded by these websites that starvation will help them feel better if told so by their peers
b ) the medical profession and other services are just prejudiced and don’t want teenage girls to achieve their true body potential.

You are wrong.

There's gold at the end of this rainbow! We're delighted to announce our magnificent shortlist of brilliant authors and illustrators for the Waterstones Children's Book Prize 2023!
^Chosen by our booksellers across the country, discover them all: bit.ly/WCBP23^
#WCBP23

I wish all this would stop, I really do.

It won’t until we stop it.

I have no idea why my post has been hidden, I was pointing out that lockheart's comment upthread was wrong, Waterstone ARE celebrating that book.

Your AIBU was "to think that this is directly promoting self harm to young vulnerable girls?" My response was that I haven't read the book but from that one pic you've shared (and a bit of googling) it doesn't seem to be 'directly promoting self harm' it seems to documenting someone's feelings in this case a trans teenager.
Please don't ask me if l understand censorship again or ask ridiculous questions like 'so you're happy for young girls to be encouraged to chop of their breasts?'

No, it's not pro anything.