"Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood" by Sherman Alexie

      "Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood" by Sherman Alexie is about how YA fiction shouldn't be banned because YA books help kids that are going through problems and dark things. One way that Sherman Alexie show this is by adding mini stories. One story was about how he attended a high school filled with survivors of depression, attempted suicide, gang warfare, sexual and physical abuse, absentee parents, poverty, racism and learning disabilities. He talked to the students about his issues but he says that "-but it was the student speakers who told the most important stories about survival." He also tries to sympathize with the readers by telling his story about him facing these topics about abuse and drug addiction. He also tugs at the exact phrases of Gurdon's article. For example "Yes he was old enough to die and kill for his country. And old enough to experience the infinite horrors of war. But according to Ms. Gurdon he might be too young to read a YA novel." All of these techniques are used in order to make readers feel that Gurdon is wrong.

       The author Sherman Alexie wants us to think that Gurdon is wrong in saying that YA books are dark and horrible. He makes us do so buy using strong words and using his personal stories and other stories to get his point across. An example of a strong word would be the word infinite in the quote "old enough to experience the infinite horrors of war." Infinite is a powerful word. When I read this that made me think of never ending horrors which sounds really tragic and sad. What could be worse than an infinite number of horrors? This makes readers feel like there is nothing worse than what he's going through. This helps his statement that Sherman Alexie is trying to get out which is if they are old enough to experience infinite horrors than why can't they read 1 dark YA book.

        Another craft choice the author is using to sway you on his side is him trying to sympathize with readers. He says 'They tried to rescue me" and explains all of his past trauma and dark things in his life. Also he says "I can only wish, immodestly, that I'd been given the opportunity to read "The Absolutely True diary of a Part-Time Indian." Finally he says in the last paragraphs that "I write to give them weapons- in the form of words and ideas- that will help them fight their monsters." All of these quotes help Sherman Alexie sway the readers to agree with the main idea of the article which again, that YA books help kids that are going through problems and dark things. These quotes say that when he was going through these dark things he wished that he could read YA fiction to help him and now he writes YA fiction to help others with their problems. Which helps him prove his point. He also uses other stories from other people like the pregnant mothe and the teenage boy who wants to be a writer to help sympathize with the readers.

        I totally think that Sherman Alexie's point is right. Before I thought that of course young adults should be able to read young adult fiction without much fuss about what is written. But now I see that YA fiction is more than just darkness. YA fiction is helping other teens with their personal issues. which changed my point of view.