It is of no surprise that protecting our children is such a strong urge at all times. I am disappointed that this urge becomes stronger when it comes to knowledge, thought and ideas. I am glad to see many reader's comments and Ms. Bazelon's comments in the piece speaking to guidance through more mature content rather than forbidding [which many concede as a powerful endorsement]. I personally believe we provide a disservice to our children by defaulting to holding them back, keeping various doors of knowledge shut as long as possible, waiting for the right age to spring new topics on them. Along with this behaviour is our fear that all children will succumb to the temptations of corruption, debauchery and chaos offered by a world of possibilities. The children I have met in my life are smart little bastards, aware of the game they and their parents are playing, which may cause more damage to their souls than exposure to some of the sad and disappointing things we can get caught up in as adults.

yet another example of people losing their minds once they have children. i agree that we shouldnt coddle children too much. kids are always smarter than parents think they are and one could easily argue that the young generation nowadays is probably the most savvy in history. so why does she say that she wouldn't want her kids to read the golden compass? she read about incest and pedophilia at the age of 11, but somehow she thinks her 12 year old sons will be traumatized by the idea that not every human is perfect and not every parent loves their child? kids can hear that just by watching the news or catching a law and order episode.

so she makes her point about how you should be engaged with kids re the content of their reading materials, but still falls victim to the typical babying of her children. it's both hypocritical and annoying in its banality.

I hate the bitch who wrote this article, who is she really to criticize V.C. andrews, the stories are meant to be gothic horror. I don't appreciate you mocking her prose and making yourself out to be some great intellectual. The Phillip Pullman books were good too but the VC Andrews books will always hold a special place in my heart. They are books for damaged children, did you think of that? Maybe her books help people who were molested or suffered from incest. Not everyone can read Twilight and get their jollies off. I felt like spitting on my computer when I read your article, this is why I hate magazine writers and critics, you are all such egotistical pricks. There is a word for you, it starts with a C U N T.