Children - What Are They Reading?

How do you feel about what your young adults might be reading? Do you feel they can be influenced by some of the darker side of so called literature? Or, do you feel that you're glad if they pick up a book at all. Do you worry that they might be getting too much fiction packed with sexuality, profanity or vividly, grotesque, morbid details; you should be.
When I was a young adult, we read about people who painted positive, honorable, challenging adventurous tales such as Treasure Island, Moby Dick or Nancy Drew Mysteries; also, baseball heroes, men and women who accomplished great things, stories that presented values instead of glorifying sex, murder and violence or terrorizing the reader or destroying their self-confidence.
Meghan C Gurdon, Children's Book Reviewer gives an in-depth analysis of what young kids are reading today, not just on their own but what many highly respectable people or industries are pushing, calling it literature. Meghan mentions that some educators believe that we don't need guidelines when it comes to what is read by children - young minds are not in the need of a gatekeeper. Meghan mentions in her article about young adult book author Lauren Myracle, hailed as a person "on the front lines in the fight for freedom of expression" who has made it clear that she doesn't believe there should be any line between adult literature and literature for young people. I would have to agree with Meghan that Myracle's interpretation of young people not needing a gatekeeper is a bit radical: Myracle believes "...young people should encounter material that jolts them out of their comfort zone; that the world is a tough place; and that there's no point shielding children from reality."
Where do we draw the line as to how much "jolting" our children need, especially by those who may or may not be qualified to teach values to our kids. Please read the article in its entirety by clicking on the link below.