Concerning & Potentially Concerning Content

A colorful drawing of four friends hugging on the cover of a book in the kid’s graphic novel section. What could go wrong? Those of you who have followed our journey to review these graphic novels as they have exploded in popularity will probably guess the answer… a lot… a lot can go wrong. In fact nearly everything can go wrong. And that is what we see here. As you read this review, please keep constantly in your mind the very young children that will without question be attracted to the illustrated graphic novel format of this title. Please make sure to read through all of this, as there are literally shocking entries below that really give a flavor of why it is so important to be extra cautious today. The biggest thing to understand about this book right up front is that it is the sequel to “Go with the Flow” and it takes that same overarching topic of menstruation (readers can decide if a secular graphic novel is how they want to use to introduce/educate their young children on this topic) and adds to it a massive layer of unbiblical sexuality, throwing in a slew of other concerning content. Here is how we see this play out: • We open on a girl writing her blog, “The Mean Magenta: A blog about menstruation. Period”. • A female character mentions having a “crush” on another female character. This becomes one of the central focus themes that advances and emotionally plays out throughout. • She tells a friend she is “closeted”. Her friend simply responds by asking “still she/her pronouns?”, to which she affirms, but adds, “I’ll let you know if it changes”. • The girls get into a discussion on a recent procedure. This leads to dialogue on various types of conditions related to the uterus, which gets illustrated. • Girl is described as “pansexual” • A girl remarks, “I haven’t got my period in months… what are these small boobs. I want bigger ones. I want a regular period”. The response comes back, “Hey, I bleed every thirty days on the dot”. This continues, with one of the girls adding, “Christine has little boobs too… I’ll give you some of my boobs”. • About a quarter of the way in (a common spot for authors to slip in the most controversial content) we see a main character meet with the new school principal. Why? She shares, “I want Hazelton to become even more inclusive for all people and provide menstrual products in all bathrooms” (including the men’s rooms). She goes on, “I want this because I want Hazelton to be a safe place for everyone who menstruates regardless of gender”. So there’s that. To elaborate, she explains this list includes, “transgender, queer and nonbinary students all deserve to feel included here”. How would a principal respond here? “We’re on the same page. I’ve been thinking along those same lines… Yeah, it’s already being discussed by some members of the LGBTQIA+ club… they call themselves the Unicorn Club”. • A gay young lady says she may become a nun. Her friend asks if she’s “even religious” to which she replies, “Jesus had some cool sandals I could be down with”. • At this “Unicorn Club” young readers see this, “I know it doesn’t matter if he’s my best friend or if his sexuality aligns – that’s just a societal construct, right… the only thing that matters is how you feel when you’re around someone’. • When deciding about “coming out” to her grandmother she asks her, “What if I don’t like boys?”. Grandma, in what is meant to be a loving and kind line, simply responds, “Then you probably shouldn’t date them” and winks. Grandma adds, “There’s a lot that wasn’t cool when I was a kid. Doesn’t mean it was right”. • This type of dangerous thinking continues, “I think anything is allowed. I think people need to find their own way”. • Upon “coming out” to a group, the reply is “Hey! That’s great! I’m so happy for you!” • In an emotional scene, two close friends are together. One has admitted to liking the other romantically. The other wonders, “Am I gay if I want to kiss her?” Eventually there is an embrace and kiss, saying “I wanted to try it”. • Mom’s advice? “You know, I had a girlfriend or two in my time… Sexuality isn’t set in stone… Go with your heart” • This extends even past the story. The author’s note “educates” young readers that “The reality of having a period is that many different people menstruate. Girls, women, trans men, nonbinary people, gender-non conforming people, intersex people… people who were assigned female at birth but identify otherwise experience menstruation… identity comes in all sorts of forms… we can’t control the life that’s given to us” Not that you will need more, but here we will list the other concerning and potentially concerning content we will detail here: • Young couples passionately kiss illustrated. We see more of this in places throughout. • When frustrated a girl remarks, “I hate myself, I hate who I am”. • One character complains that her brother hates her and goes on to complain about living with him. Someone remarks that she is good at arguing, to which she replies, “thanks, I get a lot of practice from my brother”. • The following terms are used: “God” and “Oh my God” (flippantly), jerk, fart bag, turd ball, fart, shut up, stupid, idiot.