Do we read to relate to our characters or the plot or setting of the book? Do we read to expose societal issues? Do we read to have a different experience or learn something new? Do we read simply to enjoy? I'd argue that all of those are great reasons to read, and there are so many more.
Reading the posts from the high school class in Michigan, they often referenced how the YA lit they were reading was easier to relate to, dealt with issues they deal with, and was more interesting. I simply stated that I believed that a book like We Were Here would not necessarily provide them with what they were looking for, if that in fact was it.
We Were Here is the story of a teenage boy who's committed an awful crime that he cannot face. He is sentenced to a year in a group home, where he must record his feelings and experiences in a journal. Along the way he meets a few different boys who teach him several lessons about himself, his experiences, and dealing with tragedies. The story is really one of forgiving- others, yourself. Running from life simply isn't the answer.
I could definitely see the concept of this book used in a classroom, but the profanity in this specific book may be difficult to bring into a classroom, depending on the district. The title of this section was "unheard voices", and I think that's something worth examining.
Do we bring voices into the classroom specifically because they are unheard? Or can we simply bring this book into a classroom because it has important themes and perspective, and it just happens to have three boys of color as its main characters. I think that the story is worth telling, and these questions are so important to discuss with students. It's a teacher decision, but students should understand the issues.
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