Dandelion Break Shocked, I tell you. Shocked.

[Aethalope]

Oh no! Dark book covers! Titles with Night and Dark and Murder! Won't someone please think of the children!!!

 

[Hannah Faoileán]

Children read dark books as well. We don't need to wrap them in cotton wool.

In my local (40min away) bookstore, there is a separate, cosy area for picture book and middle grade readers (and guardians) to go in and peruse - including MG horror which is growing in popularity. The Young Adult shelves are beside adult fantasy. Both have the light, the funny and the dark. I've eavesdropped on teenage browsers - they've talked about what they've seen on Tik Tok and instagram. They're exposed already. In their lives, many are experiencing very dark or very scary scenarios. Reading about a protagonist (living with the protagonist) as the character overcomes their dark and comes out the other side is hugely cathartic for them (as it is for adults).

Keeping young minds behind blinkered glasses may blind them to hope.

 

[Aethalope]

Well said @Hannah Faoileán

Some of these parents haven't a clue what these kids are seeing and doing on their phones. Dark themed teen and YA stuff has nothing on Roblox or even some YouTube ads.