Summary of “Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood”

In the article “Why the Best Kids Books Are Written in Blood,” the author, Sherman Alexie explains why he thinks people should be informed of the harsh realities of the world before it is “too late”. He states that often times, when people get older, other people try to shield them from terrible things that they have already experienced. He speaks of his days as a Native American teenager and the hardships he faced; things like rape, murder,addiction and abuse. He goes on to explain how his YA books help young adults and kids alike through their lives’ rough patches. He then goes on to explain the mixed opinions and reviews his work received and some of the things people have to say about it. The author then provides a critic’s complaints about the “depravity” and “hideously distorted portrayals” of contemporary young adult literature. He says that teenagers read when they are sad, lonely, and enraged. He claims to understand the struggle of teenagers throughout most of the article. He even goes on to end the article by stating that he writes in blood because he remembers what it felt like to bleed.