Welcome, my sweet book friends!
If you’d prefer to listen to this book discussion, you can check out the full episode on The Bookmarks ‘n Blankets Podcast on your favorite podcast platform or listen below.
I’d love to know your thoughts about this book controversy. I invite you to hop over to social media, X (aka Twitter), Facebook, and Instagram, where you can comment.
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If you want a deeper understanding of this issue, I encourage you to listen to the full podcast episode, where I share more context and expand on my thoughts.
A Growing Concern in Publishing
Recently, there has been deeply concerning news circulating within the book community. Some mainstream, traditional publishing houses appear to be prioritizing or favoring young adult manuscripts that include sexually explicit content.
As a reader, this raises serious concerns. I felt compelled to speak up and bring awareness to what is happening, especially for parents, teens, and librarians who rely on the publishing industry to provide age-appropriate material.
Young adult fiction is intended for readers between the ages of 12 and 18. Content that is sexually explicit does not belong in this category. It is important that we stay informed and take an active role in protecting what younger readers are exposed to.
Here are a couple of resources I came across about this topic:
- YouTube Video
- Author’s Instagram Reel
- Article: Perspective: Inside the troubling rise of ‘smut books’ among teens
- Article: Children exposed to ‘spicy’ adult fiction by BookTok influencers
A Current Fantasy Book Controversy
There is also a specific title that has sparked widespread discussion in the book world: Sibylline by Melissa de la Cruz.
Marketed as a fantasy and dark academia novel for younger audiences, the book contains a graphic sexual scene involving three teenagers having a threesome, including one who is dying or already deceased (non-consensual). This has understandably caused concern among readers.
Situations like this highlight why awareness matters. Readers, parents, and educators deserve transparency when it comes to the content being marketed to younger audiences.
Content Warnings vs. Trigger Warnings
Just like movies, television shows, and video games, books would benefit from clearer content guidance. A standardized rating system could help readers better understand what to expect before picking up a book.
In addition, it is important to distinguish between content warnings and trigger warnings.
Trigger warnings are intended to protect readers from reliving or remembering traumatic experiences. These may include topics such as abuse, sexual assault, self-harm, or severe mental health struggles.
Content warnings, on the other hand, inform readers about potentially sensitive material they may simply prefer to avoid. This can include sexual content, strong language, or substance use.
While both are valuable, they serve different purposes. Trigger warnings focus on preventing harm, while content warnings help readers make informed, personal choices about what they consume.
How to Protect Yourself and Your Family
If you care about what is included in the books you read or share with your children, it is wise to take a few extra steps before choosing a title.
One of the easiest ways to do this is by checking reader reviews.
Websites like Goodreads and Amazon often contain detailed feedback from readers who mention specific content concerns. These two websites have the largest quantity of book reviews.
Here’s a simple way to vet a book on Goodreads (note that the search function is only available via desktop or laptop, not mobile devices):
- Search for the book and open its main page.
- Scroll down to the Community Reviews section.
- Use the search bar to type keywords like “spice or spicy,” “sex,” “violence,” or “abuse.”
- Read through filtered reviews to see how others describe the content.
- *If you are on a Mac, you can also use the find feature to quickly locate keywords within reviews. It’s easier to read when they are highlighted.
There are also several helpful resources dedicated to content transparency:
- Common Sense Media
- Trigger Warning Database
- Book Trigger Warnings
- Does the Dog Die?
- Unconsenting Media
- Redeemed Reader
- Plugged In
- Book Series Recaps & Reviews
- Some reading tracker apps, like Fable and The StoryGraph
These tools can help you make more informed decisions about what you or your family reads.
Clean and Low-Spice Reading Options
If you are looking for books that are low spice or completely clean, there are publishers and authors who prioritize that style of storytelling. While this list is just a starting point, doing your own research can help you find voices that align with your preferences. Many of these have a Christian background or angle.
- Blink YA
- Shadow Mountain Publishing
- Descendant Publishing
- Enclave Publishing
- Realm Makers Books & Christian Fiction Conference
- Brave Books (Children’s books)
- Chicken Scratch Books (Middle Grade books)
- Grace and Truth Books (Books for all ages)
You can also explore my book lists, where I often include low-spice and closed-door recommendations. While many of my current lists focus on adult fiction, I will be sharing more options specifically tailored for young adult readers in the future. Stay tuned!
