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the handmaid's tale

Is This Raunchy Book – The Handmaid’s Tale – Recommended Reading at Your Child’s School?

Porn filled books like The Handmaid’s Tale are now recommended reading for high school students. Find out what your child is reading for class!

Several weeks ago Carla D’addesi’s friend made an urgent stop to her house one afternoon to read some lines from a book called The Handmaid’s Tale. Both moms were floored that this book was on their children’s recommended reading list at school. After her friend read several passages which were filled with pornography, threesomes and violence too horrific to write in this blog, they both shed some tears and then Carla did what she does best – she took action! She gathered several other parents and headed to a school board meeting to express their concern.

The Hulu television series, The Handmaid’s Tale is rated MA (mature audiences only) but the book is pushed upon students taking AP classes in high school. In this week’s Hollywood Insider, Carla and I dig deep and expose the horrific content in this book. We also give tips on how parents can discover what’s in their children’s school libraries and on the school’s recommended reading list. Do the research and demand any violent, sex-saturated content such as this, be removed from your child’s school. Here is an example of what high schoolers are reading…

the handmaid

 

Many parents are not aware of what books their kids are reading. When children read this material, many are embarrassed to talk to their parents about it or need counseling after reading it. Many of these images and words cannot be easily forgotten or erased from the mind. As Carla mentions in this episode, several doctors warn the school board that high schoolers can’t emotionally handle the graphic content promoted in this book. In fact, many pedophiles remember how they were first introduced to porn as a teen, which led them down the path of destruction. Even after this particular school was warned, they decided to keep this book on the recommended reading list. The major problem I have with this whole situation is that a minority of parents and school board members are mandating that all students read the book, when a majority of students and parents DO NOT want their children exposed to this content.

Please check out this week’s episode and inform as many friends as possible regarding this book and then dig in your kid’s backpack and ask them questions about the books they are being asked or told to read for class. It’s wild to me that porn and graphic violence are being pushed on students today and yet bringing a Bible to class is supposedly illegal (it isn’t illegal, but kids are told it is). Let’s get engaged in this culture war and help our kids navigate through the content they are asked to consume when in school. It’s pertinent that we keep our eyes open to what is happening in our children’s lives. Keep at it moms and dads!

Episode 25: Do NOT let your kids read The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood, if it is part of their school curriculum!

(watch video here)

[youtube id=”nZlk2ebkW6s”]

SHOW TIME LINE

Introduction
1:52  Carla’s friend alerted her of a book called The Handmaid’s Tale (filled with graphic sex and porn) as recommended reading for high schoolers
3:16  Tina was speaking at a youth event and students alerted her that if they don’t read this content, they flunk the class. They are forced to read it.
4:03  If your child has literature AP, CHECK their recommended reading list from the school and look at the content in the book!
6:32  Carla reads several passages from The Handmaid’s Tale.
8:53  Some moms loved this book and are pushing it on the other students at the school. However, it’s illegal and inappropriate.
9:32  Carla talks about the parents that went before the school board regarding this issue.
10:25 Two medical doctors said this content is NOT appropriate.
12:09 Pennsylvania laws prohibit pornography from entering schools through computer, why not the books?
14:09 Carla’s advice on what parents need to do to be aware of what’s in their child’s school.
15:02 The Handmaid’s Tale wins a tons of awards, but that doesn’t matter. Content is horrible for kids.
16:38 This book is illegal, yet laws are not being upheld.
17:29 Tina and Carla talk about the positive options. Carla’s website, books and radio show that’s available.
19:19 Check out Carla’s children's books @ www.CaralDaddesi.com.
20:43 The minority have the larger voice. No longer!
21:48 We are speaking at the Values Voter Summit in Washington D.C.
22:28 Sign up for our pop culture alerts by texting POPCULTURE (no spaces) to the number 44222.
23:00 Parenting is an action word not passive!
23:19 Post any other graphic books that are on your school’s recommended reading list so parents are aware of what to watch out for!
Conclusion

Besides evolution being taught in classrooms around the country and history books being removed from school grounds, we now have to be diligent in checking out the books our children are being asked to read for their assignments or AP courses. Satan wants to deceive the masses and he knows if he can fill our young children’s minds with harmful content, they will be led away from God and have their minds filled with an ungodly message and possibly have nightmares galore. What goes into our minds is who we become, what we believe and what we do as a result. Let’s keep our minds focused on clean, uplifting, Godly words and deeds and not be deceived by the enemy.

the handmaidPlease sit down with your child today and find out what they are being asked to read for class. Grab the books for yourself and check out the content. Don’t assume your school has your child’s best interest at heart. You might love your kid’s teacher, but they are also told what to teach your kids and assign for homework. The sweet thing to remember is that we are the parents and we get the final say as to what content we allow into our children’s minds. We will also be held accountable someday as to how we did in this area! Scary but rewarding if done in a God-honoring way! Also, grab Carla’s series of books on her website which cover topics from how to choose a Godly spouse to building Godly character.

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the handmaidTHIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE: Talk to your kids about what they are reading as their class assignments and if The Handmaid’s Tale is one of the recommended books on the reading list. Get positive books for your children that are filled with morals, character development and anything to do with building positive self esteem.

Question: What books did you discover your kids are being asked to read for their school assignments? Where you shocked by what you discovered? Share your answer by clicking here!

14 Comments
  • Maureen Topper
    Posted at 17:27h, 15 August Reply

    Anyone who calls The Handmaid’s Tale “porn” doesn’t know the meaning of the word. This is a feminist classic. My daughter will be reading it this year as a sophomore, and I couldn’t be happier.

    • Tina Marie Griffin
      Posted at 09:16h, 24 September Reply

      Hi Maureen!

      Thank you for your thoughts on this. We will have to agree to disagree on this one. The graphic pages I read from this book horrify me. This should be an option for students to read, not mandatory reading for teens to read as in most high schools today. I would advise NO ONE even adults, should be reading these words. There are so many better things we could subject our minds to and just spend time helping teens, feeding the homeless, going on a mission trip, I could give you 500+ examples of what we could do better with our time. But I know that’s my opinion! Have a great week!! thanks for writing in!

  • Emily Stephens
    Posted at 15:55h, 14 October Reply

    Hi Tina!

    I understand your situation, even though I do not agree with it. I am a librarian in training so I am completely for the Library Bill of Rights; yep, we have one! If I had an objection to a material (books, magazines, websites, etc.). I would still have to obey the Library Bill of Rights because that is something librarians take very seriously. So is the banned books is very serious. Personally, I LOVE the book. I feel it shows the underlying issues that women especially face today, but I think you have gotten that message before it sounds like. Now, I know that you don’t want to read the pornography parts and I understand. Speaking as a woman and christian it is disgusting. However, it is supposed to tell us something about society, that we still have a way to go with our rights to equal men.

    I am leaving here some ALA pages in hopes that you will change your mind or read the book! It cannot hurt to just have a go! I think you are smart and strong enough to skip over the pornography parts.

    http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/librarybill

    http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom

    http://www.ala.org/advocacy/intfreedom/hate

    Wishing you all the best in your reading time!

    Emily

    • CCM Team
      Posted at 07:37h, 02 September Reply

      Thank you so much for that information! I will look at the links you provided!
      I do however believe that adult content should not be recommended for children. If a parent chooses for their child to read something that is up to their discretion. But that is not a school’s job! You rock!

  • Noelle Kahaian
    Posted at 15:17h, 19 November Reply

    According to my state’s law, this book is Obscene and Harmful material for minors. Thank you for alerting us!

    • Tina Marie Griffin
      Posted at 08:30h, 31 December Reply

      Thank you for your support! Whatever I post that you know will help others, please share all over 😉 Send me whatever you think I need to warn other parents about as well!

  • Women from the 21st century
    Posted at 09:51h, 28 November Reply

    First of all, the book and the show are two separate entities. The show is for an adult audience and goes much further into the story than the book. The book is basically over in the first 5 episodes of the series. The book is far less graphic. But you didn’t actually read the whole book or watch the series, did you?

    The Handmaid’s Tale is nothing like pornography. It is not a glorification of sex in any shape or fashion. It is a story of violence against women inspired by historical facts and real examples. Concubines are a historical fact. Handmaids are also clearly described in the Bible. Is the bible porn? Because that is legitimately the place Atwood got the premise from. Genesis 16:1.

    This book describes rape, not porn. Rape is a crime, and this is a story about real abuses women have historically endured.
    Women are raped, abused and without equal all over the world, in all nations, regardless of religion, culture, race, whatever. This is a story to say that is not ok. This a story that says girls are equal human beings and deserve to be treated as such. To equate Atwood’s descriptions of the ceremony as pornography sincerely concerns me. It demonstrates that you are unable to recognize the difference between loving sexual relationships and violent abuse inflicted upon women. It demonstrates that you blame the victim for her part in a rape rather than feeling loving compassion towards a story of survival. You are so fearful of a discussion of violence against women with children who have more than likely (1) witnessed, (2) experienced or (3) had someone they love be exposed to these themes in real life that you would rather rob a young woman of an opportunity to see what her rights are, what consent is, and how to recognize when she is unsafe.

    Your comment and opinion is extremely offensive to generations of sexual abuse survivors and women who have endured a lack of rights in authoritarian regimes. This book has been read in Canada and the UK in middle and high schools since original publication. Your comment was ignorant for the 1980s.

    • CCM Team
      Posted at 07:45h, 02 September Reply

      Thank you for your well thought through comment. I apologize if anyone is offended based on an experience of sexual abuse. Sexual abuse is absolutely horrific.
      Our intentions in this blog post were to alert parents that there may be content unsuitable for their young readers and that schools should not be recommending things that maybe parents should be the decision-maker on. Such as rape or pornography.

  • A concerned sister
    Posted at 03:03h, 16 September Reply

    Thank you for this post. I haven’t read the book, but watched dome episodes of the show. My sister is a senior in high school and informed me that she will be reading it in her English class. No, I do not want her reading the book or watching it. I am sure there are plenty of other books that can get the point across. As a woman who was sexually abused, I do not agree with what WOMEN FROM THE 21ST CENTURY posted. There were scenes in the show that brought back horrific memories, hence why I stopped watching it.

    • CCM Team
      Posted at 11:21h, 20 September Reply

      Thank you for reading and commenting!

      And we definitely agree, there are other works of literature that could teach what needs to be taught without having to endorse this one specifically!

  • High~School~Student
    Posted at 22:30h, 07 January Reply

    I am a High School student and completely disagree! If your kids or you think this is traumatizing that means its, because you are not mature and small minded. Things have changed throughout the years. Im sorry Karen but your wrong and stupid for trying to take this book away. LOL

    • CCM Team
      Posted at 12:41h, 14 January Reply

      We have to disagree! The reason things have changed throughout the years and have become the way they are is that nobody ever stood for purity along the way. Just because culture changes does not mean morality does. Gods biblical standard is always the same!

  • nowaylaowai
    Posted at 18:24h, 19 January Reply

    Funny, those threesomes you refer to were based on events that happened in the Bible. The Handmaid’s Tale shows what happens when religion takes over a country. You really should read it and decide for yourself if this is the kind of religious -based society is what YOU would like to see. But you’re too scared to read it and discover for yourself, lest you might learn something.

    • CCM Team
      Posted at 04:59h, 24 January Reply

      Hey there! While this may be true, it does not change the narrative of the story. Just because something is in the bible does not mean that it cannot be twisted and perverted into something God never intended it for. The bible is absolutely full of immoral, perverse, and wicked things. All things God looks down upon and judges by his Holy standard of perfection.

      The reason He does this is so that humans may see their depravity and their desperate need for His mercy through His son Jesus. The reason the world utilizes such things are to further defile our world and to serve ourselves.

      Religion in itself is not necessarily dangerous, but being religious is. Christianity is the only religion that is based on having a relationship with the object of worship, for us, it is God. For others, it may be Buddha, Satan, Allah, and the list goes on. In all of these religions, you must work to attain the right standing with your god.

      However, in Christianity, God chooses you. You do nothing to receive him. The Word actually tells us we cannot choose God until He makes us alive. We are dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1) and a dead man can do nothing. Once the Lord has called your name and made you alive, you have eternal communion, partnership, with Him.

      Being religious or self righteous, like the Pharisees in the bible, is what is dangerous. The reason being is that it brings a false belief of justification. We think if we are religious enough We are 1. in right standing with God and 2. We are in better standing than others, causing us to act pridefully and causing the problems in society that you are referring to.

      We love learning. Thank you for sharing that information with us.

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