Teacher help?

my teacher wants us to read "flowers for algernon" and my mom said that its too depressing so we are goin to get a book i can read instead. do you have any books in mind that are ok with teachers to read in school. PS:i am a 13 yr old punk styled person.

Teacher help?
Lord of the Rings or The Last Unicorn are two good books, that will have to read for school. Maybe she(he) will alow you to read it instead.
Reply:Ok, normally I only like to answer when I think I can provide what you're looking for but-





It really irritates me when parents try to censor what their children read- I mean, to some extent it's understandable. But Flowers for Algernon is classic, and you'd be reading it for educational purposes, so really she's only harming your education. Yeah, it's depressing, but that doesn't mean it isn't GOOD. And I'm surprised you aren't more insulted- I know if my parents told me that they didn't think I could handle a book, or that it was too depressing for me, I'd blow up on them for being so condescending.





So, my advice? Read it. You're thirteen, and that's old enough for you to be choosing what you read, and to be learning about problems through literature that you might experience in later life.
Reply:Why won't your mom let you read it? Just because it's depressing? That's really not a good reason. It's a good book... you should ask your mom what books she wants you to read since she's basically deciding for you anyway.





here's the teen section on amazon so you can look around:


http://www.amazon.com/Teens-Books/b/ref=...
Reply:Well, first of all, if you were actually a "punk", I don't think you'd mind the depressive-ness, nor would you just blindly listen to your mummy, hahaha.





Second, and more importantly: by the way you talk, it doesn't sound as if you've cleared this problem with your teacher! Tell your teacher your dear old mommy doesn't want you to read the book, and they'll probably give you suggestions for another book to read instead--in fact, they might assign you a specific book.
Reply:Sometimes it is good to read books that you do not think you will like. It might be depressing, but it might also be very rewarding. Life is not always happy and many of the great pieces of literature are "depressing". If you are still sure you do not want to read it, I have just a word of advice--Make sure you or your mother checks with the teacher to make sure it is okay to substitute books. You could be in for a nasty surprise if it comes time to be tested or evaluated and you find out that it is not acceptable. They choose books for a reason.