Is "scrotum" a word 10 year olds should not read?

At first glance, The Higher Power of Lucky, a children's book written by Susan Patron seems to be a typical children's book. It's even this year's winner of the Newbery Medal, which is one of the most prestigious awards for an author's contribution to American Children's Literature. Yet it's causing quiet a stir within the academic community. Why? Because on the first page of the book, the word "scrotum" appears. The book's heroine, a 10-year-old orphan named Lucky hears the word through another character that says he saw a "rattlesnake bite his dog, Roy on the scrotum." The book has been banned in some libraries across the U.S. while the debate continues online, questioning the role of librarians when selecting or censoring literature for children.

With One Word, Children’s Book Sets Off Uproar

Source: nytimes.com

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