The NYT Review of Books' "Politically Correct Reading List for Children & Young Adults"

- by tamerlane

Derreck and the Tire Gauge
Text and illustrations by Joe Favreau
MSM Press 2008, 24 pages
Ages 6-12

While playing in his dad's garage, Derreck finds a discarded tire gauge and an old bicycle pump. Derreck sets out down the street, properly inflating the tires of each vehicle he passes. Returning home after an exhausting day, Derreck is surprised by a phone call from the President of the United States. "Good job, Derreck," the president tells the boy, "Now I don't have to come up with an energy policy!"


A Locker Room of My Own
by T.G. Wright
By Its Cover Books 1988, 216 pages
Young adult

At a rural Texas high school in the mid-eighties, star quarterback and FTM Tammy/Timothy struggles with typical teen issues. Tam/Tim has led Oliver North High to consecutive state championships, but will the school board release the funds to build a separate gym shower just for s/him? Will Tam/Tim's voice finally settle so s/his teammates can hear s/his audibles? Why do the other kids never invite s/him to spin-the-bottle parties? Will Becky, Tam/Tim's cheerleader girlfriend, freak out when they finally make it to third base?


El Nino Barack
Story by David Axelrod, illustrations by David Plouffe
Hope, Change, and Jovanovitch 2004, 16 pages
Childlike adults

The apocryphal tales of young Barack Obama's life are presented in coloring book format. The infant Barack smiles and Civil Rights legislation is passed; at age twelve, Barack lectures the Pharisees on constitutional law; young Barack miraculously crosses international borders without a U.S. passport; the Virgin Stanley Ann smears lamb's blood above their door, and Selective Service passes over them; coming of age, Barack organizes communities, eradicates all poverty in Southside Nazareth. Book comes with one light blue Crayola crayon.


Are You There, Ganesh? It's Me, Margaret
by Judy Blume
Vishnu Publishing 1970, 192 pages
Ages 10- 16

This endearing classic tells the story of Margaret who, solely through a conversation held with herself inside her head, is reassured that the deities of Hindu pantheon exist and love her.


Hasdrubal Potash and the Fatwa of Doom
by J.K. Rowling
Taliban Scripture Editions Plc. 2003, 420 pages
All ages

Rowling re-envisions her best-selling Harry Potter series in a Taliban setting. In this, the third installment, apprentice clerics Potash, et al. continue their arcane studies at the Hogwarts Madrassa. Escapades include: the boys down Predator drones from atop a flying donkey cart; Hasdrubal's slip of the tongue exposes Farouk's true identity as Fatima, and she is beheaded; after his muffed incantation causes the giant Buddhas to reappear, Mahtmet has the soles of his feet flogged by Ayatollah Voldemort; Potash is selected for a mission against the Great Satan.


Shanika Has Two Nappy-Haired Mommies Who Poop
by Ivana Befrie
That's Off Limits Press 1991, 48 pages
Ages 4-10

Enduring the taunts of her playmates, young Shanika gradually learns to accept, then celebrate, that her two mommies are black, are lesbians, and defecate.


(c) 2009 by 'tamerlane.' All Rights Reserved.