1. Too Soon for Sex?
Author: Christine DeVault
Illustrator: Ian Akin
First Published: 1989
ISBN: 0-941816-76-1
Length: 119 pages
Number of Endings: 4
Library of Congress Summary: The reader makes decisions for Serena
and James as they struggle with the question of whether to have sex or to
wait.
My Thoughts: Well, there certainly aren't that many gamebooks which
begin with a notice stating that they "may be most appropriate for use
in communities in which there are high rates of teen pregnancy, sexually
transmitted disease or substance use," but here one is. In any case,
it's actually not a bad book -- the writing is decent and the theme isn't
presented in too terribly preachy a manner. The problem, though, is that I
can't imagine this being very successful at its intended goal of encouraging
sexual abstinence. The main characters are both responsible overachievers,
and the book thus seems likely to appeal to the responsible overachiever
market, which is not the place where this book is really needed. I can
see why the book was written this way -- if the author made the characters
less responsible and more troubled she might violate political correctness
and be accused of stereotyping -- but that was probably a risk that should
have been taken.
2. Taking Chances with Sex
This book is not part of my collection.
3. Don't Let it Get Around
This book is not part of my collection.