Controversial youth novel is booked out

SOUGHT AFTER: Youth novel Into the River has been a popular choice for librarygoers since a ban was lifted.

Wairarapa readers have been keen to get their hands on controversial youth novel Into the River since an interim ban on the book was lifted.

In September the president of the Film and Literature Board of Review issued an interim restriction order banning sale or distribution of Ted Dawe's book pending completion of a review, following a Family First application.

This month the book, which contains sex, crime and violence, was classified as unrestricted.

Masterton Library manager Sandy Green said Masterton, Kapiti, Porirua and Hutt City public libraries shared 12 copies of the novel, all of which were on loan. A further 13 people had reserved the book.

The library had held copies of the book since the end of 2012 and the books had 143 loans and 126 reservations to date.

Ms Green hoped book bans wouldn't become prevalent. However, she noted New Zealanders didn't seem to have the extreme views that were held elsewhere in the world.

According to the Film and Literature Board of Review's most recent decision on Into the River, the board received more than 550 submissions and emailed views about the book.

The board said it accepted the book described, depicted or otherwise dealt with matters such as sex, crime, cruelty and violence.

It said it had read, considered and discussed all aspects of the book about which submitters had expressed concern. It accepted there were aspects of the book which many would find offensive and regard as inappropriate for children.

However, none of the submissions provided any direct evidence of any harm caused when the book was available on an unrestricted basis or pointed to injury to the public good if the book were again available on an unrestricted basis.

The decision said the book could have a positive impact on the public good if it either encouraged young adults to read, as a number of submitters suggested it might, or raised the real problems surrounding bullying for thought and debate.

The book described unacceptable, offensive and objectionable behaviours, but it didn't in any way promote them. "On the contrary, the book clearly sets out to discourage and discredit such behaviours," the decision said.