Parents' Guide to

Castration Celebration

By Stephanie Dunnewind, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 16+

Crass, explicit novel tries to be provocative, ends up lame.

Castration Celebration Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

age 16+

Based on 2 parent reviews

age 18+

I am dissapointed in your review, because...

Would you ignore the obvious misogyny if a "funny" book entitled "Female Mutilation Celebration" were published? If the premise was a boy writing a play about female sexual mutilation, would you not notice the sheer, vile misogyny? If so, why do you not notice the sheer, vile misandry when the genders are reversed?
age 14+

Teens will love this book - and will get the message

When teens are treated badly by members of the opposite sex, parents' explanations often sound preachy. This novel gets at both the angry emotions and how kids make better choices next time - in a funny, summer-camp-for-aspiring-writers-and musicians story. The message "think before you hurt the other person" comes through loud and clear.

This title has:

Great messages

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2):
Kids say (1):

Everyone has heard a story that has the teller laughing but leaves listeners wondering what was so funny. "I guess you had to be there" is the common explanation. CASTRATION CELEBRATION readers will feel like that through much of the novel, as Wizner describes his characters falling into "a fit of hysterics" over things that simply aren't very funny. He works too hard informing readers that his shallow main characters are "witty" and their bantering "sharp," when authentic dialogue and an interesting plot arc would have gone a lot further.

There's plenty for parents to find questionable, but most of it is so lame that the real travesty is Wizner's bastardization of Shakespeare. The novel may appeal to readers who enjoy the crude humor of Judd Apatow movies (Superbad), but it can't carry off what centers those movies: a genuine heart.

Book Details

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