Parent reviews for The Bluest Eye

There is no good reason to have this book available for minors in any school setting. Graphic sequences of rape ,incest, and very disturbing language. Please do not allow your child to read this. The review does not allow for an over 21 age group, but if it must be read, it needs to be read by legal adults only. The review also does not allow for a zero star rating which is what this book really deserves

Graphic details of child rape and molestation, incestuous rape, sex scenes, rape, adultery and prostitution. Show pedophiles in a favorable light. Not for high school students!

This book is written from the perspective of a young African American woman during the 1940s, about her life, struggles and her quest to essentially feel or be white. Although some may consider it graphic and overly sexual, it’s an accurate representation of how young African American women felt during those times, as well as the African Americans place in society during the early and mid 20th century. It truly is a literary masterpiece, and absolutely appropriate for 15 and above.

Not appropriate for high school! Graphic detail is given about the incestuous rape of Pecola. The book graphically discusses many sexual topics including orgasms, prostitution, incest, rape, nudity, pornography, molestation, pedophilia, masturbation, sexual dreams, homosexuality, bestiality and sodomy. Characters talk many times about hurting white people. There is nothing good about this book!

Incredible book by the great Toni Morrison.. poetically written, dealing with critical, real life issues. For mature, thoughtful youth. I read this in my early teens and went on to read all of Ms. Morrison's books. So glad my mother gave me this book.

I would strongly discourage parents from allowing their children to read this book and be exposed to the sexual violence that no child should have to experience. The images that are portrayed in this book represent a gruesome crime against children and once these images are imprinted on a child it is hard to reverse the experience. I am perplexed how a parent would do everything they could to prevent this type of assault from happening to their children but then let the child experience all the emotions of reading this in print. Also, the author has a bias against mainstream culture as being racist and brutal to people of color. This is strictly an opinion and parents should be cautious in promoting this notion in their children.

This book shows incest, rape and pedofilia from the perpetrators favorable point of view. Pages 162-163: “A bolt of desire ran down his genitals…and softening the lips of his anus. . . . He wanted to f*** her—tenderly. But the tenderness would not hold. The tightness of her vagina was more than he could bear. His soul seemed to slip down his guts and fly out into her, and the gigantic thrust he made into her then provoked the only sound she made. Removing himself from her was so painful to him he cut it short and snatched his genitals out of the dry harbor of her vagina. She appeared to have fainted.” Page 181: “The little girls are the only things I’ll miss. Do you know that when I touched their sturdy little t*** and bit them—just a little—I felt I was being friendly?—If I’d been hurting them, would they have come back? . . . they’d eat ice cream with their legs open while I played with them. It was like a party.” Using just the smallest amount of common sense we can deduce that if the book cannot be read aloud in the class, could not be viewable if it was a movie and couldn’t be played on the stereo if it was a CD, then why is it okay for it to be read and discussed; in school of all places! In fact, according to one lawyer, if the incidents in this book were a movie or a picture there would be a very clear cut case for prosecution for child pornography. In fact, the teachers mark the pages that can only be read at home. The sexually explicit scenes that take place are noted by page numbers and the kids have to read those portions of the book at home. It’s truly astounding. If there are parts of the book that are so explicit that they can’t be read in school, you’d think that would be a giant red flag to keep that book out of the hands of children. Read more at http://politichicks.com/2015/07/warning-graphic-common-core-approved-ch… Read more at http://politichicks.com/2015/07/warning-graphic-common-core-approved-ch…

Toni Morrison is a brilliant author, there is a reason she has been awarded a Nobel Prize in Literature. Bluest eye is her first novel and one of her best. Her prose is beautiful and she has an excellent command of English language. However parents, should know that the book delves into issues of prejudice, self hate, unfavorable beauty standards, and sexual assault. This book is great for older teenagers and adults. There are several themes that sweep through the novel.

This book is far more graphic than our school's rationale form let on. I highly recommend parents read the entire work in advance of minors doing so. In my professional and personal opinion, I do not consider this book to be appropriate for minors, nor the best choice for dealing with the issues it raises (and never resolves).

The review this site provided for this book regarding the sexual encounters in this book as edgy. Let me tell you, unless you want your child to read in graphic detail about an 11 year old girl being sexually assaulted by her father, this is NOT a book for your child. Toni Morrison has a reputation and this book more than lives up to it. My son read the book at age 12/7th grade because it was on a teacher recommended list for a historical novel. Once I read the book and brought it to the school's attention, the book was removed from the school (Middle School, by the way) and the teacher received disciplinary action. Her excuse was that my son reads at a Senior high-school level reading. I would not recommend this book for students to read without their parent knowing fully what the content is and giving their permission.