Dominique St.

John
Nothing by Janne Teller
August 7, 2016
Teller. J. (2011). Nothing. East Kilbride: Strident
Dear Mrs. Torres,
Your request for reconsideration for the book Nothing by Janne Teller to be removed from the
library shelves of Ross Middle School has been received. After reviewing your request and our
selection policy with the school library collection evaluation committee, we agree that this
literature is inappropriate to be housed at this library for this age group. The topics are intended
for a more mature audience who understands this type of fiction work and its educational
purpose. That is why Nothing is not housed at our campus.
However, we did determine the reason to why your child came across this novel at our campus.
Nothing is part of the pre-freshman curriculum summer reading list. Our current eighth graders
are provided with the list and may begin their reading at their discretion.
We appreciate that you feel confident in voicing your concerns with our campus. If you have
any questions, please feel free to contact me at dstjohn@episd.org or the committee at
rossrebelsadminteam@epsid.org.
Thank you,
D. St. John
Ross Middle School librarian

Reflection:
I think this book may have a negative influence on middle school students. From my experience,
middle school students may attempt some of the grave acts mentioned in the reading. I do not
think this book alone could be the sole contributor in middle school student becoming a copycat,
but there are other factors that provide them with confidence to behave dangerously. For
example, I was a victim of a prank in which a water bottle bomb was made and left behind at
one of the exits of the gym at Ross Middle School. I was holding the door open for students to
exit. The water bomb exploded with such a tremendous force and fumes that I needed to seek
medical attention for a headache and nausea. The necessary information to copy the production
of this water bottle bomb is easily accessible on youtube.com. I think that Nothing is an
interesting read for a more mature student who is aware of the severity and consequences of

such actions. I fear a middle and elementary student may not be able to have the appropriate
dialogue necessary to understand the disturbing scenes and unruly behavior.
Competencies:
003:B: Develops procedures for the school library program to ensure compliance with Board
policies and local , state and federal laws.
003:D: Manages and maintains facilities and resources(e.g., scheduling, circulation, inventory,
repair, reporting)
004:A: Applies effective leadership strategies within campus and district administrative
structures to promote library goals.
004:E: Communicates effectively through oral, written, electronic and nonverbal expression.
005: A: Understands the role of all types of libraries and information agencies in an integrated
learning environment.
005: A: Understands and applies principles of ethical behavior (e.g., intellectual freedom,
information access, privacy, intellectual property) in various professional contexts.