I have not yet to read the series, but it is not unusual to see messages about collectivism in stories for children. I don't have a problem with it. Ideas should be shared and parents can start teaching their children some simple critical thinking skills about what they see and read. It would also be easy to point out how rude a charter is and express disapproval at the rude behavior. It is amazing how many teenagers I work with that cannot answer the question what is the moral or point of the story. They need to be taught how to find the authors opinion and how to develop an opinion of there own. Perhaps if they had an adult read with them to ask questions as children they would have the skills and teens and young adults.

They are feeding our kids lots of collective crap. I just heard today from a Mom who has her tiny ones in preschool that starting next year they can no longer say the word "no" to the children. (Can you believe that?? My opinion, from working with kids, is that they are not told "no" often enough and it shows.) Also, during another conversation, I found out that grading school papers with a red pen is no longer allowed because it's too harsh. A red pen!!? The list of socialist indoctrination tactics in schools grows more and more every year. People complain about things...say it's ridiculous, agree it's stupid, but do NOTHING to stop it. They don't think these "little things" are worth the hassle of fighting over and they're afraid that THEY will look foolish for making an issue out of it. (They've also taken the "N" word out of Huckleberry Finn....taken it out of history as if never happened or something!) Personally I think every single thing, even if it seems miniscule should be protested vigorously. Better yet... schools should be privatized and the Government should be dismantled and rebuilt according to the Constitution.

Here is an interesting srticle on point:
http://www.independent.org/publications/...
I did read the series to my children and found details such as Dorothy going into people's homes and eating leaving dirty dishes funny/outrageous. that was part of the humor to us. But when I was in collegein the 80s I was in a polish play version of Wizard of Oz. All the characters said things and did things that were a way of getting back at the communist rule (it was written in the 50s). I was amazed how the story was basically the same, but the polish audience "got" it.

I don't believe in banning books. Even the ones I don't like. 'Fahrenheit 451' is always right in the back of my mind. Parents have an opportunity to discuss books and ideas with their kids. I don't know if anyone does, but I remember discussing things with my parents. We discussed. They didn't force their opinion or slam mine even if they didn't agree.

I had the opportunity a few weeks ago while wearing my WIJG T-shirt to introduce a young lady to AS. She immediately downloaded it to her Kindle. I saw her yesterday. She has been taking her finals in college and hasn't had time to start reading yet. I asked what she was majoring in and it Early Childhood K-6. She's going to be a teacher. I said "I hope you aren't going to be an indoctrinator". She said "What's an indoctrinator". I gave her the examples of the 5th grader writing about giving up his Constitutional rights for safety and the girl being told that Republicans were evil. She was horrified that teachers were doing that and she said that wouldn't be her. I have hopes that she'll keep that in mind as she reads AS. I think I'll recommend 'We the Living' to her as well.