Why isn Stewards of the Flame suitable for YA readers?
It’s unlikely that the story would interest teens, as there are no young people in it — the hero and all the main characters are in their 40s or older. And they are concerned, among other things, with adult problems such as death in old age. There are two other reasons why I emphasize that the book isn’t appropriate for YA readers. First, it contains some sex and profanity, mild by the standards of adult fiction but more than readers expect from me on the basis of my YA novels. This would be objectionable to some parents, considering that my YA books are often given to middle school kids even when I say they’re for older teens. Second and perhaps most significant, the book is strongly critical of today’s medical dogma and advocates ignoring government health advice, including much that is taught in today’s schools. To be sure, it deals with a future society, and I hope makes plain to adults that today it would not be possible to reject orthodox medical care to the extent the character
