Just a few days ago, an order was signed by the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, banning the sale of a book intended for children. Here’s what happened.
In September 2022, “Bien trop petit” (Far Too Small), written by Manu Causse, hit the shelves. But ten months later, the book was banned from sale. On July 18th, the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin, signed an order to prohibit the sale of the book to minors.
According to ActuaLitté, a specialized literature website, the order states that the novel, “clearly intended for youth,” contains “the gratuitous description of numerous very explicit sexual scenes,” particularly on pages 61 and 62, 85 and 86, 90 to 94, 105 to 108, and 158 to 160.
The Minister argues that Manu Causse’s work “constitutes pornographic content, thus posing a danger to minors who could acquire or consult it.” Consequently, it is prohibited “to offer, give, or sell to minors” the youth novel, the order stipulates.
Publisher Pushback: Challenging the Ban
The publishing house of the novel is not accepting the ban without a fight, noting that the mention “from 15 years old” is on the back cover. However, this isn’t deemed sufficient according to the government and the commission overseeing publications for children and adolescents.
Despite the ban, the publishing house is determined to keep “Bien trop petit” alive. They argue that literature plays a crucial role “in the ongoing battles.”
Understanding “Bien trop petit”
For context, “Bien trop petit” tells the story of Grégoire, a teenager self-conscious after a classmate mocked the size of his genitals during a pool outing. “He no longer wants to go to school and seeks refuge in writing. His texts, posted on a forum, attract the attention of a certain Kika, who asks him to delve deeper into eroticism. She will be his first reader and also his first critic,” summarizes the book’s synopsis.
In conclusion, the banning of “Bien trop petit” raises questions about the balance between freedom of expression and protecting young readers from potentially harmful content. It also underscores the ongoing debate surrounding censorship in literature, particularly aimed at youth audiences.
