When Graham brought home the book Icebreaker for her 10-year-old, little did she know that it would lead to a concerning discovery about a TikTok trend targeting unsuspecting parents and children. Her 11-year-old son informed her about a viral trend where the book was being placed in the children’s sections of bookstores as a prank to trick parents into buying it.
Alarmed by her son’s revelation, Graham decided to take a closer look at the book. What she found shocked her. „It was very, very explicit,“ she recalled. „It felt a little bit inappropriate for me to be reading it and I’m 31 years old. I really wasn’t prepared for the pornographic nature of it and the extreme details which it depicted, which makes sense knowing that it is an erotica novel, but that’s not what you expect when you’re looking at it.“
The confusion and concern surrounding Icebreaker have not been limited to Graham alone. Principal Kelly Morrow of Wandong Primary in Victoria felt compelled to issue two warnings to parents about the book this year. In April and May, Morrow included a cautionary note in the school’s newsletter, highlighting the adult content of Icebreaker and warning parents about the potential risks of exposing children to such material.
Despite efforts by the publisher, Simon and Schuster, to add a warning label on the back of the book stating „18+ content. Not suitable for young readers,“ many parents like Graham still missed this crucial information. Anna O’Grady, the publicity director at Simon and Schuster, acknowledged that the book’s cover, which features a cartoonish design, may mislead parents into thinking it is appropriate for children.
Jenny Grigg, an RMIT lecturer and book cover designer, emphasized the importance of clear and prominent warning labels on books with adult content. She noted that the small disclaimer on the back of Icebreaker was easily overlooked, potentially leading to the book falling into the hands of young readers.
Interestingly, Icebreaker is not the only erotic fiction novel with a misleading cover. Collide, another book in the same genre about ice skating, also features a cartoonish cover by the same illustrator as Icebreaker. Both books have warnings on the back, but the placement and size of these warnings may not be sufficient to alert parents to the adult content within.
In response to her discovery, Graham shared her experience with her step-daughter’s mother, who took to Facebook to warn other parents about Icebreaker. While Graham acknowledged her own oversight in not thoroughly examining the book before giving it to her child, she also highlighted the need for clearer warnings on books with mature content.
In conclusion, the case of Icebreaker serves as a cautionary tale for parents and educators about the importance of scrutinizing books intended for young readers. It underscores the need for publishers to be more transparent about the content of their books and to ensure that warning labels are prominently displayed to prevent inappropriate material from reaching children. As the digital age continues to blur the lines between age-appropriate content and adult material, vigilance and awareness are key in safeguarding children from exposure to unsuitable content.