The Daily Circuit

Books for young adults often contain profanity

11:15 AM, May 30, 2012

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A girl reads as she waits for a flight with her family at the Fort-de-France Aime Cesaire airport in Le Lamentin, on April 19, 2010 on the French island of Martinique. (PATRICE COPPEE/AFP/Getty Images)

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  • Pam Allyn: Executive director and founder of LitWorld and LitLife, author of "What To Read When: The Books and Stories To Read With Your Child-And All The Best Times To Read Them" and "Pam Allyn's Best Books for Boys: How To Engage Boys in Reading in Ways That Will Change Their Lives"
  • Sarah Coyne: Assistant professor of human development in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University

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As the school year wraps up, we're talking about summer reading for young adults. While parents and teachers might be thrilled to know kids are reading this summer, a Brigham Young University found many books aimed at this age group contain profanity.

Sarah Coyne, assistant professor of human development in the School of Family Life at Brigham Young University, looked at 40 books on an adolescent bestsellers list.

According to the BYU press release on the study:

On average, teen novels contain 38 instances of profanity between the covers. That translates to almost seven instances of profanity per hour spent reading.

Coyne was intrigued not just by how much swearing happens in teen lit, but who was swearing: Those with higher social status, better looks and more money.

Coyne will join The Daily Circuit Wednesday to talk about her study and how parents can find books appropriate for their children.

Pam Allyn, executive director and founder of LitWorld and LitLife, and author of "What To Read When: The Books and Stories To Read With Your Child-And All The Best Times To Read Them" will also join the discussion.

"We know that the way to build our children's capacity as readers and writers is simple: They must read and write daily," she said. "Summer is not an exception to that."

VIDEO: Pam Allyn TedX Talk

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