To the girl who censored my book before I bought it (used)

Really?

Did it bother you so much to even see the words "damn" and "hell" and "have" + "sex" and all it implies together that you had to black out the words themselves? I feel sad for you. I especially feel sad you also blacked out the word "God." I would understand if the God had been used in a profane context, but the people were just talking about God because the world was most likely ending. I would definitely be having some God-filled conversations if my world were literally ending, wouldn't you?

And if your parents were the ones who (I'm certain) lovingly scratched out those offensive words, then I hope you gleefully whispered them to yourself as you were reading. And what are they going to do when you hit high school and have to read The Scarlet Letter (adultery! bastard offspring! lascivious ministers!). By the way, I'm really sorry about The Scarlet Letter, it is apparently required reading. No, whatever you do, do not see the movie instead.

And I can't help but get the feeling you never finished reading the book, or it was ripped out of your hands and sold to the nearest used bookstore (at least it wasn't burned, I tell myself). That makes me sad as well. You missed a beautifully heartbreaking study of hope in the face of hopelessness, the agony of growing up when there's little left to look forward to, and the fierce love and foibles of parents just trying to keep their families safe.

Good luck to you in your life.