I push back against the idea of modifying a great book just out of instinct but I don’t think that is the right reaction. They abridge books all the time to make them acceptable for younger readers if only by making them shorter. This is much less change then that. If I was a fourth grade teacher I would be very leery of introducing this book to my classroom with the n word in it. If adults have to call it the n word instead of saying even if they are not using it refer to a person then how the hell are going to expect twelve year-olds to handle it better.

It is an important work and we should not let one word keep children from reading it. I think it is important to keep i9n mind that the kids will have access to the book in its original form it just won’t be the form used in class.

Besides ther word does offend some people today and being offensive what not the goal of the book.