Other writers disagreed. "I think well-informed young people are better able to deal with things they may come across," said Melvin Burgess, whose children's books have dealt with child abuse in a care home and teenage heroin use.
Children's laureate Anthony Browne said much children's literature was upbeat. He recently changed the ending to his forthcoming retelling of Goldilocks and the Three Bears, in which Goldilocks comes from an impoverished background, so it was less miserable.
Young contributors to the BBC's Newsround website also had mixed views. "Children's books are fine but some are totally depressing, said 12-year-old Jessie. Emily, 14, added: "Life doesn't have a happy ending, why should books?" And 10-year-old Prentice said: "I like stories that have bad endings because it makes the book more exciting."
The Sun offered top tips to parents on dealing with "unruly teens", like what to do if you don't approve of your daughter's outfit.
"Try and give them a really good reason that you don't like it, and word it in a way that will sink in," said the jaunty dossier. "You can try 'it would look great if you were a stripper' (but be careful with this one as they might take it as a compliment!)" Hmm.
Another piece of advice is to "trust them". "If you trust them, they will learn to trust themselves. If you find out they have broken your trust you can always cut off their trust funds!"
At least one tip may resonate with youth workers. "The first thing you should remember when dealing with a teen is that you were once one yourself," we're told. "But don't keep reminding them, especially in front of their friends because you, to them, are SO OLD."
And finally, the sad story of a nursery whose monkeys have been nicked. Not real monkeys but painted primates that adorned the front of Cheeky Monkeys in Auchterarder, Perthshire.
"Thoughtless vandals ripped them off and took them, leaving children and staff shocked yesterday morning," reported the Perthshire Advertiser. Nursery manager Anne Seaton said children were anxious to know what had happened. "If whoever took the monkeys could please give them back, as the children are already missing them," she told the paper.
