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."
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