"Reading a good long novel is in many ways like having a long and satisfying affair" — Stephen King
This seems pretty absurd to me. Lots of kids use swear words. (If you just said "mine don't!" they probably just don't use those words in front of you.) I agree with the author, bullying (and the language of bullying) is harsh. It's pointless to focus on the language used in the book and ignore the actual substance of what she is communicating.