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Recently I was asked to write a letter to the editor on behalf of teacher librarians whose positions are being cut from the Burlington School District. A district, from what I can gather, actually has a surplus in their budget. This is a sad and troubling trend. Libraries aren't just about providing books to those who wouldn't otherwise have access (though of course that is huge!). They teach students skills that will last a lifetime. They instill research habits that shape how we all make valuable decisions in our lives, how and if we vote, for example. I believe strongly that each time we cut funding from school and public libraries, we chip away at our democracy, and further divide the privileged and the underserved. Please support the libraries in your community! Thanks

To the editor:

I am writing on behalf of the teacher librarians whose positions stand to be cut from the Burlington School District this fall. The trend to cut funding from school libraries is a deeply troubling one, especially when considering the positive influence school libraries have on student success. At least 60 studies have shown that student achievement is higher in schools with full-time certified school librarians. Research, technology, and literacy are dependent on access to school libraries and their trained professional librarians. Limiting access means limiting these opportunities for all students, but especially disadvantaged students who do not have access to technology at home or the ability to visit a public library. When we cut library hours, we hurt the students who need these services most. This also tears at the fabric of democracy, since these students are less likely to know how to access information, judge the quality of information or utilize libraries in their adult lives. Access to information is the key to educational success in our society, which in turn is the key to successful careers and successful citizens. As a children's book author, I've had the opportunity to visit school libraries all over Vermont and it is clear that libraries are the heart of the school. After touring colleges with our son last spring, it was clear this is also the case at colleges and universities. By providing resources to our young students, we prepare them for college, as well as life beyond. I hope that the school district will reconsider their decision.



Sincerely,

Jo Knowles

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In honor of Banned Books Week, here are a bunch of essay-ish sorts of things I've written about censorship, being banned, and hope for the future. I particularly love the haiku's many of you wrote way back when. Those were amazing!

"Dear Anonymous: Keep on Shining" http://jbknowles.livejournal.com/434403.html
http://jbknowles.livejournal.com/413098.html

"My Essay for Gay YA" http://jbknowles.livejournal.com/413098.html

"What is the Opposite of "Clean"? Part II" http://jbknowles.livejournal.com/390702.html

"I Could Use A Hug About Now" http://jbknowles.livejournal.com/346163.html

"Is it censorship? And a Poetry Friday Haiku Extravaganza!" http://jbknowles.livejournal.com/342629.html

"It was the best of times, it was the worst of times" http://jbknowles.livejournal.com/340750.html

"Challenges" http://jbknowles.livejournal.com/339620.html

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Yesterday, I gave my first "featured author" speech at the NH Library Association's first conference just for young adult librarians! It was a very special day. My mom and sister, both librarians, were in the audience. I shared my journey to publication, specifically tying in how one particular book followed me pretty much every step of the way. And since it's Banned Books Week, I thought I'd share part of that story here.

When I was in graduate school, a classmate and I had to present The Chocolate War through a Marxist Lens. (No, I have no recollection of what that really means. I admit it.) But I was thrilled to get the assignment because as a teen, this was the book that turned me into a reader. This was the book that helped me survive high school.

So, you can imagine how shocked I was when several students complained that the book was too dark. Too depressing. Too hopeless. "Show me one place in that text where there is any hope" one person demanded. "Where is the light?"

I remember standing at the front of the room and looking back at them in amazement. In my mind, the very nature of the book—the very fact that it dared to exist—meant that it shed light.

Later, on a children's literature list serve, the same same discussion started up. I tried, unsuccessfully, to defend the book again. "There is no hope in that book" was the general sentiment. And even though I knew there was, I struggled to explain. And failed.

Years have passed. Looking back at my path to here and now, I think about how that one book helped guide me year after year. How its one question, "Do I dare disturb the universe?" helped influence the choices I made, and the risks I took. How it helped a shy, scared teen, young woman—and even adult—be brave.

And I think about the person who demanded that I show her where the light is in The Chocolate War all those years ago. I think about the people who dismissed the book—and lots of other books, too—because they were "hopeless." I wish I could find them now, because I finally know how to answer.

I would say:



“Look at me.”

I am the light and the hope in that book.

Every kid who reads that book and feels less alone and more open minded because of it, is the light in that book.

Authors of so-called “dark” books are attempting to shine light on the darkness, not throw a curtain over it. Censorship does that.

One way a child can find his or her way out of the darkness is through a book. But only if that book is on the shelf. Only if a librarian is brave enough to put it there. Only if a librarian is thoughtful enough to recommend it. Only if a librarian cares enough to put it in that child’s hand.

I am very proud to have been able to stand in front of that wonderful group of NH librarians yesterday and know that each one of them is that librarian.

Each one of them, in their unique way, dares to disturb the universe every day. And I am very grateful.

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This piece also appears over at Gay YA. They are doing guest blogs by YA authors all month. Please check them out! Thanks. :-)

For Gay YA

Last weekend I was driving near the Brown campus in Providence, RI with my family. When we stopped at a light, two male students crossed the street, holding hands. They were chatting away, smiling, like what they were doing was the most natural thing in the world. My husband and I both commented on how nice that was. And how rare.

Because honestly? In most places in this country, you will not see two boys walking along a busy street holding hands. Carefree. Safe.

In most places in this country, there are still boys and girls just like those two ,wondering what’s wrong with them. Wondering if their parents will kick them out of the house if they tell them they’re gay. Wondering if their best friends will still be their best friends. Wondering if they will get the crap kicked out of them if anyone finds out.

I hate that this is true.

When my book, LESSONS FROM A DEAD GIRL, was banned from classroom use in a Kentucky school, the objection was that the book contained "inappropriate themes, including homosexuality." Calling homosexuality inappropriate is ridiculous. I know this. You know this. Unfortunately, a lot of people don’t.

In my latest book, PEARL, a blogger who reviews books wrote that, while she liked the book very much, she couldn’t recommend it because of the homosexual content. A reader thanked her, saying homosexuality in books made her feel “uncomfortable.”

When I read this, I cried. Not because I care about the review, but because of what it says about where we are in this country. The irony about all of this, is that the objectionable piece in the book is about two women who love each other and hide it all their lives because they’re too afraid to be themselves. And why? Because who they are is “inappropriate.” It makes people feel “uncomfortable.”

What message do reviews like this give to gay teens who stumble across them? Keep hiding.

That’s why I cried.

My older brother was gay. He didn’t come out until he was in his twenties. He waited to come out because he was afraid, too. The whole first half of his life he had to be two people. In public, he was one Scott. In private and among a small group of friends, he was the real Scott.

I was lucky enough to know the real Scott. The real Scott had a huge heart. He loved adventure. He loved to travel and eat and read and cook and watch James Bond movies and Dr. Who. He wanted to share all of these things with the people he loved. He used to force me to watch cheesy movies with him, trying to convince me to love them as much as he did. He could put his arm around you and I swear you could feel the unspoken words he meant in that simple gesture. The love he gave in it. But far too few were lucky enough to experience this Scott. This beautiful man who was bursting with love and life and never able to fully share his true self. Because for some crazy reason, for some reason I will never accept, people thought who he was, was “inappropriate.” So he hid that side of himself for years. And that is tragic.

What do we do about this?

That’s my big question. How do we make the world a more accepting place? How do we make our communities, our schools, our classrooms, our homes, more accepting places?

I wish I knew the big answer.

But I think one small one, is books.

The beauty of books is that they show us a new point of view. They show us what it’s like to walk around in someone else’s shoes for a while. They show us the world through a different lens. Sometimes it’s a more frightening world. Sometimes it’s a more beautiful one. Sometimes, it’s a more accepting one. Sometimes, it’s ugly. But even in those frightening, ugly worlds, we see some tiny

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Here is some smart advice from saraclaradara's son about why everyone, especially young people, should vote!

"Stop letting these old gits ruin the country for us and go out and vote!" -Brilliant 17 yr old

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Today I have a post up over at The Contemps site. It's "Hot Topic Tuesday" and we're talking about the phrase, "That's so gay." It would be really fantastic if you stopped over and weighed in. :-)

The post is HERE.

Thanks!

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A couple of weeks ago, The Hate Mongering Tart asked readers to send her photos of themselves reading their favorite banned book. Her posts were really fun and informative, which led me to think, HEY! More people should do this!

So, a little meme:

1. Go find your favorite banned book.
2. Take a picture of yourself with said book.
3. Give that book some love by explaining why you think it is an important book.
4. Post it to your blog.
5. Spread the word!



My favorite banned book is The Chocolate War, by Robert Cormier.

The first time I read this book, I was in high school.

It changed my life.

This was the first book I read that I felt got it right. Understood. Saw. Knew why people did bad things. This book made me look at the "bad" people around me and see beyond what I was afraid of and look for the story that made them who they were. Human.

And then I began to look for that second story in everyone.

I began to stop making snap judgments about people. I began to wonder, "What's your story?" Why do you behave the way you do?

Instead of saying, "She's just a bully."  I started to say, "I wonder what happened to her."

I didn't know it then, but this book made me a writer.

It also made me more compassionate.

And while critics insist the book has none, it gave me hope.

I didn't care about or notice the swears, Mr. Scroggins.

I didn't care about the masturbation scene, Mr. Freeman.

What I cared about was how all those characters became who they became. I cared about how one character's actions could profoundly affect another. And even though in this book those actions were mostly for the worse, it somehow showed me that the opposite could be true as well. Jerry dared to disturb the universe. And I wanted to, too.

I didn't become a trash-mouth masturbating scoundrel after reading the book. (I know, I know, *laugh laugh laugh* that is a funny sentence).

No.

I became a more caring, compassionate person.

Books don't harm, people do.

So please. Go share a book and help make the world a better place.

:-)


~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Monday Morning Warm-up:

Your turn!

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Pete Hautman talks about the recent censorship battle in Humble, Texas:

http://petehautman.blogspot.com/2010/08/nasty-thing-in-corner.html

My favorite line:

"The political and philosophical problem of censorship, in all its forms, harms all of us, and each of us has a responsibility to fight it."

Yes.

Having gone through the battle myself, I feel the rage of injustice. It's not so much the removal of the book for me (or in this case, the AUTHOR!), so much as it is HOW the book/author is removed. Through lies. Intimidation. Threats. Ignoring procedures. And the dismissive attitude the person in power uses to prevent others from being heard.

It's wrong. It's infuriating. And I'm really proud of the authors who dare to take a stand and try to fight it at all costs.

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Many of you know my first book, LESSONS FROM A DEAD GIRL, was challenged in Kentucky a while back. Laurie Halse Anderson's TWISTED was also challenged. However, the challenges did not pass and the books were supposed to be returned to the classroom. There was quite a bit of press over it all, and several alums from the high school wrote to the local paper explaining how upset they were that their school was banning books.

At about the same time, the parents who lost the challenge sought a new way to get the books removed from the classroom: Force the teachers to show how the books help prepare students for college. This was difficult for the teachers because other than the blatantly obvious, it is hard to give "concrete evidence" of how the books were "useful."

Meanwhile, in response to the negative publicity the school was getting, the superintendent submitted a letter to the editor in the local newspaper. [Note: Since the letter isn't available online, my copyright-conscious husband says I should only show parts of the letter to avoid copyright infringement. I've tried hard to do that without taking anything out of context. Brackets summarize what's missing].
Wednesday October 21, 2009“Clarifying book issue”

This letter is written as a follow-up/clarification of the one that was submitted previously by a number of distinguished Montgomery County High School graduates regarding “banned” books.

[description of how important reading is]

That being said, I want to clarify that no books have been banned in the school system.

There was parent concern expressed about some books that were included on a college prep English reading list. My instructions were that reading materials used in English classes (or other classes) were to be from recognized approved lists and include content that is deemed necessary and appropriate for preparing our students to advance to and excel in college.

[more on importance of being selective when choosing resources that will "achieve the most effective results"]

In my estimation, for example, the book Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles, which among other issues, depicts sexual activities between two eighth grade girls, has not been included on any relevant lists for college preparation, and while there may be adolescents who choose to read it on a personal level, it does not appear to be academically appropriate for the college prep English curriculum.

This content does not appear to me to be necessary to excel on the college board exams or at the university.

[details about how teachers must be able to demonstrate why a book they want in the classroom is appropriate and how it relates to the curriculum]

I also cautioned them against presenting bias to their students on the book selection issue (thus the confusion over national banned book week). I will repeat, however, that no books have been banned.

Even though a book may not appear on an approved reading list for a class, an individual still has the option of choosing it through the school media center or the book club to read on his or her own.

Thank you, again, to those that have expressed an interest in this issue. Community involvement and input is important and appreciated.

Daniel Freeman
Ed. D., Superintendent Montgomery County Schools

There are so many troubling things about this letter I don’t even know where to start. First of all, it is misleading to say that the books weren't banned, since attempts were made to remove them. They were challenged and the challenge failed. Now those same parents are finding alternate ways to keep the books out of the classroom. By the way, at the time of the writing of this post, the books still haven't been returned.

Second, any teacher knows that thoughtful discussion of ALL books help prepare students for college. ALL of them. I can’t imagine an educator not understanding this. But that is for another post.

On a personal level, it’s quite obvious this superintendent has not read LESSONS FROM A DEAD GIRL, or he would know that there is no sexual activity between two eighth grade girls in the book. It's as if he purposefully misrepresented the book to make it seem like it includes gratuitous sex scenes, which couldn’t be further from the truth. The book is about the long-term affects of childhood sexual abuse. Yes, there is a scene between two fifth-grade girls, but it is not explicit and it's clearly about manipulation and not gratuitous in any way. To imply that it is, is irresponsible and dishonest.

It is so incredibly frustrating to have your book misrepresented and demeaned in a public forum like this, especially by someone in a position of power. I thought I was handling these challenges really well, but when I read this letter two nights ago, I was totally crushed.

And still am.

I'm not shocked or upset that my book has been challenged. I expected it might be in some areas. But I am deeply saddened by the way it has been challenged.

I feel so sorry for the teachers in this district who were simply trying to get kids excited about reading. At this point, some fear their jobs. It all seems to be spinning out of control. And for what? For what? I don't even know anymore. I am simply stunned over all that's been made of this handful of books. Was it Lee Wind who asked, "Are books really that powerful?"

Boy, I guess so.

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Today is the ULITMATE POETRY FRIDAY POST, thanks to all of you. But first, I have one more thing to say about Banned Books Week and all the weirdness that’s been going on lately.

Just yesterday I discovered this lovely review of Jumping Off Swings, only to read the final lines with despair (bolding at end mine):

For all of its harsh language, there is something very beautiful about this book. Knowles shows so many sides of complicated teen thoughts on sex and love and blends them skillfully. We see the girl who thinks that sex will bring her love, the callous boys who see girls as trophies, but we also see the sensitive boy who realizes that he shouldn’t have treated a girl that way. There is nothing idyllic about the outcome of this book, no fairy tale ending. But it is a very honest look at the intricate dance of human emotions. I wish I could say yes, but I will have to leave this to public libraries or for brave parents. I had my daughter read it right away, but there is no way I could keep this in my school library without know[sic] that I would get challenged right away. PUBLIC.

I don’t know if this is censorship (and I would love to hear your thoughts about this in the comments). I know that librarians are trained to choose books that meet the needs of their specific communities/schools. But it feels like censorship since it seems the main reason she’s not recommending it for purchase is that it will get challenged. Maybe such a challenge could cost her a job. And so, I can’t really be angry about it. Just sad and frustrated. Frustrated that certain people in a community can be so powerful that they scare a school librarian out of purchasing books she “wishes she could say yes” to. So OK, maybe I can be angry about that. Because I’ve seen that type of intimidation too many times now. And it is wrong.

And on that note, here are all of YOUR beautiful, strong and powerful words on the subject of censorship. I am sending them out in the world in hopes that they will give strength to those out there who want to put certain books in kids’ hands, but are too afraid of those wanting to snatch them back out. May they give wisdom to parents and teachers and librarians and principals and especially superintendents making final calls on challenges whether they should be or not. May they make a difference.

Thank you, everyone, for sharing.

Take my book away
Teach me only shame and fear
Of myself and all I know

Allow me to read
I may recognize myself
Words will comfort me
- sandyjoys

The fire warms her.
She opens the book to find
the pages blank; gone.
- stephwooten

Sightful minds speak truth
Of world; their voices crushed dead.
- prodhi

People with closed minds
Are Lonely and seek others
To close their books, too.
- slatts

She is different
Voices surround her and laugh
She is not afraid
- stephwooten

Freedom in my hands
Stolen by those who say I'm
Too young to take it
- sachielle

Who's to say?
unless
I'm a kid
and you're my mom
(or dad--they count, too),
only me
and sometimes
I
wield
the black stamp
even when I shouldn't
even when someone
needs me
to go to that hard place
for them.
wordsrmylife

she needed that book
but they took it from her
now she is alone
- fabulousfrock

There's TV, music,
and movies but it's the books
that must be censored?

Do not take my choice.
I decide what's best for me.
You decide for you.
- Cari

Let all who wish to
Stifle great stories do so
Only in their homes.
- jeniwrites

Eyes wide open see
Mouths closed tight still speak to me
Readers, choose YOUR book
insatiablereaders.blogspot.com

Clenched fist strains to write
Forbidden from speech, freedom.
Subversive? No, truth.
- jennac618

Searching empty shelves...
Where's one that speaks to my life?
Condemned to ashes.
- marjorielight

Scratch out the title;
No eyes view the cursed pages;
Frustrate my being.
gizzardgulpe.wordpress.com

"Sunset, Sunrise"
Buried in the dark
Mourners gather. Miracles.
Light appears. A Book.
- writerross

Voices are taken
By the troubled trespassers;
Mouths sewn shut by fire
- stephwooten

She can't turn the page
breathless, the story untold
chapter by chapter
heartsong

You don't like the words?
or the theme is hard to take?
Then, don't buy the book.
~*~*~
You are not my voice,
imagination or dreams.
Let me be myself.
- dianemdavis

When she pulls that book
Off the shelf, does she think I
will disappear too?
- lurban

Burn all the books but
their voices will still speak in
mind's hidden forests.
- lil_fluffy_cat

Born rebel, my son
Reading "Where's Waldo" and Pooh
Banned books, at age 2!
- Lynn

strike not words but drums,
sing loud, sound strong for the right
to hear and be heard.
- wordsrmylife

Talk to your children.
Fahrenheit 451
Haven't we learned yet?
- richlayers

Please believe in me,
trust me with all stories, and
I’ll know who I am.
- njnelson

"Unprintable" means
you can't read it. Doesn't mean
it doesn't exist.
- flaxeloquent

Take freedom from the
bookshelves, day turns into night.
I’m alone and lost.
- saputnam

when they say this book
is dangerous, they prove words
are strongest of all.
- anywherebeyond

The cover opens
Lonely pages remain blank
This can not help me
- stephwooten

Who are you to say
what's good for my head or heart?
I open them both.

If you burn our books
fire will fuel our ideas
and the smoke will clear

dear library card
I use you with abandon
and strike gold again
- liz_scanlon

safer to explore
options and consequences
in books than real life
- kellyrfineman

stay strong
1.
rooted deep in fear
censors dictate their one truth
micro-manage youth
2.
If all books portray
people who look and think the
same as you? Boring.
- ajboll


These were all just too beautiful to choose one as the winner. I couldn’t possibly. I thought about making a poll and having you all vote, but then I thought that could lead to hurt feelings. So, I decided to do a drawing instead. I printed them all out and pulled from a bowl (pardon me, my pj's are showing).



And the winner is:



Yay njnelson! This was a beautiful one. Please send me your snail mail and I'll get the book out to you today.

Keep reading [banned books] everyone!

xo

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This morning I was pointed to this fantastic article in the New York Times called "Coming Out in Middle School." You can read it here: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/magazine/27out-t.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1

Then I got an update about the Kentucky challenge Lessons From A Dead Girl is facing. One of the biggest objections to the book is that it contains "inappropriate themes" including "homosexuality."

Here's my handy MacBookPro dictionary definition of "inappropriate":

inappropriate
adjective
UNSUITABLE, unfitting, unseemly, unbecoming, unbefitting, improper, impolite; incongruous, out of place/keeping, inapposite, inapt, infelicitous, ill-suited; ill-judged, ill-advised; informal out of order/line; formal malapropos. antonym suitable.

How can homosexuality be any of these things?

Every time I hear about challenges like these, my heart breaks a little. And at the same time, I feel myself standing a little bit taller, ready to stand up for what I think. I'm usually pretty quiet. Passive. But sometimes, there are moments when every part of me is saying NO. Don't sit back and say OK, you win. If we do that, no one wins. Kids will still get bullied. Beat up. Nearly destroyed. People who love each other will still be kept from being able to marry each other. From having basic equal rights. From feeling safe to walk down the sidewalk doing something as innocent and tender as holding hands.

And my heart breaks a lot for all the kids out there living in areas that are openly hostile toward homosexuality. How do we help them? How do we make a difference?

One way, is to make sure ALL kids continue to have books that help them see different points of view. That help them to be a little more understanding and compassionate. A little more open-minded.

One way is to keep fighting censorship.

Thanks.

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Within in a 24-hour time period I received news that a parent has filed a petition to have my book removed from a school and a heart-felt e-mail from another parent thanking me for bringing her two daughters together by reading and discussing that same book. She writes: "You lead one to be confident that she can be a reader, by finding a great book to get lost in, and another to believe that she can be a writer."

I absolutely respect a parent's decision not to let her child read a specific book. But I do not think that same parent should make the choice for all parents and all children.

And yet some people try.

And sometimes they succeed.

And I really think that is a tragedy. Because boy, what a slippery slope that is. And once it starts, how do you make it stop?

I'm grateful to the brave teacher who has been fighting the good fight for so many YA books in her school. She is a true hero and that school is so lucky to have her. She has helped her kids become passionate readers and thinkers and book lovers.

That's what it's all about.

And you can't take that away once the seed has been planted. I don't believe it, anyway. I think kids are way too smart to let that happen.

So please, share a book with a teen today. Talk about it. Argue about it. Have FUN. And keep planting those book-loving seeds.

:-)


Have a great weekend, everyone!

Tomorrow, we are going to a fair. Maybe THIS will be the year I ride the Ferris Wheel at last.

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What I love in this video is that it shows the love and goodness behind this cause. I always get nervous when we refer to causes as the "fight for [fill in the blank]." Even though people don't mean it literally, it creates the wrong atmosphere for thoughtful, peaceful discussion.

Equal rights seems like such an easy concept. And yet we let fear and ignorance continue to redefine it and/or narrow the scope of who it refers to. How can we do this? How? That is what makes me saddest of all.

Love makes a family.

That is all the recipe we need.

Not man. Not woman.

Love.

It's what raises a child in safety and comfort and confidence.

It's what holds a family together during the best and hardest times.

It's what holds a community together.

It's what makes peace.

Love.

Love.

For a much more articulate post about this, please read Libba Bray's excellent post, "There is Nothing Wrong With You."

And thanks to upstart_crow for posting the video.

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1. With all the Twilight talk coming up AGAIN, I have finally decided to read this book. I have the ARC from way, way back when I snagged it at an ALA exhibit hall. Before anyone knew what would happen. Since I am a book geek, I decided to look it up on ABE books, jut for fun. Anyone want to guess how much this is worth?


2. If it was signed, it would be worth $3,000. Alas, mine is not. So it is only worth $600.
!!!!!!!
Of course, that's only what they are selling it for, not necessarily what they would get. But still.
Yo. Can you imagine?

3. One of my all-time favorite blogs is Justine Larbalestier's. She is so smart and clever and giving of the good advice.

4. Her recent entry about censorship has got me thinking. There are a fair number of swears in LESSONS, and there are some in SWINGS, too. Though less. Why are there swears? Because I know that's what my character's would say. It's who they are. And I couldn't censor them. Also, my editor never asked me too. Sometimes, when you're trying to bury your anger, you unconsciously reveal it in other ways. I think swearing is one. I see it all the time. Or hear it. Anyway. A lot of teens swear. For lots of reasons. Banning a book because of a little swearing is dopey. Seriously. And it totally sucks (crap, is that a swear?) that librarians have to make the decision not to buy a book out of this fear. But this just goes to show how powerful words can be. It's truly amazing.

5. Still, Justine's entry has me a bit worried. Should I have self-censored after all? Would LESSONS have made it into more hands if Leah didn't say the F word? The thing is, there's no way to know. I'm not sure I want to. Because that might make me very angry. It might even make me swear.

5.5 I would love to take the boy to Coraline or Inkheart this weekend. Coraline looks a tad scary though. What do you all think? Either of these OK for a 9 year old? He's been fine with all the Harry Potter and Star Wars movies.

Thanks!

Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Here is a beautiful voice of reason regarding the recent discussion about the Newbery.

Thank you, Susan Patron.

It is amazing and wonderful to me when I hear stories about how a book changed the course of someone's life. How a book got them to take the road less traveled. Or the path they hadn't seen before. How a book introduced possibilities never dreamed of. Gave hope. Caused tears. Brought awareness. Grew compassion.

That's what Robert Cormier's The Chocolate War did for me. And there were many others to follow. In fact I think I'm changed in some way by just about every book I read. And I bet you are, too.

I know I've said this before, but the idea that serious or challenging books turn kids off reading is ridiculous. Every kid is different. They need and want different things at different times. But kids are way smarter than to give up on reading because they may not like the books with the golden stickers on them (which I find hard to believe in the first place). Please. Let's give them a little more credit than that.

:-)


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Monday Morning Warm-Up:

Describe a book that had a particularly significant impact on you and why. How old were you? What about the book inspired you? Touched your heart? Made you see yourself or the world in a different way?

Please share!

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I signed up for blogging the vote because I'm one of those people who believes that every American over 18 has not only the right but the responsibility to do so. Even if you don't vote the way I am voting, I want you to vote. We are a democracy. We must ALL have a voice. All of us. That's how it works.

Here's an excerpt from a sermon first given in 1946 (details below). It was delivered again yesterday at a sermon in my own town. I like it. Plus, it uses the word perfidy. Which, while not a positive trait, if you could call it a trait, is nevertheless a really great word.

The American Commitment
by A. Powell Davies
from "About Being an American," a sermon delivered at All Souls Unitarian Church, Washington DC, on May 26 1946, in Without Apology: Collected Meditations on Liberal Religion Forrest Church, ed.

The American commitment is to universal justice, the rights for all people, not the special interests of some. It is a commitment to fair play, to patience, to tolerance, to neighborliness. It is a commitment to the common good. It protects liberty with unity, the opportunity of each with the good of all. It is compassionate, humanitarian. It believes in humanity and in its future. It is the Golden Rule. It is based upon the claim of conscience and the faith in goodness. It begins not in a system but within the heart.

It battles prejudice and false opinion. It seeks the truth. It is opposed to barriers of exclusiveness. Its principles are universal. It despises cowardice, including moral cowardice. But it also has no use for obstinacy, inflexibility, and intolerance. It prefers honesty to cleverness, kindness to self sufficiency, goodwill to narrow-minded aims. It is a way of life now and a faith, a vision of the future. It is a purpose to be served.

If anyone asks by what right I define these characteristics as American, I point them to those Americans the rest of us revere as great. I say that America is defined by the moral progress she has sought, and by exemplars, not by the hour of perfidy and by her little-minded greedy foes.

And if anyone tells me that these characteristics are more than American, that they are universal, I will reply that that is why they are American. Because this nation was not founded on the divisive and separate, but upon the rights of all people. Can we restore these standards? Can we seek again the tough of greatness?

The future will depend upon the answer. Upon what takes place in heart and conscience. A nation, like an individual, must have a soul.

For more on Blogging the Vote, head on over to Chasing Ray http://www.chasingray.com/ Have fun voting!


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Monday Morning Warm-Up:

Describe what it's like to vote in your neck of the woods. Is there a long line? Do you visit with neighbors? How do you feel when you hand in your vote?

P.S. If you are participating in JoNoWriMo+1.5, head on over to jonowrimo today for the official check-in! :-)

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That Roger Sutton says the darndest things.

Such as:

"While noting the exceptions of James Patterson on the one hand and William Mayne on the other, children's books tend to be easier and thus potentially "fun" for adults in a way they tend not to be for children, an incongruence librarians need to remember, not dissolve. Whatever whoever chooses to read is their business, of course, but adults whose taste in recreational reading ends with the YA novel need to grow up."

The last sentence has really got people chatting. I especially like what Liz B over at A Chair, A Fireplace and A Tea Cozy has to say about THAT. (http://yzocaet.blogspot.com/2008/03/oh-grow-up.html)

Well, as a writer as well as a (mostly) grown-up, I agree that it's important to read a wide variety of literature. But I don't think I'd tell people who prefer to stick with a certain genre that they have to grow up. :-) One needs only to look at the current state of standardized education to see that there are far too many grown-ups who need to remember what it's like to be a child.

What really struck me, however, is the statement that comes before. "...children's books tend to be easier and thus potentially "fun" for adults in a way they tend not to be for children."

Are children’s books really fun for adults in a way they tend not to be for children? Picture books: hell yeah. No doubt. Authors and illustrators often put in humorous bits with references young kids might not get but are hilarious to adult readers.

But does this logic really work with books for older children and teens? Interesting to ponder. Heck if I see the difference. If I was a child, I just might take offense. Heck, if I was a children's book writer I might take offense. Oh wait...

Do you think adults REALLY choose to read books for children because they're "easier" and thus potentially more fun? I have a hard time believing this is the reason. Sure some students MIGHT sign up for a children's lit class making this assumption, but ooh-boy are they in for a surprise! Children's lit classes are HARD HARD HARD work. I have seen Cathryn Mercier and Megan Lambert's syllabi. Yo. Roll up your sleeves.

Well, whatever the case, RS has created a great discussion once again! (You can read said discussion here: http://www.hbook.com/blog/2008/03/yet-another-g-word.html)

LJ friends: Why do YOU choose books for children and young adults for your recreational reading? Do you think you get something out of these books that children don't? What is it? (Remember, I'm not talking about reading these books to improve your own craft, I'm talking about reading them for the pleasure of it.) Inquiring minds want to know!

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Just when you think you've survived the worst... BOOM. You get slammed with a nasty review. And by nasty, I mean in all honesty I do not think I've read a more cruel one in my life.

Some of you got some frantic e-mails over the weekend about it and I'm sorry. I guess I just got caught in that initial punched in the eye flailing blindly for help moment. Thanks for helping me see again.

It's amazing to me how snarky and cruel some reviewers can be, and what some editors of review journals let reviewers get away with. It makes me really, well, it makes me very sad.

It's also amazing how much one person, a stranger no less, can totally throw you for a loop. And by loop I mean a downward spiral into a pit of despair. I went from feeling ecstatic about my revision that I just finished to feeling like a total failure. It's the worst!

I know I should take the wise advice of friends regarding NOT blogging about bad reviews. It's best to ignore them and just hope they're never seen. And pray that if you wait long enough they will just go away. And that really is what I plan to do... right after this post. ;-)

The thing is, since most of the people who read my journal are writers, some of you are bound to have had, or worry about having, a similar slam. So I just want to say, HUGS to all of us and we'll all survive. We can't make everyone love our work. We can't expect everyone to get us. It's OK if someone hates our writing. It really is! And it's OK to cry and feel bad about it for a little bit.

So here I go.

WAAHHHHHH!!

Ah. Better.

:-)

But we can't let these things hurt us too long. We've got to clean the wound, slap a unicorn band-aid on it, and get on with getting on.

We've got to write the stories we have to write, no matter how controversial or hard to read. We have to write what's true to us. We have to be brave.

Somewhere there is a kid or a grown-up out there who needs to read your story. Who will be changed because of it. Who will feel less guilty or ashamed or less alone because of it. And that is worth the occasional sting of the other someone who won't get you, or will feel offended by your story for whatever reason.

I'm so grateful to have this community for support and love and reassurance.

lindsey_leavitt, special thanks to you for your uncanny good timing. Your e-mail this morning reminded me what it's all about. :)

xo

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Monday Morning Warm-Up:

Last week at my prison meeting Katie suggested this prompt: "As I walk down..."

The women came up with some incredible descriptions. Kevin, the editor I work with, wrote about walking down the sidewalk in the evening, holding his girlfriend's hand. I wrote about walking down to the wood shed through the snow. And the women wrote about walking to chow hall, walking into and out of trouble, and walking on. It was really cool. I hope you'll try it! And share here or on your own blog. :-)

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I've added a label cloud!

I admit I wasn't too comfortable playing with the html and I'm still trying to decide where on blog to have the cloud.

If you're interested, the code came from WebWeaver's World. I followed the directions exactly, and hey, it worked! There are some things you can change; for example, I set it to show only labels I have used at least 10 times, and also changed the maximum and minimum font sizes. The instructions are very clear.

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