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Like BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA yesterday, Maurice Sendak’s IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN makes the list for one of the top 100 most frequently banned books of the decade, 1990-2000. It was also made the Top 10 most challenged book of 2004. It’ll be no surprise to those of you familiar with the book that the sticking point is the illustrations of naked Mickey, the young protagonist of the story.
We asked children’s literature consultant Connie Rockman to contribute a booktalk for IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN – feel free to use this booktalk year-round to share Sendak’s Caldecott Honor winning book in your classrooms and libraries.
Ever had that unsettling feeling of waking up to the sound of “thumps” and “bumps” in the night? When that happens to Mickey, he reacts with a shout of his own: “Quiet down there!” But I’ll bet you never had the experience Mickey did of falling – gently, slowly – through the house and ending up in a bowl full of batter in the Night Kitchen. Dreams often recreate images of our waking lives with bizarre alterations, and Mickey’s dream features buildings made of jam jars and flour kegs, coffee cans and kitchen utensils, along with a toy oven and a bread-dough airplane. Mickey is in charge of this wacky world, not the bumbling adult bakers who try to cook him up in the oven. You’ll soar with him to the top of the milk-bottle Milky Way, swim your way with him to freedom, and slide with him into the safety of his cozy bed … all without leaving your own comfortable nook. Don’t miss this adventure with Mickey in the wonderful world of the Night Kitchen!
Thanks so much, Connie, for sharing your booktalk!
Check out Weston Woods video of IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN, created in 1987 (and the study guide that accompanies the video):
In addition to appearing on the list regularly, Katherine Paterson’s BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA was a Top 10 Banned Book in 2003. It is also ranked in the Top 10 Banned Books of the decade, 1990-2010. It has been challenged and banned for using the lord’s name in vain, secular humanism, occultism, offensive language, and death as a major theme.
So let’s booktalk it! We asked Jen Bigheart – blogger at I Read Banned Books, librarian, and founding member of Literary Lonestars – to contribute a booktalk for BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA; feel free to use it in your own classrooms and libraries to support the Freedom to Read year-round:
Living in a small, rural town in the late 1970s with his parents and four sisters is far from exciting for fifth-grader Jess Aarons. When tomboy Leslie Burke moves into the house down the hill, the two strike up an unlikely friendship that doesn’t go unnoticed by Jess’ family and classmates. The two sneak deep into the woods as King and Queen of Terabithia, conquering hostile savages and getting lost in their imaginative play. When an unexpected tragedy strikes, Jess realizes that Leslie was more than just a friend and play partner. She was his ticket to freedom from his mundane home life and gave him a gift beyond measure: courage.
This week is Banned Books Week, an annual event celebrating our freedom to read whatever we like. It’s not that we want to celebrate the banning of books, of course. What we celebrate is the power of books to convey ideas, even ideas that are shocking, controversial or unpopular.
Sponsored by the American Library Association and many others, Banned Books Week is an important way to shine a light on these books. Many of the books highlighted during Banned Books Week were only the target of attempted bans; a powerful reminder of the importance of staying vigilant about protecting our First Amendment right to read any books we like.
At First Book, we like to walk the walk, so we make a special effort to ensure that the schools and programs in our network have access to high-quality books – including many that have been banned, or the target of attempted bannings.
Check out these books (and more) on the First Book Marketplace, and make sure the kids you serve have the chance to read them all, and make up their own minds.
It’s well-known in book-ish circles that it’s Banned Books Week. This week is a wonderful celebration of the freedom to read and to raise awareness against censorship. But one thing that comes up each year – by myself, included – is that Banned Books Week needs to happen every day of the year. As book people who are passionate about the right to read whatever one chooses, we must remain vigilant in supporting that right.
With that in mind, this week we’ll be featuring booktalks of banned books by well-known librarians, school media specialists, and bloggers. That way, you can support the freedom to read year-round. (Not to mention that, should you be working on your programs, these booktalks can set you on your way!)
So stay tuned and visit here all week for the booktalks. Before I post the first one, I thought I’d share what others are doing around the interwebs to celebrate this week:
Not surprisingly, Jen Bigheart at I Read Banned Books is hosting a giveaway and planning all kinds of BBW events. So make sure to stop by there (and check out Jen’s booktalks with us this week!).
YA Bibliophile is having a banned books giveaway, including Chris Crutcher titles. Head over there to enter!
Visit On Our Minds for a list of Scholastic titles that have been challenged, like Harry Potter and Hunger Games.
It is Banned Books Week and I thought I would start things off with a look at The Book Thief. This is not because it is a banned book, quite the contrary, it has been on the New York Times Best Seller Children’s Paperback List for 209 weeks now, often bouncing in and out of 1st place(See Below.) I begin with The Book Thief because it is about a young girl who loves books but living in a country and at a time when books were not only banned but they were also burned.
In this story narrated by Death, 9 year old Liesel Meminger is traveling to Molching, a fictional town near Munich, with her mother and 8 year old brother. The children are going to live with foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann. On the way, Liesel’s brother dies and at his graveside, she steals her first book, The Grave Digger’s Handbook.
Liesel doesn’t adjust to her new home very quickly, and she is haunted by nightmares about her brother. Hans Hubermann, a kind painter/accordion player, sits up with her after the nightmares and eventually begins to teach Liesel how to read. She also makes friends with the neighborhood kids, especially Rudy Steiner, who is quite in love with her.
Liesel eventually adjusts to life in Moching, attending school, and helping Rosa Hubermann pick up and deliver the washing she does for wealthy customers. Unfortunately, she continues to experience nightmares, but her reading also improves with the help of Hans.
At a fire fueled mainly by books to honor the Hitler’s birthday, Liesel realizes for the first time that she is in foster care because her parents were communists. And it is from the bonfire that Liesel steals her second book, The Shoulder Shrug. But this time she is recognized by the mayor’s wife, Ilsa Hermann, one of Rosa Hubermann’s customers. The theft results in an invitation come over to the mayor’s home and read in his vast collection of books. This library is the scene of Liesel’s third act of book thievery, carried out in anger after the mayor claims they should no long have their washing and ironing done by Rosa when so many other people are suffering.
As Jews are being sent to concentration camps in greater and greater numbers, Hans agrees to hide 24 year old Max Vandenburg, son of an old Jewish Army friend from World War I, who saved his life. Max and Liesel become good friends, but when Hans offers a piece of bread to a Jew being marched to Dachau, Max is forced to leave because of fear the Gestapo with come search the Hubermann house. Much later, Liesel sees Max being marched with other Jews to Dachau. Liesel is whipped by a Nazi guard for approaching Max in the crowd of Jews.
In despair, Liesel breaks into the mayor’s library and destroys a book: Soon, there is nothing but scraps of words littered all around her. Words, she realizes, have been used so wrongly to empower the Führer:
The words. Why did they have to exist? Without them, there wouldn’t be any of this. Without words, the Führer was nothing. There would be no limping prisoners, no need for consolation or wordly tricks to make up feel better. What good were the words? (pg 521)
Ironically, it is the mayor’s depressed wife who convinces Liesel to begin writing, to change the words and make them right again. In the basement where she learned to read, Liesel begins to write a story called The Book Thief.
The novel follows Liesel from a 9 year old who can’t read a single word to a 14 year old who realizes the true power of wo
8 Comments on The Book Thief by Markus Zusak, last added: 9/29/2011
I found your blog on Book Blogs and knew I had to check out your blog when I saw the link to this book! I absolutely loved reading this book! Such a beautiful and original concept for an otherwise widely used topic.
Your blog is great and I am now following it.
I'd love it if you could also check mine out at Storybook Love Affair - www.storybookloveaffair.blogspot.com
This is a great post! Like Megan, I found your link through Bookblogs. After reading the whole blog entry, I'm already thinking of getting myself a copy of this book.
I'm now following you. I hope you could drop by my blog, too. (www.nancycudis.com)
Just letting you know that I answered your question about my fascination with New York underneath the comment you left on my blog. I'm not sure if it gives you an alert or anything so thought I'd let you know via here.
I read this in 2006 and later bought my own copy. I was struck by how, in the early stages of the story, Death seemed sinister but later I realized that Death has heart. Sometimes he comes in compassion.
But I forget many of the particulars of the story and am grateful for the reminders. Must be time to reread!
Joy, I also thought this would be an interesting take on Banned Books Week. The book is great and I think you might like it.
Nancy, I think you might like this book, I actually haven't met many readers who didn't like it.
Joyce, I also forget the particulars of stories, which is why a blog is good for remembering. I found Death to be at times funny, compassionate, snarky but all at the right time.
Another fine review. And a fine book. I think I have mentioned it before on your blog as a book that I read and admired greatly before I ever knew it was thought of as a book for young adults. I think it is extremely powerful and would move readers of any age.
It’s Banned Books Week–the week to celebrate and draw attention to the books that have been challenged or banned across the U.S. If it was up to some people, we wouldn’t read anything but The Little Engine That Could. In the past, I have featured some banned books. I’ll mention a couple of my favorites here and the links now.
Also I wanted to announce the winner of COLD CASE from last Monday’s post; it is Amy Camp! Thank you to everyone who left a comment. I really appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedule to check out this great book.
Banned Books Week is here! I hope you will celebrate the freedom to read this week by reading a banned book. ALA is hosting a virtual Read Out so I decided to join in the fun and celebrate by reading one of my favorites, A Wrinkle In Time.
I also wanted to re-post my review of Sarah Ockler's novel, Twenty Boy Summer, since it was recently banned in my community and Sarah will be visiting my library this week. Rating: 4/5 Stars
Genre: Contemporary
Release Date: 6/1/09
About the Book: Frankie, Anna and Matt have always been inseparable. Then one summer changed everything-Matt and Anna become something more. They spend a month sneaking out and sharing a summer romance-until the tragic accident that Matt dies in.
Now, a year later, Anna is joining Frankie and family on their first summer vacation without Matt. Frankie is convinced if they find a boy every day, Anna will have a summer romance. Anna still keeps her and Matt a secret and she's not sure she's ready to let Matt go.
GreenBeanTeenQueen Says: A perfect book for readers wanting summer romance with something deeper. The story deals with loss, grief, and letting go without being bogged down in those issues. Sarah Ockler does something amazing-she manages to tie together something tragic with the sweetness and happiness of first love. I don't know how she pulls it off, but it all comes together in a great story that has many layers and readers are in for a treat.
6 Comments on Celebrate Banned Books Week, last added: 9/29/2011
"A Wrinkle in Time" is also one of my favorite childhood reads! I'm planning on reading a banned book a week during BBW. I always find the reasoning of the challenge/ban interesting because it's almost always tackles the same issue that people are arguing against it.
Rummanah-We got a book in from ALA that had a big list of challenges and bannings. It listed all sorts of titles for all ages and why they were challenged. It was a very interesting book to browse through! You're right-most of the time the book is tackling the issue people are arguing against. A Wrinkle In Time shows a fight between good and evil, but that often gets overlooked when people are challenging it. Much like Harry Potter!
Whenever I see a banned book, I secretly hope that it will make teens want to read the book even more. Sometimes the whole mystique of why the book was banned will draw people to read a book they might have overlooked otherwise. I know that is how I felt when I was a teen :)
This is one of the first books I read when I started blogging YA. I enjoyed it but see so much advancement in the realistic fiction field. I liked her book Fixing Delilah even better.
The 2011 Banned Books Week is just around the corner. With the help of Jen from I Read Banned Books I'm putting together a Banned Books Giveaway Hop. This will run similar to the hops I usually host but will have a requirement that you giveaway a banned or challenged book or include information about Banned Book Week as part of your giveaway post.
The dates for the hop are September 24th to October 1st.
RULES:
1. The Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop Images needs to be part of your post.
2. Include the linky list with all the participating blogs at the end of your post OR link to this blog or I Read Banned Books.
3. You giveaway must be related to Banned Book Week - You can giveaway a book that has been banned or challenged or if you are giving away a gift card you must post some information about Banned Book Week.
4. Keep It Simple!! Keep the way to enter your giveaway as simple as possible. 1 Mandatory entry and no more than 5 optional extra entries. All entries must be able to be done on one visit to your blog - Entries such as tweet once a day are NOT allowed (tweeting once is fine). Sample Post - From the Dreaming of Books Giveaway Hop: http://iamareadernotawriter.blogspot.com/2011/01/dreaming-of-books-giveaway-hop.html You must turn off word verification/CAPTCHA if you are requiring more than one comment for entries - If you are concerned about spam then enable comment moderation.
5. This must be a giveaway specifically for this hop and must run only the 8 days this hop is scheduled.
6. Keep your giveaway easy to find for the entire 8 days this hop is open. If you post often and your post does not stay near the top of your main blog page then please post a link to your giveaway at the top of your blog or sidebar. If we can't easily find your giveaway you will be deleted from the linky.
My Opinion on Banned Books - From my 2010 Banned Books Week Post:
My take on Banned Book Week: All books have their place, but not all books belong on every shelf.
I believe it's my responsibility as a parent to know what my children are watching, playing and reading. I don't allow my children to watch R rated movies. I'm selective on which PG-13 movies I allow them to watch. Rated "M" video games are not allowed in our home. Although books don't come with ratings I feel certain books are not appropriate for my children to read.
I believe in age appropriateness when it comes to books, movies and video games. Take the recent controversy over the book Speak. I'm a fairly conservative reader and I've read Speak. It's a well written, powerful book, but I wouldn't allow my children to read it at this point in their lives. It's not age appropriate for my 10 year old daughter. If asked I would object if it were on the library shelves at our elementary school. However I feel Speak is a book that would be appropriate on the shelves of a high school.
I do admit there are certain books that I personally will never be old enough to read. I'm not a fan of strong language, graphic sex and gory violence in books, movies or television. There are many books I have put down or decided not to read due to their content. I'm not saying those books
4 Comments on Announcing The Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop - September 24th to October 1st, last added: 7/29/2011
The latest list of banned books is out from ALA, and it includes all of the titles pictured below. Why not put one out in the world on Thursday for Rock the Drop and make a statement against book banning...
September 25th to October 2nd was BANNED BOOKS WEEK. What better way to illustrate this point than by watching Jackson Pearce’s first official day of her 30 Day Vlogging Experiment…in which she explains why book banning is fantastic…kind of?
ALA's Banned Books Week might be officially over, but unfortunately, censorship is not. Just because Banned Books Week has drifted off on a cold breeze, it doesn't mean an adult won't challenge a book for "inappropriate content." It doesn't mean a book will be safe on the shelves. It also means there's still a chance a child or teen might miss out on a book that could have a huge impact on his or her life. That's why it's important for everyone to realize that just because Banned Books Week is over, the fight isn't.
That's exactly the point of ALA's Banned Books Week--to remind us all of the censorship that does occur throughout the year and how we need to celebrate the freedom to read and the importance of the First Amendment.
Just because a book might be unorthodox or unfamiliar to an adult, I hope they stop to realize that they have the option to not buy it . It would be unfortunate for them to take the book off the shelves because that book might be just the medicine a trouble teen needs.
Ellen Hopkins, who was recently disinvited from TeenLitFest (which was canceled) wrote an article about her books and how they do explore tough subject matter such as addiction, abuse, thoughts of suicide, teen prostitution. "But they bring young adult readers a middle-aged author's broader perspective," Hopkins says. "They show outcomes to choices, offer understanding. And each is infused with hope. I don't sugarcoat, but neither is the content gratuitous. Something would-be censors could only know if they'd actually read the books rather than skimming for dirty words or sexual content."
Fortunately, we do have Banned Books Weeks to bring the issue to the forefront. And although some of the books featured during Banned Books Week have been banned or restricted, in a majority of cases other books were not, all thanks to the efforts of librarians, teachers, booksellers, and members of the community to retain the books in the library collections.
Laurie Halse Anderson stresses that even though some people will be tempted to tuck the issue away, there are still ways to get involved. Anderson says, "I think the best place for those of you who want to continue the discussion about censorship and First Amendment issues is over at SpeakLoudly.org."
Hopefully for the importance of our First Amendment rights and the power of literature, we all continue to speak loudly.
Michelle Obama partners with Disney (to tell kids to eat right and get some exercise. The first lady has joined the "Disney Magic of Healthy Living" campaign, which complements her own efforts against childhood obesity, and will appear in PSAs... Read the rest of this post
When I have children, these will be among the best books on their shelf, but people around the country have found them much more controversial. So instead of saying “why not”, here’s WHY they are so great:
1. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell / The adorable true story of two male penguins in Central Park who, with the help of the zookeeper, hatch a beautiful baby daughter. While one of the most challenged books in 2008-2009, this may be my favorite story about a “modern family”.
3. The Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling / Obviously. Since I am the kind of person that labelled myself as a “Christian witch” when I was 12.
4. Merriam-Webster Collegiate Dictionary / If kids are reading the dictionary (even if it’s to look up the definition of “oral sex”), the only consequence is that they’ll probably do better on the SATs. Also, if your children have to look up what sex means, you probably need to work on your parenting skills.
5. Angus, Thongs and Full-Frontal Snogging by Louise Rennison / Ooh muttis and vatis may have a nervy spaz because Georgia’s diary contains gorgy sex gods, but if you cannot grasp the hilariosity, you are probably a wet tosser and in need of a duffing up. Now let’s go down the disco!
I’m not actually allowed to read In the Night Kitchen to my class because of the naked baby. It’s a shame because I read it in my first class before I knew of the ban and the entire response to the “explicitness” involved me saying, “Yup. You’re right. That’s a peepee. Let’s move on.”
Maine Character said, on 9/30/2010 4:35:00 PM
Great choices. I’d never heard of Rabbit’s Wedding, but now I got to find a copy.
Sarah W said, on 9/30/2010 7:52:00 PM
I second finding The Rabbits’ Wedding.
I wish some people wouldn’t make life so complicated . . .
walkinginpublic said, on 10/2/2010 4:31:00 PM
Thanks, y’all! The Rabbit’s Wedding is just an adorable classic and I’d highly recommend to anyone…
It's Banned Books Week on Books, Boys, Buzz... and as I perused the ALA lists of books most frequently cited for complaint over the years (you can find the lists here) I was shocked to find one of my childhood favorites - ok, not so shocked, just disappointed.
Bridge to Terebithia?
People actually brought forth complaints of "the occult and satanism" about this lovely, award-winning book by Katherine Patterson. I'm sure they didn't like the idea of Jess and Leslie creating their own world in the book, but what is more troubling is that they probably didn't like the questions that Jess asks when Leslie passes away.
Jess is a Christian in the book, and Leslie's family does not believe. When Leslie is killed in the flood, Jess knowing that Leslie is not a Christian, wonders what will happen to her. Will Leslie go to Heaven or Hell if she is not saved as he understands it?
What a great question! I think that when you believe in something, it is imperative to keep asking questions, to understand the tenets and feel comfortable discussing the hard topics. More than challenging your faith, questions refine your faith. Books like this bring up the hard questions, create discussions, and foster learning and growth.
And this book is just a great coming-of-age story -- a young boy choosing between hanging out with his friend Leslie or going to the museum with his art teacher, who he's crushing on.
I hope if you haven't read Bridge to Terebithia, you will check it out. It's one of the books that made me want to become a storyteller - and it's a book that deserves to be read by people everywhere.
What is the most surprising title you found on the Banned Books List? Seriously, I can't believe these people.... ;)
Happy BB Week!
Heather www.heatherdavisbooks.com Never Cry Werewolf - HarperTeen The Clearing - Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Wherever You Go - Harcourt Fall 2011
3 Comments on Banned Books Week - Say What?, last added: 9/30/2010
I read this in my Children's Lit class in college. I loved it! I'm surprised that it's been challenged/banned. That reason cited is so far from what the book is actually about. What the heck is that person thinking? I just don't understand the minds that want to ban books. Anyway, great post!
“They say there is strangeness too dangerous in our theaters and bookstore shelves…Those who know what’s best for us must rise and save us from ourselves…” – from “Witch Hunt” by Rush
Yes folks, it’s September, and that means two things are certain: students are back in school, and potential censors and book challengers are coming out of the woodwork. Recent challenges to Sherman Alexie’s “Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian” and Laurie Halse Anderson’s “Speak” were just the first to greet the new school year. Interestingly enough, this last week of September is Banned Books Week, and therefore the perfect time think about the potential for censorship, and whether you’re ready for that challenge if it comes your way.
While we often think of Intellectual Freedom as a rather high-minded concept (and it is. don’t get me wrong…), it is, in a lot of ways, a management issue. The most important thing you can have in place to deflect censorship is an up-to-date collection development policy and a clear set of channels set up for a patron or parent to issue a challenge. Sometimes a calm explanation of your policy may be enough to deflect the issue. Many potential censors are simply concerned parents who’ve gone a touch bonkers over something they saw in a book their child was reading, and being concerned for your children’s well-being is never, EVER wrong. A little conversation on the issue can often go a long way. But some are determined, and there are folks out there with all sorts of agendas who would love to take lots of books off of our shelves. So what to do if that challenge is issued? Fear not! You’ve got lots of help…
ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom exists to help you, educate you, and back you up in the event of a challenge. Their resources are invaluable.
Additional resources compiled by YALSA’s Intellectual Freedom Committee are available on the YALSA Wiki:
In addition, I highly recommend you become a member of YALSA’s Intellectual Freedom Interest Group. Formerly the IF Committee, this group will be a broader and more open way for YALSA members to keep themselves and their colleagues well informed and ready to understand and face potential censors and challengers.
You can join us on ALA Connect, or hop on to our new
As a reader and an author, I am in total support of Banned Book Week. I'm proud of the Buzz Girls for bringing this topic to the forefront for our readers and I hope you agree with us. Banning books and censorship are just NOT cool.
We've all seen the list of banned books over the years...a list that contains one classic after the next. Well, I just read this news article on Yahoo.com with ten (10) banned books that will really surprise you!
I'm horrified to see not just one, but two dictionaries included on the list. All because they define words that some find offensive. You know what? Don't look those words up! And to see Lord of the Rings considered as "Satanic?" Did they read the same book I did in middle school? And good old Harry Potter...not just one of the books is banned, but the whole series. An entire series! They say it's "Satanic" and "occultist" and...get this..."anti-family." Are you kidding me? After losing his real family, Harry finds solace and comfort in his Hogwart's family. It's anything BUT anti-family. And the last one that knocked me off my seat is Grimm's Fairy Tales. In particular...Red Riding Hood. Why? Because she had a bottle of wine in the basket for her grandmother. Honestly people!
Which brings me to censorship. A topic very near and dear to my heart. I'm totally against it. Big time! I'll let this e-mail exchange that I had with a librarian recently explain my views exactly:
Subject: A wish.... Comment: Dear Marley: I saw you on TV on "My Ghost Story" and when I heard you write teen ghost hunting novels I went straight and looked you up. I am an elementary school librarian and my kids love supernatural reading. I was soarly [sic] disappointed to see that I had already checked out your book to purchase and then realized you had so much fowl [sic] language. I have never written to anyone before, I am not a stodgy person, but I am so tired of books that I think would be great for my kids, being filled with language that I don't want encouraged. I go through all these books (because I like the topic too) and then I have to mark out bad words just so my kids can still read the book. I know 12-14 year olds are not angels... not by a long shot... but I don't want to encourage this behavior until they are old enough to REALLY know what is right or wrong. Is it so hard to write a book that I don't have to sit with a marker in my hand just so my kids can have a good supernatural book to read? Sorry for the venting... I would so like to get your books for my kids, I know they would love them... I just wish you had not gone down the language, etc. path.
And my response to her...not attacking her horrid misspellings...
Hi NAME WITHHELD...
I appreciate the time you took to write to me voicing your concerns.
I am, however, appalled to think that you go through books—by any author—with a marker to “mark out bad words” and "language that [you] do not want encouraged." I’m sure your intentions are good, but the reality is that you are censoring books, a practice that most Americans would agree is horrific at best, and one we rightly vilify as a society.
My books are not geared for elementary school-aged children. They are written for "young adults," kids older than 12 (they’re clearly marked as such), and I write them in common vernacular to better connect and identify with my teen audience. I have never had a teacher, librarian, parent, or student object to the language in my books - nor mark out words before letting others read it.
As a librarian, I assume it is your responsibility to select which books are included in the SCHOOL WITHHELD Elementary library. If you choose not to include mine, I understand. I’ll just hope that the kids who would en
8 Comments on Banned Books and Censorship: Not on my watch!, last added: 9/29/2010
Marley, Thanks for the Librarian "love"! As for my 2 cents worth, I've never had to worry about censoring bad words in my library's books...my patrons do it for me!
As a librarian, marking up books or tearing out pages (which I've also heard happens) horrifies me greatly. Awesome letter, Marley. Way to strike back :)
That letter complaining about your fowl language sure was a turkey. Some chicks just don't get it! Anyone who censors library books totally lays an egg. That librarian thinks it's a real feather in her cap to be so "concerned", but in truth, she's just chicken about facing the real world. Her instinct shouldn't be to take a book and pullet off the shelves, or to scratch out the words she doesn't like, but to crow about what wonderful books are being published nowadays!
Cara...you're hilarious! LOL! Thanks for the laugh. And thanks for the support everyone. It took many re-writes and edits to get the "emotion" out of my response, but it had to be said. I sincerely admire librarians and all they do to bring out books to people, but it's not their (or anyone's) place to mark out words or (GASP) tear out pages.
First, a school visit from Ellen Hopkins got cancelled in Norman, OK, just a few miles from where my parents lived at the time. Then, Ellen got disinvited from the Humble ISD Teen Lit Fest, to which I had also been invited and in a district just a few miles from where I used to live in Houston, TX. Now it's Laurie Halse Anderson and Sarah Ockler getting trashed in the News-Leader in Springfield, MO, the town where I went to high school.
Seriously, maybe I'm the Banned Book Fairy and I don't even know it.
What bothers me most about these, and all censorship situations, is that a very narrow minority is trying to decide what others can/cannot or should/should not read because they know better. They believe teens are incapable of thinking for themselves, incapable of discerning the difference between rape and sex, between smart choices and dumb ones, between right and wrong. If a parent hasn't raised their kid to know the difference between right and wrong, then stopping them from reading a book isn't going to prevent the train wreck.
The good news is that every time one of these small minded, book banning, brainwashing, goosestepping goobers steps out into the public spotlight, there are hundreds of us open-minded, banned book reading, intellectual freedom loving, think for yourself advocates to raise our voices in protest.
And thanks to the internet and the real-time news distribution that happens on Twitter and Facebook, we can spread the word fast and wide.
When Ellen's event got cancelled in Norman, she went anyway and held an alternative event, speaking to a huge crowd at Hillsdale Baptist College. When Ellen got disinvited from Humble, several of the other authors involved, including me, withdrew from the festival rather than show any level of support for this kind of censorship. And when the Springfield newspaper posted the book banning opinion piece, they got almost 500 comments and posted a response from Laurie a few days later.
As readers, writers, and consumers, we have two weapons in our arsenal against censorship: the power of the dollar and the power of the word. Next time you hear about a book or an author getting banned, break out your power tools. Buy the banned book and read it or give it away. Write a blog post or an email or a Tweet, and spread the word. Speak loudly.
Because, in the end, when one o
3 Comments on Book Banning: Coming To A Town Near You, last added: 9/28/2010
In honor of Banned Books Week I want to tell you about a great graphic novel that you can read online. The story explores the idea of banning books in a clever and meaningful way.
Americusis about Neil Barton, a teenager growing up in Oklahoma, and his fight to keep his favorite fantasy series, The Chronicles of Apathea Ravenchilde, in his public library. It’s written by MK Reed and drawn by Jonathan Hill, and will be published by First Second in the fall of 2011.
The first chapter of Americus was published in Papercutter #7 in 2008, and was nominated for the Outstanding Short Story Ignatz. You can read the story online on the saveapathea.com website.
Here is a message from the folks at First Second, the publishers of this great story:
Banned Book Week is a week where people talk about why banning books is not good as much as possible so that everyone realizes that they shouldn’t do it!
Check out my most recent Poetry Friday post at Blue Rose Girls: Poems for Banned Books Week (September 25-October 2, 2010). The post includes a video of Laurie Halse Anderson reading her poem Listen, Manifesto, a poem that author Ellen Hopkins wrote for Banned Books Week in 2009, and two poems I wrote some time ago. You’ll also find links to other articles and information about Banned Books Week from the American Library Association.
Excerpt: When we moved to Vermont from Manhattan, the biggest shock wasn’t the change from city to country; it was the shift from color to (not black-and-) white. We couldn’t get used to the lack of diversity. It felt unnatural, limited, and wrong. When tourists of color happened into the store, we embarrassed ourselves with our enthusiasm. For the first year, I even had a hard time telling some of my customers apart; in addition to the uniform Caucasian-ness, there was a sameness of dress—cotton turtlenecks, fleece vests, jeans*—and hair, lots of straight, shoulder-length hair. (Josie’s Mediterranean Jewish ringlets are quite exotic here.) Up until 14 years ago, Josie and I spent our individual lives in areas of the country that were richly multicultural. Last I checked, Vermont had the United States’ least diverse population. I think we’re at 97+% white. In Vermont’s defense, its record for equal treatment is excellent; we may not have a big nonwhite population, but folks that do live here have equivalent opportunities and salaries as their white counterparts. But the point I’m making is, Dorothy, we’re not in New York City anymore.
All that by way of saying, we understand the challenge of making ‘books of color’ mainstream purchases for white audiences.
At the New England Independent Booksellers Association trade show next week, the Children’s Bookselling Advisory Council is holding a panel discussion on this topic.
1 Comments on Here & There and Banned Books Week: September 27, 2010, last added: 9/27/2010
I love what you shared. It is wonderful to live in a multicultural town. Here in Woodstock, NY, not only we represent almost every country but many ways of thinking. Could you visit: www.Kusikiy.com ? I am sure you would love my recently published book. A book about a child in PERU
Once again, it’s time for the American Library Association’s Banned Books Week. Yes, it’s sad that we even have to have a week like this each year; but at least, enough people are outraged by banning books that we have a week to recognize them. Pictured here, And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson, is one of the top ten most challenged books in 2009. Why? Well, let’s see. . .it focuses on two male penguins who are given a baby penguin to raise at New York’s Central Park Zoo. And it is based on a true story. And those crazy advocates of book banning think it is promoting homosexual behavior, same-sex marriages/adoption, and get this. . .homosexuality in ANIMALS. How many of us are really sitting at home worrying about whether or not male dogs or female gorillas are bonding in the wild? I guess there are some people who do this–obviously.
And this is why I love Banned Books Week because it shows us, the normal readers, how people can take a simple and beautiful TRUE story, like And Tango Makes Three, and turn it into something controversial and challenged. It’s crazy. The craziest thing–when are these book banners going to realize that by banning these books, they actually become MORE POPULAR? How many of you had heard of And Tango Makes Three before I talked about it today? How many of you now want to read it? (I am waving my hand in the air.)
Other top ten challenged books in 2009 are: ttly (the whole series), To Kill a Mockingbird, Twilight (series), The Chocolate War, and more. To check out everything about Banned Books Week, go to the ALA website here.
My cyber author friend, Ellen Hopkins (author of The Crank series shown above), has to face book banning all the time. Parents are constantly challenging her books, and schools are constantly taking the books off the shelves. It is even happening where she lives. Lately, she’s been talking a lot about it on Twitter and Facebook. One of the comments someone left on her Facebook page was that she is a huge fan of Hopkins’s books, but that she agreed they weren’t appropriate for middle schoolers. I left a comment after that one, stating nicely that middle schoolers know A LOT about sex and drugs NOW, and that books like Ellen’s can only help them. Hopkins is not saying–let’s all go out and get addicted to crystal meth. In her Crank series, she realistically shows how a “good girl” can get hooked, and how it can ruin her life. We need to face facts–some kids are taking drugs in middle school. If reading Crank can stop even one middle school kid from taking drugs, then it needs to be ON THE SHELF! Someone else left the comment that as a parent, she wanted the choice of whether or not her child read the book–she wanted them available to all kids, and then parents can be the ones to decide for their own children. AMEN!
What’s your stand on banned books? If you are a teacher, do you talk about these books/teach any of these books in your classroom? If you are an author, have your books ever been challenged?
BTW, there’s still time to enter the Mockingjay book giveaway today (September 27) until 8:00 p.m. CST tonight! Go here: Mockingjay Book Giveaway.
The American Library Association (ALA) has issued their annual list of the 10 most frequently challenged books from US libraries. There's a number of the usual suspects on the list, and while I'm still flabbergasted that there are people out there who are so concerned about the content in these books that they are requesting that they be removed from libraries (To Kill a Mockingbird? Really?) I do take some comfort in the fact that these books are still readily available for those who want them.
What I do want to know is how you can cite nudity as a reason for banning a book? Unless these books have lift up flaps, and I am fairly certain they don't, an anatomy description shouldn't be grounds for a banning; especially when "offensive language" gets its own category.
To me the most offensive book in this list still got the top spot, just not for the reason I would have slotted it in. Lauren Myracle's TTYL series is written entirely text message shorthand (Pls no, I h8 it), and for that alone I think it should be banned.
My daughter learns lots of interesting things at school. While she is loath to respond to direct questioning, occasionally I'll get a glimmer of a glimpse into her daily adventures. Last year, her best friend taught her the word 'vagina.' Of course I have no problem with her learning the anatomically correct terms for body parts, but we had never found a need at home to get more specific than 'bottom.' After all, while the penis has two functions, the vagina has only one, and we were really not ready to have 'the talk' at age four.
Shortly thereafter, Kate came home and told me that one of her little friends had said the 'Sh word.' I explained to her that this was not a word that we use in polite conversation. I graphically described the literal meaning to drive my point home. Only later did I realize that the offending phrase was "shut up." While I issued an immediate (if awkward) retraction, my daughter probably still retains a notion that "shut up" has vaguely scatalogical connotations. And, like the sixth graders my husband teaches, she apparently believes it to be one of the most offensive phrases a person can utter.
On a very basic level, ordering someone to refrain from talking, from sharing, from doing, from BEING, to is a grievous offense. On the other hand, there are rules of decorum and tenets of tact. In the weeks following the great Koran-burning scandal, Banned Books Week seems particularly well-timed.
If I may exercise my First Amendment rights to pontificate for a moment on the First Amendment... I am a news junkie, and the airwaves have been dominated in recent weeks by the Dr. Laura controversy, the "Ground Zero mosque" debate, and yes, the Florida pastor bent on destroying holy books for the world to see. With freedom of speech comes, it should go without saying, the tremendous responsibility to use our words wisely.
As a parent, I am learning swiftly that when you release your children into the world, you relinquish all control over their influences. When I asked my daughter what she learned in kindergarten the first week, she said that Hannah P. and Hannah M. and Kailyn all knew a particular Lady Gaga song. I suggested that perhaps it was not appropriate for kindergarteners to be talking about Lady Gaga, and Kate apprised me the next day that she had brought up the subject on the playground, but, "It's okay, Mommy, because we whispered."
As parents, as teachers, as writers, as grown-ups, we are the gatekeepers to the ever-widening world in which our children live. And as I navigate the etiquette of play dates and disciplining others' children (aagh!), I discover that rules and norms are not as readily apparent as one might hope.
Last year at this time, the fact that our President planned to speak to our nation's schoolchildren was the subject of national brouhaha (despite longstanding precedent). As my teacher-husband pointed out, his sixth graders were on that same day listening to a presentation from a magazine salesperson for a school fundraiser. Parents had not been required to give permission for their students to hear from this non-teacher about subject matter barely pertinent to the curriculum. He made the point that if individual parents with their wide array of beliefs and mores had direct input into what is taught in the schools, mayhem would ensue.
I support our public schools, I send my child to public school and, for better or worse, I trust the professional gatekeepers, the teachers and the librarians whose job is to ensure that materials presented are age-appropriate and accurately reflect the world around us.
If you want to mark Banned Books Week in your school or community and need some event ideas, here are a few from the Banned Books Week website. ● ‘Make your own banned book’ activity: Local libraries, schools and bookstores could provide both the crafts and space for a day/weekend in order for local community members, including children and youth to create their own ‘banned books’; libraries, schools and booksellers could offer prizes for participation.
● Ask customers and community members to sign a support poster provided by ABFFE; display the poster throughout the year to encourage dialogue and interest in banned books and wider free speech issues.
● Capture individuals exercising their right to read banned books on film: Create a Polaroid picture wall of students, patrons and customers who read banned books at your local school, library or bookstore; ask patrons to write their thoughts and feelings about banned books on the white part of the Polaroid.
If you want to read a banned book, read the last book banned in the USA, namely, Fanny Hill, last banned in 1963.
No books have been banned in the USA for about a half a century. See "National Hogwash Week."
Thomas Sowell says Banned Books Week is “the kind of shameless propaganda that has become commonplace in false charges of ‘censorship’ or ‘book banning’ has apparently now been institutionalized with a week of its own.” He calls it “National Hogwash Week.”
Former ALA Councilor Jessamyn West said, "It also highlights the thing we know about Banned Books Week that we don't talk about much — the bulk of these books are challenged by parents for being age-inappropriate for children. While I think this is still a formidable thing for librarians to deal with, it's totally different from people trying to block a book from being sold at all." See "Banned Books Week is Next Week."
And then there's Judith Krug herself who created BBW:
"Marking 25 Years of Banned Books Week," by Judith Krug, Curriculum Review, 46:1, Sep. 2006. "On rare occasion, we have situations where a piece of material is not what it appears to be on the surface and the material is totally inappropriate for a school library. In that case, yes, it is appropriate to remove materials. If it doesn't fit your material selection policy, get it out of there."
Lastly, remember the ALA does not oppose book burning when doing so would interfere with its political interests. Go see what Judith Krug said about Cuban librarians: "American Library Association Shamed," by Nat Hentoff.
The Buzz Girls are proud to be supporters of Banned Books Week, the national celebration of the freedom to read. I kicking things off our theme week with some background information.
Banned Books Week was launched in 1982 in response to a sudden surge in the number of challenges to books in schools, bookstores and libraries, their targets ranging from books that explore contemporary issues and controversies to classic and beloved works of American literature.
Topping the 2009 list of the American Library Association’s Top Ten list of the Most Frequently Challenged Books is Lauren Myracle’s best-selling young adult novel series TTYL, the first-ever novels written entirely in the style of instant messaging. MY SISTER'S KEEPER by Jodi Picoult, CATCHER IN THE RYE by J. D. Salinger--and one of my favorite books for its humor, grit and heartwarming realism, THE EARTH, MY BUTT, and OTHER BIG, ROUND THINGS by Carolyn Mackler, also appear.
“Even though not every book will be right for every reader, the ability to read, speak, think and express ourselves freely are core American values,” says Barbara Jones, the director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. “Protecting one of our most fundamental rights – the freedom to read – means respecting each other’s differences and the right of all people to choose for themselves what they and their families read.”
For more information on book challenges and censorship, please visit the ALA Office website.
And please leave a comment, offering up your supportof Banned Books Week, and naming any favorite books that you know of that have been challenged.
Tina
Tina Ferraro The ABC's of Kissing Boys How to Hook a Hottie Top Ten Uses for an Unworn Prom Dress www.tinaferraro.com
4 Comments on Buzz Girls Support Banned Books Week!, last added: 9/27/2010
We knew as soon as we read about Banned Book Week that we needed to participate. What we didn't know was just how far little it takes for someone to say "censor" in relation to a book, especially with some of the things we've seen on TV and movies lately. http://www.abffe.com/bbw-booklist.htm has a list of banned books along with the reason for some of them.
Like BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA yesterday, Maurice Sendak’s IN THE NIGHT KITCHEN makes the list for one of the top 100 most frequently banned books of the decade, 1990-2000. It was also made the Top 10 most challenged book of 2004. It’ll be no surprise to those of you familiar with the book that the sticking point is the illustrations of naked Mickey, the young protagonist of the story.
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. I'm over at Donna M. McDine's blog, Write What Inspires You, with a guest post on another issue facing children's literature--![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4835526806277675961-9
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Hi,
I found your blog on Book Blogs and knew I had to check out your blog when I saw the link to this book! I absolutely loved reading this book! Such a beautiful and original concept for an otherwise widely used topic.
Your blog is great and I am now following it.
I'd love it if you could also check mine out at Storybook Love Affair - www.storybookloveaffair.blogspot.com
Megan.
I love this unusual take on a Banned Book Week selection. I also think I'd like the book!
This is a great post! Like Megan, I found your link through Bookblogs. After reading the whole blog entry, I'm already thinking of getting myself a copy of this book.
I'm now following you. I hope you could drop by my blog, too. (www.nancycudis.com)
//nancy
Hi Alex,
Just letting you know that I answered your question about my fascination with New York underneath the comment you left on my blog. I'm not sure if it gives you an alert or anything so thought I'd let you know via here.
www.storybookloveaffair.blogspot.com
Thanks,
Megan.
I read this in 2006 and later bought my own copy. I was struck by how, in the early stages of the story, Death seemed sinister but later I realized that Death has heart. Sometimes he comes in compassion.
But I forget many of the particulars of the story and am grateful for the reminders. Must be time to reread!
Thanks for stopping by, everyone.
Megan, I responded to you on your blog.
Joy, I also thought this would be an interesting take on Banned Books Week. The book is great and I think you might like it.
Nancy, I think you might like this book, I actually haven't met many readers who didn't like it.
Joyce, I also forget the particulars of stories, which is why a blog is good for remembering. I found Death to be at times funny, compassionate, snarky but all at the right time.
I have had this book on my virtual book shelf for almost a year. I know I'm going to love it and I know I have to read it.
Another wonderful post Alex.
http://www.ManOfLaBook.com
Another fine review. And a fine book. I think I have mentioned it before on your blog as a book that I read and admired greatly before I ever knew it was thought of as a book for young adults. I think it is extremely powerful and would move readers of any age.