A lot of people come to this page looking for discussion guides on particular books. I have posted ones that we have used at the Pelham Public Library for others to use.
One covers banning and censorship issues. There is a new discussion guide for Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak. A discussion guide for Wild Swans was published previously.
Take the "Banned Book Challenge" with the Pelham Public Library.
Freedom to Read Poster 2001
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Blog: Fahrenheit 451: Banned Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: censorship, banning, three wishes, deborah ellis, Wild Swans, Jung Chang, Banned Book Challenge, Add a tag

Blog: Fahrenheit 451: Banned Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: three wishes, deborah ellis, Toronto, CITYTV, Add a tag
Quillblog, the weblog of Quill and Quire reports that Journalist and CityNews ombudsman Peter Silverman has a request concerning Deborah Ellis' Three Wishes.
I am a journalist in the process of doing a television story on the banning of Three Wishes by the Toronto School Board. I have read this book and would like to receive comments from children between the fourth and sixth grades concerning their opinions. With parental consent, I would like to interview these children for CITYTV as I am doing a documentary on this issue. I can be reached at [email protected]
Thanks. Peter Silverman, OMBUDSMAN, CITYNEWS
I would love to see what the children have to say, as well. I am rereading Three Wishes as part of the "Banned Book Challenge" and our JT Book Club is reading it this month.

Blog: Fahrenheit 451: Banned Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: Canada, three wishes, deborah ellis, Freedom to Read Week, Writers' Union, Halton, Add a tag
Freedom to Read Poster 1994
A Toronto Star article entitled "Plucky Reader Honoured for Book's Defence" reports that ten-year-old Evie Freedman is being awarded with the Writers' Union Freedom to Read Award. Evie is a grade 5 student in the Halton Public School Board. When a number of school boards decided to pull Deborah Ellis' Three Wishes: Palestinia and Israel Children Speak, Evie was very vocal about the importance of this book and was widely quoted.
According to Evie, adults were always underestimating what kids can understand and she was adamant she didn't need anyone to tell her what she could read.
She went on to say that one particular line from Three Wishes stood out for her. "If children are tough enough to be bombed and starved, they're tough enough to read about it."

Blog: Fahrenheit 451: Banned Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: three wishes, looking for X, Order of Ontario, deborah ellis, Add a tag
Today the Honourable James K. Bartleman, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario, announced that 29 people will be named to the Order of Ontario. Among the recipients will be author Deborah Ellis whose books have faced challenges and bannings in Ontario, the latest being Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak which was removed from Toronto and York School Board libraries.
According to Bartleman,
The men and women who are being honoured are stellar examples of the best and the brightest in this province. They are exemplary role models for us all.
Ellis is described as
Award winning children's author and human rights advocate who has donated more than $500,000 in royalties from her books to human rights causes. Ms. Ellis' books include: Looking for X; The Breadwinner; Parvana's Journey and Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak.
The Order of Ontario is Ontario's most prestigious official honour.
The award was created in 1986 by the Government of Ontario to recognize the highest level of individual excellence and achievement in any field. The men and women invested in The Order are representative of the best of Ontario's caring and diverse society and stand as shining examples for us all. Their lives have benefited society in Ontario and elsewhere.
In August 2006, Deborah Ellis was honoured by the Elementary Teachers' Federation.

Blog: Fahrenheit 451: Banned Books (Login to Add to MyJacketFlap)
JacketFlap tags: three wishes, looking for X, deborah ellis, Hamilton, Add a tag
Deborah Ellis' Looking for X has been chosen by the organizers of Hamilton's One Book, One City event, according to The Hamilton Spectator. Deborah Ellis is the Canadian author of a number of controversial books for young people. Most recently, Three Wishes: Palestinian and Israeli Children Speak has faced the most opposition in schools and was banned from or restricted in York and Toronto school libraries.
In choosing Looking for X, the project is highlighting the problems of poverty in Canada. The city of Hamilton will be asked to read the book and interpret the themes through a number of media.
Looking For X is Ellis' 2000 Governor General's Literary Award-winning novel about an 11-year-old girl living in Toronto public housing. Khyber lives in Regent Park with her single mother, a former stripper.
Ellis stated, "Literature is great on a personal level ... when it can be used in the community to move the community forward, I find that very exciting."