FRIDAY FIVE: Book Banning Edition

1. I’m sure by now you know about the book banning heard ‘round the world. If not, go here. Essentially, someone has decided that because he doesn’t want his kids reading Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson, Twenty Boy Summer by Sarah Ockler, or Slaughterhouse-Five by Kurt Vonnegut, no one’s kids should . . . which is wrong on so many levels. He has also grossly misrepresented Speak as being “soft pornography.” Seriously? Seriously.

2. In honor of Banned Books Week (September 25 through October 2), I will be re-reading Speak, because it’s one of those books that *must* stay on the shelves. It’s not soft porn: it’s an amazing story about a girl who finds the power to speak loudly against sexual assault, and has helped thousands of girls (and women) cope with past experiences. You should read it, your daughter should read it, and your daughter’s daughter should read it.

3. Also, the Deb’s very own Sarah Ockler has been challenged. To show support, the Debs and Little, Brown are giving away 100 copies of her novel, Twenty Boy Summer. To enter, go here.




4. There are also several contests going on where authors are giving away “Filthy Books Prize Packs,” or copies of all three novels that are being challenged. One of these prize packs is available here, at fellow WestSide author Beth Fehlbaum’s website. She’s also throwing in a copy of her first novel: Hope in Patience.

5. Here are some other related links:

Laurie Halse Anderson’s blog post about the banning.

Sarah Ockler’s post about the banning.

Also, if you’re on Twitter you can show your support with the #SpeakLoudly tag.

And a bonus #6. Please know what your kids are reading. If you don’t feel it’s appropriate for them or your family, then by all means do what you feel is necessary. Mr. Scroggins, you have every right to censor what your children read, but you *don’t* have the right to censor what mine reads.

Laurie Halse Anderson originally posted this on her blog, and I think it speaks volumes:




Happy (Banned Book) Reading, Everyone!

Love,
~Leigh~