Comments on: WFMAD Day 21 – banning censorship

By: Betsy Devany

Betsy Devany — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:25:04 +0000

Loved this post. Especially reading everyone’s comments. Thank you, Laurie, for starting the discussion.
As for the prompt, I enjoyed pitting my MC against her parents as she fights for what she believes in.
Learned a bit more about her as well.

By: Shannon

Shannon — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:55:17 +0000

Such an interesting post and subsequent discussion! My partners at StorySnoops and I would like to weigh in on this important topic.

Our site offers children’s book reviews from a parent’s perspective, but purposely does not assign ratings since one rating system doesn’t fit all when it comes to children. Our mission has always been to instill the love of reading in young readers, and we support every effort to ensure that they have unlimited access to books.

Even though the event that has prompted this most recent discussion is a frightening one, we couldn’t agree with you more about the value of public discussion. We’re looking forward to a short interview with Ellen Hopkins on our site during Banned Book Week and are eager to hear her further thoughts on the subject.

By: Jenn

Jenn — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 18:25:52 +0000

I knew your stance on censorship Laurie, but it’s awesome to see other peoples’ reactions to it too. I proudly carry around a handbag that says I Read Banned Books (from the ALA website, check it out here: http://www.alastore.ala.org/detail.aspx?ID=483 ) and just thought I’d spread the word on the cool bag (only $12!) It’s led to many a cool conversation.

Also, Laurie, I must thank you for your encouragement with the WFMAD challenge. I’ve finished my WIP by working about a half hour every day. Revision time, here we go….

By: Susan Manzke

Susan Manzke — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:48:57 +0000

I have mixed feelings of how to show support in our fight against censorship.

I believe in open discussion of issues and agree that without authors to talk about books being censored, our young readers are the losers.

I can also see how withdrawing can be beneficial, too. More news is being created because of those who in showing their support, withdrew.
Both sides are brave.
Hopefully, we have enough authors left who can speak about the issue.

By: Alison Wuthrich

Alison Wuthrich — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 06:36:38 +0000

To limit the press is to insult a nation; to prohibit reading of certain books is to declare the inhabitants to be either fools or slaves. ~Claude-Adrien Helvétius

Hrm…gives me pause regarding some of the folks in Humble, TX. Supt. whatshisname demonstrates very little confidence in the strength of his educational system if he takes on doing their thinking for them without even having taken the time to think for himself. Downright scary, that. And what will show for it? All those brilliant teens will just make sure that they absolutely read every one of Ellen’s books as fast as they can get their hands on them. He might uninvite her from the LitFest, but man, does he realize how many books he just sold for her? The surest way to make something happen is to tell someone it can’t be done!

Ellen, you go get ‘em, Girl! That supt. has made some hungry-for-books kids, and not just in TX! You won’t have time to go to that conference–you gotta get writing some more books!

By: jone

jone — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 02:40:45 +0000

Censorship is so ugly. I just don’t get it. What I do get is the importance of have a great selection and reconsideration policy in the district. It’s been awhile since I have a challenge at my school (Stupids Step Out by Marshall my first year, followed by challenges with the books in the human growth and development section.) But I am fully prepared to fight for the books in the library based on the selection policy of our district.
Having conversations about selection and book choice is so critical. I use Banned Book Week to talk about the First amendment with fifth graders. They are always SO shocked that books have been challenged. It is one of my favorite topics to teach.
Handling parent concerns so that it doesn’t not end up in a challenge is always tricky. Two years ago, I had to listen to a parental complaint about Harry Potter. It took a couple chats but she finally relented (but her daughter was not to check the books out).
What is happening in Texas is revolting. Ellen Hopkins’ books are so amazing and are much needed in today’s world.
Can you see I had lots to write about today? This is a hot white topic for me.

By: Censorship, what is really being taken away? | The Literate Gator

Censorship, what is really being taken away? | The Literate Gator — Sun, 22 Aug 2010 01:55:58 +0000

[...] the YA community is up in arms about this issue and blog posts are flying by authors such as Laurie Halse Anderson. I posted my own comment on Laurie’s [...]

By: Anjali Banerjee

Anjali Banerjee — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:38:08 +0000

David, I agree. I’ve also posted a comment in response to Matt. Boycotts do also serve a purpose and bring national attention to an issue that might have remained local if the authors had agreed to go to the festival. What about the Montgomery Bus Boycott and the history of civil rights? Pretty persuasive. Boycott of apartheid in South Africa?

By: Anjali Banerjee

Anjali Banerjee — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:34:15 +0000

I agree with Matt and support the authors’ decision to boycott the festival. I believe that boycotts have served a useful purpose throughout history. Take South Africa and apartheid, for example.

By: Jennifer

Jennifer — Sat, 21 Aug 2010 21:27:51 +0000

When I heard about all of this, I was sick in my stomach. As an elementary school librarian, I use Banned Books Week to talk to my students about censorship and how dangerous it can be to a society. I haven’t read Ellen’s books yet, but they are on my to-read list. I know enough about them to understand why some would get upset. However, I also understand how important they are to the teens that read them, and I feel that this uproar is just adding to the importance of her books.

I completely understand why these other authors have chosen not to attend the festival, but I think I feel as you do, Laurie. I’m not sure this is the best thing. I feel that way because I feel that in the end, it’s the teens who are being shorted. Yes, there will be more attention drawn to it because of the “boycott”, and yes, there may be great conversations among lots more people than there might have been before. But the bottom line is that the teens who are attending this festival are not going to get to benefit from meeting these authors that they love so much. I do feel that their ability to discuss Ellen’s situation with these other authors may have been incredibly helpful, and is something that can still happen with the authors who are attending.

Again, totally understand both sides of the boycott issue and not trying to say that the authors who are choosing not to attend are wrong in any way. I just feel like the teens might be getting the short end of the stick.

Overall, this whole issue is so sad and alarming to me. One of my favorite quotes is one of yours, Laurie: “Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance”. This is just another example of how true that statement is.

Asking Ellen to not attend the festival is NOT going to stop teenagers from reading her books. In fact, it will probably have the opposite effect. One of the craziest things about all of this is that the organizers may have found that having Ellen there to explain and discuss her books may have made a bigger positive impact on the community than dis-inviting her could ever have.