BH and I scurried down from the tundra to Syracuse last night to listen to Carolyn Mackler talk about her writing and her experiences with having her books challenged and banned.
Carolyn gave a terrific speech that including reading some letters from readers that moved me to tears. She’s had to deal with terribly nasty challenges, but she’s handled them with grace.
It was also very nice to finally meet my LJ friend freakfest! An unexpected delight was the presence of a group of students from Chittenango High School. Several of them remembered me from my school visit four years ago. It was really nice hanging out with them. I would love to see more area high schools sending interested groups of students to this library’s annual Banned Books lecture. It is a whopping teachable moment.
While Speak is at position #65 on the ALA’s Banned Book List for 2006-2007, Carolyn’s book, The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things sits a few spots above it, and has made it to the Top Ten a few times. No author ever wants to have their book challenged or banned, but it provides us all with a tremendous opportunity to revisit the principals of the First Amendment and continue to fight for our guaranteed rights as Americans.
Which is more important now than ever.
And speaking of attacks on the Constitution…. I still think the bail-out bill gives too much authority to the Treasury Secretary, and not enough accountability.
But I am not going off on a political rant today. (Shocking, I know.) Today is the birthday of my youngest daughter, Meredith, aka The OfficeMouse, aka Daughter #3.
Happy Birthday OfficeMouse!
Happy Birthday Meredith!!!!
Aw I looked a lot like your daughter did when I was younger. Even had the same hair cut! Happy Birthday to Office Mouse.
I love Banned Books Week. It’s like a holiday for me except no days off. LOL.
Awwww–Happy Birthday, Office Mouse! Love the photo with the book on the stairs.
I bought Chains today at the Strand bookstore in NYC, and I can’t wait to read it!
Cash in your bets
It’s official: Anyone who bet the under in the “Will Mama Bear let the cub live to adulthood?” sweepstakes (and you know who you are) has lost. Please forward your wager in small, unmarked bills to OfficeMouse — speaking of which: mouse? Mouse? 4,627 mammal species in all God’s kingdom, and you chose MOUSE? But I digress — who will likely double down to earn next semester’s tuition in AC this weekend.
OfficeMouse’s Dad
PS: Thanks. (for everything, but especially for letting her live)
PPS: GO MER!
Re: Cash in your bets
This is where we all spend a year lounging in the south of France to celebrate, right?
Re: Cash in your bets
What with the economy and the price of gas and airfare and all, I was going to settle for Sonoma. Plus Taylor makes that fine ice wine up in your neck of the woods, right? You like it colder than the rest of us, anyways.
Oh, look! That’s the way I remember Mer! Has it been that long? She looks a LOT like you used to, Laurie. Complete with book attachment.
::grinning::
Carolyn Mackler
It’s a good thing you captioned that picture of you, Carolyn and Ellen b/c I thought you were a teen fan!
What would Einstein say?
Riddle me this, if our children are so old, how do we manage to stay so young?
See you soon,
Jerry