Banned Book Week: Christine Johnson Guest Post

I am so excited to have Christine joining me today on the blog. Christine' debut novel Claire de Lune is racing up the charts and I am so happy to have her posting with me.

Christine grew up in Indianapolis, Indiana and attended DePaul University where she met her husband. She majored in Political Science which she says that, "for the record... is a totally useless degree" (which makes me laugh). She lived in Chicago for several years with her husband and held a string of jobs while there and eventually moved back to Indianapolis. She now lives in an old house in an old neighborhood with her husband and kids along with too many books and a weakness for anything sweet. She says that if writing were a full time job, she would be a workaholic and that she likes making things up and writing them down and having people read them.

I asked Christine to share her thoughts on book banning and censorship and this is what she had to say...

I’m going to say something now that seems really obvious to me, but I’m afraid to voice it because what if the book banners haven’t thought of it yet?

But still. Bravery in the face of uncertainly and all of that, so here goes:

Book banning is stupid. It’s stupid because IT DOESN’T WORK. It BACKFIRES.

Do you have any idea how many books I’ve read specifically BECAUSE THEY WERE BANNED? As soon as someone doesn’t want me to read something, I want to know *why*. I want to see what all the fuss is about. And I’m an adult. As a teen (a very, very responsible teen - seriously. I rebelled, like, not at all,) I was even more that way. It’s . . . I mean, it’s so common it’s a *stereotype*, right? The teen who does something just because they’ve been told not to? Because it’s not “good for them?”

There is no teen on earth who sneaks around reading Moby Dick under the covers, or behind a math book on the bus. (If there is such a teen, I’d like to talk to them. For real.) But any book that promises trouble and possible moral ruination? High school students will work to procure that book, and then they will go to great lengths to read it. In other words - they’ll act around banned books the way most adults wish they’d act around Shakespeare.

When books are banned, they get national media attention. Twitter lights up in their defense. And their Amazon sales ranks? Those go crazy. While it’s hard on an author in many ways to have their work attacked by book banners, it often serves as a sales boost for those particular titles. If book banners don’t want students reading a particular book, they’d be better off quietly pushing it to the back of the shelf. Demanding that it be off limits just makes it more desirable. Authors and publishers are constantly trying to generate buzz - and book banning does exactly that.

So, no, I don’t want to see books banned or challenged, because having access to quality literature - even if it’s about difficult subject matter - taken away from teens makes me cringe. But I hope that when those same teens hear the voices of would-be book banners raised in protest, they’ll do exactly what I have done so many times. That they’ll hop in the car and head straight to the nearest bookstore or library, to see for themselves what all the fuss is about.

Wow... amazing words, Christine! Thanks a million. Make sure to visit Christine HERE and see what else she has up her sleeve when it comes to reading and writing. Have a great day everyone!

Banned Book Week: Speak Loudly

I read a book when I was in college that completely changed my perspective on things. I read it again the next year to remind myself what good writing was and to remember that I have a voice. I have read it numerous times since and always tell my kids they need to read it (especially my girls). That book was Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak. The writing was amazing but the subject is what made me want to be a writer. It made me realize that things happen everyday that society chooses to ignore and then get mad when someone writes a book about them, or talks about it on the news... or (GOD FORBID) talks about them in church!!!!

Over the past few weeks in the bloggosphere the name Wesley Scroggins has become a fixture. Why you ask? Because he has taken it upon himself to have Speak and other books removed from the school shelves and has completely twisted the words of the book into a vile thing. I don't think, however, he knew what he was in for when he did so.

Here's what Wesley Scroggins said: As the main character in the book is alone with a boy who is touching her female parts, she makes the statement that this is what high school is supposed to feel like. The boy then rapes her on the next page. Actually, the book and movie both contain two rape scenes.

Here's what Amazon says about SPEAK: Laurie Halse Anderson’s award-winning, highly acclaimed, and controversial novel about a teenager who chooses not to speak rather than to give voice to what really happened to her.

The challenger also says this: This [allowing these books in the school system] is unacceptable, considering that most of the school board members and administrators claim to be Christian. How can Christian men and women expose children to such immorality? Parents, it is time you get involved!

As Myra McEntire says...

I'm not going to make a judgment call on this guy's faith. I'm not supposed to. It's not my business. That's biblical.

I am a Christian and have been since I was 9. I have no shame in letting other know this. Do I mess up... all the time! Am I perfect... ummm, NO! But I do believe that there are some serious issues here that deal with faith and the fact that he is using the Christian name in his agenda. Expose our children to immorality?! Was it not Christ who went to those who were immoral and picked them up, saved them from being stoned and loved them. I believe that it is my job as a teacher and parent to have these conversations with my children and let them know what is right and wrong (not that I think there is anything wrong with the book... I will get back to that in a minute).

God calls me as a parent to lead my children and teach them right and wrong. I CANNOT keep them in a bubble and hope nothing gets to them. Life is not all flowers and sweetly singing birds. It is tough. It has rotten moments that we would rather forget. It is full of mistakes. But those mistakes are where we have to learn tough lessons. I am called to lead my children in the ways of the Lord, right? Again, he (Christ) went to the prostitute when the CHURCH LEADERS were going to stone her for being immoral (which always ticks me off because the man was there too and they were going to do nothing to him... takes two to tango people!) and said, "If any of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." (John 8:7). So we all know what happened next, they all dropped their stones and walked off. In teaching... we call those teachable moments. As a parent, I have to use things like literature or movies as teachable moments.

I have to use books like Speak to show my children (taught and birthed) that they can come to me when something happens as horrendous as RAPE (because that is what happened, Mr. Scoggins... she didn't enjoy it as you have implied).

Rape is a sin... it is immoral! It is not, however, the sin of the victim. It is because people like Mr. Scoggins twist the contents of a book into his/her way that society has the view that they do today- that it isn't okay to speak up because that is where the sin lies. What will happen if people like Mr. Scoggins get their way? I can tell you... the victims will shut up! They won't speak and they will suffer tremendously because they don't want to face the scrutiny that they will face when they do speak up.

Who gives him the right to speak for me? Anyone who knows me will tell you that I am very opinionated and don't back down from much. This is definitely one of those times where I will not back down. I cannot imagine putting my name on something that is so full of blatant lies and hatred toward another human being which is what Mr. Scoggins has done. I can only hope that those of us (teachers, parents, students, bloggers, and anyone else) will not let people like Mr. Scoggins think for us. Yes, there are some books out there that are for more mature audiences. I am not debating that. There is a reason I have some books on my shelf that aren't in my school's library... 6th graders don't necessarily need to read them yet, but when they get to 8th grade they have the advantage of having more mature literature to choose from.

Open conversations need to be had with our children about issues and we need to take AMAZING books like Speak and use them as jumping off places for those conversations. I hope that people like Mr. Scoggins are not the only voices heard at school board meetings, teacher meetings, and other places where decisions about what goes onto the shelves are made. Those of us who love these books that are being challenged or have been banned need to step up and let our opinions be heard as well.

"If numbers of people believe in freedom of speech, there will be freedom of speech, even if the law forbids it. But if public opinion is sluggish, inconvenient minorities will be persecuted, even if laws exist to protect them."
- George Orwell

Banned Book Week: Crank Review

Genre: YA Realistic Fiction

Pages: Paperback, 537 pages

Publisher: Simon Pulse (October 5, 2004)

Kristina Georgia Snow is the perfect daughter: gifted high school junior, quiet, never any trouble. But on a trip to visit her absentee father, Kristina disappears and Bree takes her place. Bree is the exact opposite of Kristina -- she's fearless.

Through a boy, Bree meets the monster: crank. And what begins as a wild, ecstatic ride turns into a struggle through hell for her mind, her soul -- her life.

I can't keep these books on my shelves. My students devour them. I have had a set sitting at home calling my name and I just hadn't gotten around to reading them. Believe me when I say that I heard from EVERYONE that I needed to read them (Gracie and Peri are happy that I am, I know) and now I have to ask myself... WHAT TOOK YOU SO LONG?!

Ellen Hopkins has taken a topic that is so controversial and yet oh so prevalent in our society and written about it. *GASP* I couldn't put it down either and am reading the second in the series now. Kristina/Bree reminded me throughout the book that this could be one of my students. She is trying to hide the fact that a monster has taken over her and seems to be doing a good job. No one seems to notice except those whom she lets into her inner circle know. A visit with her dad has changed her forever and now she is someone whom she doesn't even recognize sometimes.

I love how this novel is written in verse because it fits so well with the character and her personality. I wasn't sure how I would like reading it at first (mainly because it was different and I wasn't sure if my ADD self could follow along) but I have found that it is very readable oh so creative! Reading this book has made me look at things differently and attempt to understand people's motivations. Kristina has issues at home and at school and yet from the outside looking in... everything looks great. So what about the rest of us? What if we wrote a book about ourselves and our inner demons. What would that monster look like?

Banned Books Week Kickoff with Ellen Hopkins

I can think of no better way to start off Banned Books week with an author who knows a thing or two about having her books banned from shelves around our country, Ellen Hopkins. My students run to my shelves when they see that her books are back in and I am proud to say that they are constantly running. I can't keep them on my shelf. I will be posting later this week my feelings on censorship but in short... I don't like it! Banned Books week is a time for us to celebrate those books and authors who have faced adversity for the things they have written and support them for doing something against the grain.

E. Kristin Anderson interviewed Ellen for her blog and asked about which books have been challenged or banned and the reasons she was given for the challenges, Ellen said:

"As far as I know, they’ve all faced challenges. Usually it’s because of the language, but also for content. I don’t tiptoe around the ugly stuff, and there are a few fairly explicit scenes in my books, Tricks especially. But Burned has been banned in a few places because of the religious (Mormon) references. Different people are offended by different things." *

When asked why she writes what she does, even though some people think it might be “bad” or “damaging” or “scandalizing” for young readers, Ellen said:

"Because someone has to. Pretending things like abuse or addiction don’t happen won’t make them go away. Writing about them does a number of things. It lets the young people whose lives are touched by these things know they’re not alone. It gives them a voice. And it also helps others develop empathy. More and more we are told to fear what we don’t understand, and to hate people who aren’t like us. I say that’s wrong. We need not only to coexist peacefully — we must remember we truly are brothers on this planet. Understanding someone else’s pain is vital." *

Such wise words from an amazing lady! I asked Ellen to share her thoughts on book banning with me and, yet again, she didn't fail and has inspired me to step up and have more books that deal with the tough stuff in my classroom. Here is what she has to say...

In sixth grade, we did mock presidential elections, and I drew Robert Kennedy's name out of the hat. In researching the man, and what he stood for, my politics became firmly established at age eleven. Having never really been faced with things like racism or sexism, I had no idea they existed. But the truth was, at that time, black people did not have the same rights as white people; and women did not have the same rights as men. Over the next several years, a segment of Americans changed those things. Not without pain. Not without bloodshed. But I think the men who died, including Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and my hero Bobby Kennedy, would have said they didn't die in vain.

Today, it seems, this country is regressing toward segregation and hatred of those who are different. Where once the Ku Klux Klan burned crosses on the lawns of those they deemed "inferior," some Americans today celebrate intolerance by burning places of worship and books. Books. Words. Ideas. These are central to the freedoms we take for granted. If we, the greater part of humanity, say nothing about burning or in other ways censoring books, our freedoms become jeopardized.

When book banning is allowed in one place, would-be censors elsewhere are emboldened. These people claim to be offended by words, or perhaps sexual content. But in truth, they are afraid of people who are different and ideas they cannot comprehend. Fear makes them dangerous. But by uniting and presenting unified dissent, we can conquer fear. Speak up. Join the fight against censorship. Your freedoms are at stake.

* Interview from E. Kristin Anderson can be read in full here.

In My Mailbox (34)

Here is your look into what made its way to me this week. Thanks to Kristi at The Story Siren for hosting this MME!






Borrowed:
Milk Eggs Vodka: Grocery Lists Lost and Found by Bill Keaggy

Bought:
Go Ask Alice by Beatrice Sparks
Forever by Judy Blume

For Review:
Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
Immi's Gift by Karin Littlewood
Extraordinary by Nancy Werlin
Impossible by Nancy Werlin
The Uninvited by Tim Wynne-Jones
Jumping Off Swings by Jo Knowles
Lessons from a Dead Girl by Jo Knowles
Beat the Band (Swim the Fly #2) by Don Calame
The 10 p.m. Question by Kate de Goldi


Have a great week and of course let me know what you got this week!!