My daughter received a mini-education on banned books from the local librarian this week. She came away incensed; especially since some of her favorites showed up on the list. She actually had a lot to say on the matter. You know, the righteous indignation of teens on the precipice of adulthood. First amendment, parental responsibility & the minority vs. the majority were just a few of her arguments. I can't say I didn't agree with the ideas she presented; however, her supporting evidence came out a bit spotty. Ah well, all that righteousness clouding the wheels.
Anyways, I found myself on the incendiary plane of the Speak Loudly debate. My daughter loved this book. And, through this & a few others, she found a love of reading that will carry her throughout her life. That is after all the goal is it not?
So, I perused the list of the bamned & a shock wave befell when several of my childhood favs appeared.
Of Mice & Men
The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn - 10th Grade panorama of the river scene got me an 'A+'
Brave New World
Blubber
Are you there God? It's Me, Margaret
Forever
Judy Blume & a highlighter defined my middle school years. I have very vivid memories of the secretive huddle, the giggles & the enlightenment (not that we would have admitted it or even understood!). In that short span of years, Blume, whose 'Tales of a 4th Grade Nothing' spoke volumes to me, sparked a new generation of readers.
I also saw several others that define different periods in my own children's development. Captain Underpants has never been my first choice in a literary lunch box, but my son loved them. And, they inspired him to turn pages. What more can a parent ask for? TTYL & TTFN are the signposts of the techno-communication era - and that is the current generation. My daughter & most of her friends will have fond memories of these.
Roni Loren did a review of 'A Wrinkle in Time,' one of her favs. Several people joined Laurie Halse Anderson in defense of 'Speak.'
Books are an emotional pin-prick to the soul. What is on the current reading list is indicative of where readers are - emotionally, spiritually, educationally, etc. Books shape & define our world view. They entertain. They rake us through the poignant range of possibilities. All books speak - LOUDLY.
Have you hugged a banned book today?
Happy Writing,
Patti
