Yes, circulate those books. I saw in the news a group of high school students (the Kutztown Banned Book Club) apparently meeting in their school library!
When Maus was banned in TN (a book I taught for many years, including Maus 2), I walked into my daughter's room to look at her bookshelf. On first count, since I haven't memorized the "850 Books to Ban", I found 72 of these "banned" books. I'm happy to say that book stores in Asheville, like Malaprops, have whole displays of "banned books" and in Chapel Hill this weekend, I was in three bookstores which each featured a large table of "Must Reads", including Barnes and Noble. I wrote thank you notes to each of the stores we were in this weekend. I think that purchasing these books and writing these stores letters could help. I bought three more copies of Maus for my office. They also had some old postcards with scenes from Maus in B&N. I bought all of them and decided it will be a new collection. With a family tree missing many branches due to the Holocaust, this book holds a special place in my heart.
Thank you for this idea, Stacey, to write notes of appreciation when you see banned books being featured. The book banning movement has stirred at least part of the nation to read and talk about those books! More students now will read them. We have to be sure teachers will be able to discuss them.
Cindy, I called Highland Books today. They had a display in the fall during Banned Book Week (an American Library Association event https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks ), but don't have a designated section now.
As a current school board member, I can tell you that if you think the strength of my fight to wear masks was strong, my will to protect books from being banned is rock solid. Books awarded by the American Librarians Association are on many current “ban lists”. If you think your high school student is unaware of some of the “controversial” items or phrases in these books, you have your head in the sand. Books with difficult situations make some people uncomfortable. Well, guess what? If a book doesn’t make you feel unsettled and uncomfortable, it is probably NOT worth reading. Many students have difficult situations at home, have dealt with racism, anti-Semitic behavior, been assaulted, homeless, etc. Finding a protagonist who has lived through some of your difficulties or tragedies can give you hope that you, too, can make it. Take away these books and some of our students will have nothing to hold onto for hope of a better future.
Stacey, reading your comment, I realize that only with awareness of reality (and real responses and solutions) can one have real hope. Thank you for serving on your school board and, even more than that, for speaking from your experience.
Thanks Deda. We are on this issue in Polk Co. also.
Margaret, please stay in touch about what's happening in Polk. I feel we're united in this across county lines.
Thanks for the post Deda. Some great ideas on how to keep the books CIRCULATING!
Thanks Stacey for fighting for masks and books. You go girls!
Yes, circulate those books. I saw in the news a group of high school students (the Kutztown Banned Book Club) apparently meeting in their school library!
When Maus was banned in TN (a book I taught for many years, including Maus 2), I walked into my daughter's room to look at her bookshelf. On first count, since I haven't memorized the "850 Books to Ban", I found 72 of these "banned" books. I'm happy to say that book stores in Asheville, like Malaprops, have whole displays of "banned books" and in Chapel Hill this weekend, I was in three bookstores which each featured a large table of "Must Reads", including Barnes and Noble. I wrote thank you notes to each of the stores we were in this weekend. I think that purchasing these books and writing these stores letters could help. I bought three more copies of Maus for my office. They also had some old postcards with scenes from Maus in B&N. I bought all of them and decided it will be a new collection. With a family tree missing many branches due to the Holocaust, this book holds a special place in my heart.
Thank you for this idea, Stacey, to write notes of appreciation when you see banned books being featured. The book banning movement has stirred at least part of the nation to read and talk about those books! More students now will read them. We have to be sure teachers will be able to discuss them.
Highland Books has had them on display here in Brevard.
Cindy, I called Highland Books today. They had a display in the fall during Banned Book Week (an American Library Association event https://www.ala.org/advocacy/bbooks ), but don't have a designated section now.
As a current school board member, I can tell you that if you think the strength of my fight to wear masks was strong, my will to protect books from being banned is rock solid. Books awarded by the American Librarians Association are on many current “ban lists”. If you think your high school student is unaware of some of the “controversial” items or phrases in these books, you have your head in the sand. Books with difficult situations make some people uncomfortable. Well, guess what? If a book doesn’t make you feel unsettled and uncomfortable, it is probably NOT worth reading. Many students have difficult situations at home, have dealt with racism, anti-Semitic behavior, been assaulted, homeless, etc. Finding a protagonist who has lived through some of your difficulties or tragedies can give you hope that you, too, can make it. Take away these books and some of our students will have nothing to hold onto for hope of a better future.
Stacey, reading your comment, I realize that only with awareness of reality (and real responses and solutions) can one have real hope. Thank you for serving on your school board and, even more than that, for speaking from your experience.