Banned Books Week Spotlight

My friend Jen, over at Devourer of Books, has been doing an excellent job highlighting books that are being celebrated by the American Library Association's Banned Books Week, which ends on Saturday. In my fantasy world of having plenty of time for all the many things I love to do, I would be right there with her, spotlighting all my favorite banned/challenged books, and waxing poetic on the importance of intellectual freedom. Not to mention generally reading things that are not assigned by a syllabus.

Alas, the fantasy world of books remains a bit out of reach. But, in a few minutes on my lunch hour today, I decided to pay a small tribute to the great work of the ALA and the fight for intellectual freedom by highlighting the most recent "frequently challenged book" I have read: "Are You There God? It's Me, Margaret." by Judy Blume.

You may recall that I just read this for the first time this summer. Crazy, I know. And I love it. LOVE it. Maybe this is a throwback to my deep connection to truth-telling, and vulnerability. Maybe it is a reclaiming of my love of working in a Children's/Young Adult library (maybe the best job I've ever had). But, whatever it is, it's love.

Why, you may ask, is this particular book to be celebrated this week? Due to its content, both sexual and religious, it is one of top 100 challenged books (requested to be banned) of all time, and Judy Blume is the second most challenged author between 1990 & 2004, according to the ALA. She has earned this status not just for "Margaret," but because five of her books are frequently challenged. "Margaret," written in 1970, is number 62 of the top 100 challenged books of 1990-2000.

Blume is concerned with censorship, if only for the implications it holds for the future of reading. “[I]t's not just the books under fire now that worry me. It is the books that will never be written. The books that will never be read. And all due to the fear of censorship. As always, young readers will be the real losers.” Her website speaks frankly about her thoughts, here.

The American Library Association has many great resources for seeing what books have been challenged, why, and other ways to celebrate the week (which occurs annually). So check it out and keep reading!