BANNED BOOKS WEEK
 

 




Join us to kick-off Banned Books Week on Saturday, September 26, 2009 in historic Bughouse Square. The American Library Association's Office for Intellectual Freedom, the McCormick Freedom Museum, and the Newberry Library are proud to continue to sponsor this event.


Chris Crutcher will host authors of six of the ten most challenged books of 2008, as they read from their work and share their experiences as targets of censors. The readings begin at noon and will be followed by booksignings by all the authors. City Lit Theatre Company and Chicago Public Library Readers' Theatre will perform work from frequently challenged authors who couldn't join is in Chicago.


Our host, Chris Crutcher, is the author of a dozen or so of the most popular young adult novels. Starting in 1983, with Running Loose, Crutcher has been the object of censors' attention; that novel is on the list of the 100 Most Challenged Books of 1990-1999. Also on that list, at number 63, is Athletic Shorts, a collection of short stories that has been challenged because it "deals with divorce, violence, AIDS, and homosexuality." Crutcher himself has been a tireless supporter of the freedom to read; his Web site has a blog devoted to keeping tabs on attempts to remove his work from schools, school libraries, and public libraries. He attended the 2007 Read-Out!, hosted our 2008 Second Life Read-Out!, and will be the MC for this event. Check out the Kids' Right to Read Project interview with Chris Crutcher.

And Tango Makes Three has topped the list of banned and challenged books three years running. And, for all three years, Read-Out! guests have watched Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell read this wonderful children's story and discuss their experiences as authors and targets of censorship. Their book has been challenged because it is "anti-family" and promotes homosexuality.

TTYL is part of the wildly successful Internet Girls series with TTFN and L8R G8R, which is second on our list of frequently challenged and banned books. The Internet Girl series has been challenged for offensive and sexually explicit language. This is Lauren Myracle's second year on the list and second year reading at the Read-Out! Between Read-Outs, Lauren has been a huge supporter of the Freedom to Read Foundation. Her presentations on reading, writing, and freedom are some of the best and most informative - and, you can view one here!

Stephen Chbosky's incredibly popular book, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, is regularly challenged for containing references to sex, drugs, and suicide. This is Stephen's second time at the Read-Out! Watch his moving speech from the 2008 Read-Out! here.

Cecily von Ziegesar's series of Gossip Girl novels were well-known long before the CW TV series made Serena van der Woodsen, Blair Waldorf, and Chuck Bass household names. As the TV series has gained in popularity, the books have, too - and so have challenges against them, primarily based on offensive language, sexual content, and being "unsuited to the age group." This is von Ziegesar's first time on the Top Ten list and at the Chicago Read-Out!

Sarah S. Brannen is making her debut on the Top Ten Most Frequently Challenged or Banned Books this year with Uncle Bobby's Wedding, a children's book about a same-sex marriage between two dapper guinea pigs. The book stirred controversy Douglas County, Colorado, and library director Jamie La Rue wrote this excellent response to the challenge. We're very excited to welcome Sarah to Chicago and the Read-Out!