YA Fresh

Banned Books Week, Sept. 27 through October 4

Lately, we’ve been displaying a Banned Book Week logo on the left side of our page. We got this from the Random House First Amendment Committee in honor of Banned Books Week, to help celebrate the freedom to read and help increase awareness of censorship issues.

Did you know, for instance, that the following children’s books have been at one time or another banned?

Indian in the Cupboard, Lynne Reid Banks
Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret, Judy Blume
The Chocolate War, Robert Cormier
The Giver, Lois Lowry
How to Eat Fried Worms, Thomas Rockwell
The Boy Who Lost His Face, Louis Sachar

We would also like to call your attention to Random House’s newly updated First Amendment site, which is full of valuable information (like a more complete list of banned books) and interesting thoughts on censorship from some of its authors.

FIRST AMENDMENT

We’re hoping everyone will make this year's Banned Books Week a time to celebrate the freedom to read ­ and to remember to remind others never to take that freedom for granted.

Tina and Kelly