This piece is adapted from the J. Willard Marriott Library Blog.
Acclaimed children and teens author Laurie Halse Anderson writes in her memoir “Shout,” “Censorship is the child of fear and the father of ignorance and the desperate weapon of fascists everywhere.”
With the surge in books being removed from libraries and schools across the state and the nation, the questions that no one can seem to answer are, “Why are these books being pulled from the shelves? What are we so fearful of?”
On Tuesday, Sept. 30, at noon, at the Marriott Library, Anderson, whose books have frequently faced challenges and bans, will discuss the connection between the books that are being pulled off the shelves and the "difficult" subject matter they contain.
Anderson's young adult novel “Speak,” a finalist for the National Book Award and winner of the Golden Kite Award (among others), has appeared on the American Library Association’s list of most challenged books since its publication in 1999. In it, Anderson tells the story of high school freshman, Melinda, who is raped at a party, is ostracized by her peers for contacting the police and eventually loses her voice.
In her memoir “Shout,” Anderson writes of her own trauma of being raped when she was 13 years old. This book has received starred reviews from several outlets and positive reviews from the New York Times and the Los Angeles Times. “Shout” has also been banned frequently.
Anderson is the Astrid Lindgren Memorial Award-winning author of numerous books for young people. She is a New York Times bestselling author whose writing spans young readers, teens and adults. Combined, her books have sold more than 8 million copies.
Her novel “Chains,” the first in the “Seeds of America” trilogy of young adult historical novels, and “The Impossible Knife of Memory” were also National Book Award finalists. The American Library Association gave Anderson the Margaret A. Edwards Award for her significant contribution to young adult literature. She has been honored for her battles for intellectual freedom by the National Coalition Against Censorship and the National Council of Teachers of English. She is a member of the national leadership council for Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network (RAINN) and frequently speaks about sexual violence.
Join Anderson’s “The Power of Story to Unite Us” event to dig deeper into the banned books discussion. Details are below.
“The Power of Story to Unite Us”
A discussion by award-winning author Laurie Halse Anderson
Tuesday, Sept. 30, noon
University of Utah J. Willard Marriott Library
Gould Auditorium, Level 1
Free and open to the public.
Find directions and parking info here.
A livestream of the event is available here.
6 banned books to read this fall
There are thousands of good books that have received—and continue to receive—challenges. To make those books easier to find, the Marriott Library has tagged them in the library’s catalog.
Below are some of librarian Allyson Mower’s favorite challenged book recommendations.
“Speak” by Laurie Halse Anderson
A story of a young teenager who is raped at a party, is ostracized by her peers for contacting the police and eventually loses her voice.
“Gender Queer: A Memoir” by Maia Kobabe
Through narrative and illustrations, Kobabe recounts the journey from adolescence to adulthood. I can definitely imagine someone’s life being saved by this book.
“The Diary of a Young Girl” by Anne Frank
My all-time favorite—love her writing, the storytelling and the indelible impact that preserving stories creates.
“Bless Me, Ultima” by Rudolfo Anaya
This book contains both the real and the otherworldly that happens in the borderlands—both physical and cultural.
“The Color Purple” by Alice Walker
Celie’s financial and personal success is so inspiring—I still don’t understand what’s behind the challenges to this book (well, any book really).
“Persepolis” by Marjane Satrapi
Like the other titles, this story of personal freedom and discovery of one’s own power is told through beautiful illustrations and memorable writing.