Free To Be You And Me
Sep
1
categories : Being Bookish
Guess what time of year it is?
Yup, you guessed it, it’s about the time of year that the literary community starts talking about banned and challenged books.
Why is this important, you ask? Because people who don’t know or your children are trying to tell you was is appropriate to read. I don’t know about you, but I’m not really down with being told what to do. Not even a little bit.
So what do I plan to do? I plan to join in on Banned Books Week. Sponsored by The American Library Association, The American Booksellers Association and a host of other really awesome and notable bookish organizations the last week of September is targeted as a time to shine a light on the freedom to choose what you read.
I’m not quite sure how I’ll express that freedom or how I’ll participate but I was recently advised of an excellent opportunity. The wonderful Steph of Steph Su Reads has created the Banned Books Reading Challenge. Running from today (September 1) through October 15 she is encouraging readers with a voice online to participate. Pick a goal, any goal, related to banned and challenged books and make your voice heard. Network with other participants and publicize your activism in an effort to increase awareness about the issue of censorship.
Steph does a fantastic job of listing challenge goals, providing useful and insightful resources, and even outlines her own intentions for the challenge in her call to action. So what are you waiting for? Sign up, join in and make your voice heard!







Beth F:
Thanks for the heads-up on Steph’s challenge. I’ll be checking it out.
September 2, 2010 at 6:16 am
Rebecca:
I’m not down with banned books either. Let people decide for themselves! Let parents decide what they will and will not let their children read. Censorship of any kind is an infringement on my freedom and I, like you, am not really into being told what to do. I’m glad you are doing the challenge!
September 2, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Sheila (Bookjourney):
Thanks for the information – now I have to go check out the info on the challenge. I had a good time last year duing the Banned Books weeks.
September 2, 2010 at 3:21 pm
Jessica:
I don’t always directly participate, but I love the Banned Books celebrations. It’s nice to remember that, like most of our freedoms, the freedom to read what we choose is precious and should be carefully guarded.
September 2, 2010 at 5:07 pm