When asked for an all-time favorite book title, I find my answer always is A Wrinkle in Time by Madeline L’Engle. Published in 1962, this book was already out before I was born and soon after its publication, it was named a Newbery Award Winner. That was probably the reason it was suggested by my hometown librarian. However that book ended up in my hands, I’m sure glad it did.

What? You’ve never heard of A Wrinkle in Time? Here’s a plot summary: Meg Murray, a precocious young girl, and her younger brother, Charles Wallace Murray, are the subjects of ridicule in their town—even more so when their physicist father disappears, leaving them alone with their brilliant scientist mother. When Charles, who talks like no other young boy, introduces Meg to an unearthly stranger, Mrs. Whatsit, the two Murray children and their friend Calvin O’Keefe embark on a quest through space to find Mr. Murray. They get some help from some very unusual creatures indeed.

For some reason, or for several, this book spoke to me and instilled in me a lifelong love of reading. Maybe it’s because, as a young reader I identified with the strong female lead character? Perhaps it’s the amazing journey the three children take? Perhaps I identified with a character who shared a last name with me? Why choose. I simply loved the book. 

Only when entering the library profession did I come to find out that someone was trying to keep it out of libraries. How unfair! A Wrinkle in Time was listed on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990–2000 at number 22. Reasons given include the book’s references to witches and crystal balls. I certainly didn’t want to practice magic after reading L’Engle’s classic tale. I’m betting you won’t either. Pick up a copy here at the library and judge for yourself and celebrate your freedom to read…whatever YOU want! 

~Carol

An important Monday happening, The Latest Additions, is being preempted today for an even more important happening…  Today we begin celebrating our Freedom to Read Week! (We’re going with “Freedom to Read” instead of “Banned Books” in honor of living in a democratic state that encourages freedom of speech, freedom of ideas, and the freedom to discuss these things in a public setting. Thank you America!)

So, first I’d like to start by mentioning that this isn’t anything new, there’s been a wide variety of books that have been banned over hundreds of years. There’s a weird logic to governments that forbid all religions from being practiced to then forbidding religious works from being read, but that’s a small group in the world of challenged books. (And it doesn’t make it right either, but at least one follows the other.) More notable would be if you look at some of the lists, it’s even more amazing which books were so scandalous in the past that people protested against them and yet they are almost dull by today’s standards. In twenty or thirty years, what will those people think about challenges raised against the Harry Potter books? Will they agree that the magical family Harry finds at Hogwarts has perverted a generation of children? Or will they just be laughing at the crazy choices offered in packages of Bertie Bots Every Flavored Beans?

The book I chose to highlight is The Lord of the Flies by William Golding. I love this book! I read it first in high school and I loved it then as much as I love it now. It had -and still has, of course- all the best elements that going into making a unforgettable book: scary stuff, super scary stuff, even morescary stuff, and a scary dramatic ending! In Mr. Golding’s book, school boys are stranded on an island without any adults. They can’t get off the island and they have no idea if they’ll ever be found. (See? Scary!) The longer the boys are on the island, the worse things become as they go into survival mode but the worst part is the breakdown of basic, socially accepted behavior. (Even scarier!) The strong begin to pick on the weak and it murder is done. (Scary dramatic end!) Oh, it’s a good book! It’s discussable and thought-provoking and it’s one of the few books assigned to students that I’m confident won’t leave them confused or bored. It’s been challenged for the same things that make this book so fascinating: the violence, some profanity, and how quickly the boys embrace the idea that might makes right. (Sometimes I think the reality show Survivor has elements of this book, but with no death and a big prize at the end, maybe?) I guess in the end it comes down to this: when people object to the content of a book, they must believe they’re saving all of us from the seditious ideas in a book but I’d like the chance to decide for myself. Wouldn’t you?

May I leave you with some other websites to explore? How about: Online Books Page has an interesting overview of the subject, Censored has great resources for independent exploration, and of course American Library Associationhas a great variety of information! Even better will be the following posts from my co-workers. We’ve all chosen a book to share and they’ll be showing up on our blog every day! I’m excited to read what everyone else is going to write… what an interesting week this will be!

Enjoy your Freedom to Read this week -and every week… read a challenged or banned book today!

—Stacey