Look down there... I usually only have one amazing person commenting on any given blog post - so the fact that I'm doing a contest may end up being rather laughable.
Laughable, silly... yes, indeed.
I still can't stop myself. It's almost, nearly, just about Banned Book Week. I can't stand for it. Well, I can stand for Banned Book Week - but not for Banned books. I've never understood this concept of censorship. If you feel something isn't appropriate for your child to read - then monitor it. Please don't try to dictate what my kids (or me!!) have access to. I was lucky that I grew up in a family that didn't really censor my books/music access. Sometimes there were clear lines drawn - especially for age appropriateness, but as I got older, my parents felt okay with letting me decide what I could handle reading/listening to. I hope to do the same with my kids.
Some banned/challenged books have been favorites of mine. Others not so much. I'd still love for others to have a chance to read them...
Most recently there has been quite an uproar over the challenge to Laurie Halse Anderson's book, Speak.
I would love to attempt to give this topic some face time, but quite frankly - I feel it's been so eloquently handled by others that I will leave it to them, but I want to say that I SUPPORT SPEAK!
Who I recommend reading on this subject (hope you don't mind me linking to ya - cuz you rock!):
Laurie Halse Anderson
Myra McEntire
Veronica Roth
The ALA has listed the top 10 most challenged books from the last year. Read banned books!
DIDN'T YOU SAY SOMETHING ABOUT A CONTEST? GET ON WITH IT WOMAN!!!
Okay... So - here is my plan. Comment here with your favorite banned book and you are entered. Easy Peasy right? Considering you may be the only one commenting - your odds could be spectacular! ;) If you tweet this contest or blog about it or somehow in some other way mention it - you will get an extra entry into the contest if you note that in your comment. Also - please note in the comments if you are blogging about banned books this week or are having a BBW contest.
So what do you get? Well, the winner - picked randomly from the comments (if there are more than one!) - will have their choice of one the following banned books sent to them. I should be able to ship internationally, so go ahead and enter!
This contest will run through the 2010 celebration of Banned Books Week, from September 25 through October 2. I will post the winner sometime the week of October 3.
Thanks for supporting banned books (and me and this little blog thing!)
10 comments:
Hey Heather! Good post! I completely agree about the banned books issue. I was just reading about Speak, actually, and had to work hard to keep my blood pressure from rising, because I was so angry!
One of my favorite banned books (alhough there are quite a few on my book list that also end up on the banned books list) is Catcher in the Rye. Interestingly, it looks like it's still being challenged! I read it was a Freshman, and we had to get our parents to sign a permission slip. My mother had no problems with it, and always encouraged me to read and ask questions. My parents brought me up to be comfortable going to them when I read/heard/saw things that I didn't understand, didn't agree with, questioned, etc., so it was never a problem for me to read things that other parents get into a huff about. I think that attitude made me who I am today, and I love them for it!
Cool contest!
I'd have to say my fave banned book is Speak, so I totally was angry at that guy (forgetting his name). I loved reading it in HS and that's what actually INSPIRED me to write novels. Crazy, huh?
So yeah, crossing my fingers I can win! Cuz I'm totally eying Forever by Judy Blume hehe
Awesome contest.
One of my favorite banned books is Lord of the Flies. It's dark and creepy. Also, I feel that it accurately depicts how children--even adults--would act if they went back to a lawless world and survived on base instinct.
I loved reading Speak as a teenager! It helped fuel my love of Psychology.
I hadn't known about Speak being banned. As for my favorite, the one that came right off the tip of my tongue first was "The Giving Tree." I remember in college I had a children's lit class where we spent a week talking about banned books. Some of the books listed amazed me. It's a little disappointing what books are kept out of the school systems. I also agree that parents need to monitor things better, though it seems some parents don't have the time.
Seriously, To Kill a Mockingbird. I can't imagine having a problem with such a beautiful book with such a beautiful message.The last few pages always make me cry.
I have to say that my favorite banned book is Bridge to Terabithia. I read that book so many times as a child, and cried so much over it.
The Giving Tree??? Seriously??? Okay, was going to say Speak, but I'm a huge fan of young children's literature and to hear that The Giving Tree was EVER a banned book sickens me. It is one of my favorite all time books. I have it in the book shelf ready to read to my kids. Just waiting one more year until they are five to read it to them so they can grasp the beauty of that story.
Great contest! Too bad I'm not the only one posting though. Dang it. :-) Seriously, nice way to boost your readership. I really need to get on this contest giveaway bandwagon. Ho hum. Ho hum.
oh, btw, i put a link to your blog on mine in a side box :) Does that count?
Great contest!
Can't believe these books were banned.
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