Dear Banned Author: A Collection of 29 Powerful Letters
This Banned Books Week has been filled with literary advocacy. During the week, readers have been sending letters to banned and challenged authors, sharing how their words have made a difference.
While the activity — titled Dear Banned Author — raises awareness about censorship, it also highlights the power of words and stories. Some authors even use fan letters as support when there’s a public challenge to their work.
Below is a collection of 29+ letters and tweets to authors. If you’re interested in joining the conversation, follow #DearBannedAuthor or write to an author using this address list. Your words have the power to stop censorship and sway decisions. What will you say?
1.
@StephenChbosky
“The Perks of Being a Wallflower” gave me the bravery to face trauma and the power to reclaim my identity. This book helped me to heal and redefined what I now know to be love. Thanks to you, “I feel infinite.”#DearBannedAuthor @Julie_M_Bell #UNOELA— Grace Kimnach (@gracekimnach) September 24, 2018
2.
Dear @StephenChbosky, I devoured The Perks of Being a Wallflower in 1 night in high school, used it for one of my favorite papers ever, and have cherished memories with my high school friends revolving around your words. Thank you. #TLDEUNO #UNOELA
— Sarah Watson (@sarahwat7) September 24, 2018
3.
Boy Meets Boy was my intro to LGBT+ Lit, Two Boys Kissing was the first LGBT+ book I asked for at Christmas, and Every Day was the first Levithan book I booktalked. #SoManyFondMemories – Nicole #DearBannedAuthor #BannedBooksWeek @loversdiction
— Homewood Library – Illinois (@HomewoodLibrary) September 24, 2018
4.
Thank you for writing the Handmaid’s Tale. I view it as a cautionary tale of how society can so wrong. More prophetic in these turbulent times than ever before. – Sandy @MargaretAtwood #DearBannedAuthor #BannedBooksWeek
— Homewood Library – Illinois (@HomewoodLibrary) September 25, 2018
5.
#DearBannedAuthor, @JohnGreen, Thanks for telling stories that make people uncomfortable. These are stories that need to be told because they give a voice to those who are often voiceless. #BannedBooksWeek
— ⚡Coach Keairnes ⚡ (@CoachKeairnes) September 24, 2018
6.
#DearBannedAuthor @angiecthomas I just wanted to tell you that you’re book “The Hate U Give “ has inspired me and it has thought me that in order to make a change we have to be the change .❤️
— April 🥀 (@April_0473) September 25, 2018
7.
#DearBannedAuthor @angiecthomas Thank you for being an amazing author, creating authentic art, unflinching in it’s bravery & brilliance! 📚📖#BannedBooksWeek pic.twitter.com/4sjUeCooWL
— Lolly Gaggins (@LushusLolly) September 25, 2018
8.
@jk_rowling #DearBannedAuthor your books gave me a home that will always accept me and the power to stand up to my demons. Your books make a difference. #bannedbookweek
— Tabarnak™️ (@SirenSideUp) September 23, 2018
9.
#DearBannedAuthor @angiecthomas all of our copies of THE HATE U GIVE are currently checked out!!! 🎉 Thank you for writing such an eye-opening novel that speaks to our students! #LCHSLibrary #LCHSreads #WeAreLC
— LCHS Library (@LCHS_Library76) September 24, 2018
10.
Thank you @lxgino for writing characters that reflect our patrons and their families. Thank you @jk_rowling for an amazing adventure. Thank you @JazzJennings__ for living your truth.
Thank you all. #BannedBooksWeek #library #Philly https://t.co/nCu4eeTMtw
— Parkway Central Children’s Department (@ParkwayCCD) September 24, 2018
11.
@goraina Your banned book, Drama, made me think about how you need to be confident and tell people who you really are. –Brianna #BannedBooksWeek #DearBannedAuthor
— Rose Park Elementary School (@RoseParkElem) September 26, 2018
12.
#dearbannedauthor #bannedbooksweek pic.twitter.com/PXsnuCDDer
— PLHS Library (@monarchsread) September 26, 2018
13.
#DearBannedAuthor, @jayasherguy, thanks for writing “13 Reasons Why”. I suspect those calling for bans actually watched the @Netflix series instead of actually reading your book. It was one of the first YA books I read as an adult, and it made me examine how I react to students. pic.twitter.com/j3OVCszprL
— SCHS Library (@LibSCHS) September 26, 2018
14.
Dear Jason… I’ve been lucky enough to hear you speak twice and your words continue to inspire me and motivate me to do better. Thank you for writing the stories of Rashad and Quinn. #DearBannedAuthor #BannedBooksWeek @JasonReynolds83 pic.twitter.com/JtWQuSeyhp
— Kristin Pekoll (@KPekoll) September 26, 2018
15.
@StephenChbosky The Perks of Being a Wallflower was so inspiring to me as a high schooler. It was bold; it wasn’t afraid to expose the harsh aspects of teenage life. More people need to know how hard it is being a teenager, no matter how ugly it is. #DearBannedAuthor #KHSAPLit
— Gent Semaj (@19semajg) September 26, 2018
16.
@DanPilkey. Your books mean soo much to me! As a young kid, reading wasn’t my favorite, but your books changed everything. Captain Underpants happens to be my all time favorite!!! #Dearbannedauthor pic.twitter.com/b4ZzHnZbL3
— Aaron Caldwell (@caldwellaaron5) September 26, 2018
17.
Thank you @angiecthomas for being brave enough to write the book everyone saw, needed and wanted in our troubled times…we challenge what makes us uncomfortable. #DearBannedAuthor #bannedbookweek pic.twitter.com/hBVXJsUNIc
— Jessica Torres🦉 (@Owl_b_TorresEdu) September 24, 2018
18.
#DearBannedAuthor @jk_rowling Thank you for writing a series showing us a world of magic and wonder. It’s because of this series I fell in love with reading. My mind was open to a world full of wonder and different ways of seeing the world #fromDD #warriorenglish9 #WeAreSchuyler pic.twitter.com/B3Sd4I1Y5B
— Melanie Gustafson (@mgus_4) September 25, 2018
19.
@angiecthomas I’m in love with the book The Hate U Give, it shows the real life we are leaving on. Your book have been inspired me to raise my voice and not letting anyone stop me. Keep inspire people like me.❤️#BannedBooksWeek #DearBannedAuthor @PHSBook_Club
— arleth 🙈💕 (@StefanyMg0123) September 25, 2018
20.
#DearBannedAuthor @angiecthomas I just wanted to tell you that you’re book “The Hate U Give “ has inspired me and it has thought me that in order to make a change we have to be the change .❤️
— April 🥀 (@April_0473) September 25, 2018
21.
@jk_rowling #dearbannedauthor #bannedbooksweek pic.twitter.com/NqiKlKea4A
— PLHS Library (@monarchsread) September 25, 2018
22.
I like your banned book Where the Wild Things Are, because it make us believe we can travel ANYWHERE. Thank You. –From Dex #BannedBooksWeek #DearBannedAuthor #MauriceSendak
— Rose Park Elementary School (@RoseParkElem) September 26, 2018
23.
#DearBannedAuthor @LoisLowryWriter I appreciate that you wrote about all the explicit things in “The Giver.” We’re all going to find out someday anyway. I found the book very interesting #fromBG #warriorenglish9 #WeAreSchuyler pic.twitter.com/eUMXDntDE3
— Melanie Gustafson (@mgus_4) September 25, 2018
24.
#DearBannedAuthor, @angiecthomas, “The Hate U Give” has given so many people the opportunity to see themselves represented in gritty, realistic books! It’s enabled many conversations at my school and in my personal life. Thank you for telling stories and letting us hear/read them pic.twitter.com/y7H5Z87ZM0
— SCHS Library (@LibSCHS) September 25, 2018
25.
Thank you for writing the Handmaid’s Tale. I view it as a cautionary tale of how society can so wrong. More prophetic in these turbulent times than ever before. – Sandy @MargaretAtwood #DearBannedAuthor #BannedBooksWeek
— Homewood Library – Illinois (@HomewoodLibrary) September 25, 2018
26. “Hey, I read your book. It was really great. I really felt like I was there. It is so unfair that is was banned!” — Ada
When they leave in various levels of outrage, I know I’ve done my job. Thanks for the ideas & printables @OIF. We read #bannedbooks!!! #DearBannedAuthor #julianworks #oakpark97 #libraries97 pic.twitter.com/y4etIZMiEu
— Jamie Winchell (@jamie_winchell) September 25, 2018
27.
Raina, I think you’re awesome and an inspiration. Thanks for your books, I love them. – Adrienne @goraina #DearBannedAuthor #BannedBooksWeek pic.twitter.com/UJUuw9hgVZ
— Homewood Library – Illinois (@HomewoodLibrary) September 25, 2018
28.
“Dear Madeline L’Engle, I remember reading A Wrinkle in Time in Elementary School and it sparked a lifelong love [for] science fiction and fantasy. Seeing a young girl in a science fiction story taking on a leadership role let me see the potential of reading and what I could do. Thank you for your story and for inspiring me.”
“Dear Katherine Paterson, When I was about 7 and my brother was 9 yrs old, my mom read us Bridge to Terabithia. I just remember huddling together and listening to this story of friendship and adventures and loss. And when we cried, we were crying together, and I think we were kind of bonded by this shared empathy. I really like that memory, because it was a story that brought my family together. And I really loved my mom reading to me. Thank you for that!”
This #BannedBooksWeek we encourage you to think about the power of words and stories in our lives. How do the stories we share bring us together? What do they tell us about who we are and who we can be? #DearBannedAuthor thank you for your stories. Keep writing them. @ALALibrary pic.twitter.com/Dh5RkqWzgb
— FLIF (@FLIF_UofA) September 25, 2018
29.
@jayasherguy, Students in Bedford Co, TN have been really affected by your work. Thank you. #bannedbooksweek2018 #DearBannedAuthor #BannedBooksWeek @OIF pic.twitter.com/rd9RFjjK5L
— Sharon Kay (@Sharonthemezzo) September 27, 2018
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