Responses from Authors of the Top 11 Most Challenged Books
By: Ellie Diaz, Office for Intellectual Freedom Program Officer
On Monday, the American Library Association released the Top 11 Most Challenged Books of 2018 in the State of America’s Libraries Report. The reasons for challenging the titles ranged from LGBTQIA+ content and political viewpoints, to “anti-cop” and profanity.
The list gained media attention and sparked discussions online. What’s most powerful is the responses from the readers, who will fiercely defend these books from censorship, and from authors, who bravely told stories that entertain, reflect, and inspire.
Here are some responses from authors on their books being the most challenged titles in the U.S.
Alex Gino, author of the #1 Most Challenged Book George
Hey @LastWeekTonight, congratulations on coming in second on this dubious honor. #LeaderOfTheBanned https://t.co/9WOC9vZwqQ
— Alex Gino (@lxgino) April 9, 2019
Judy Schachner, author of the #8 Most Challenged Book Skippyjon Jones series
A few years back I received a letter from a fan. She wrote –
Dear Mrs. Schachner,
“I love your books! I’ve almost read all of them. I’m in third grade. I am 8 years old. I’m really flexible. I have lots of friends and I talk Spanish. My favorite book is SKIPPYJON JONES AND THE BIG BONES. I go to dance class. My teacher reads your books sometimes. I have a big family. My Grandpa talks in Chinese, Spanish, and English. I really love your books.”
This is us America.
We live together, love together, laugh together, and read together.
No one should tell this child or any child that they can’t read the books they love.
Sincerely,
Judy Schachner
Angie Thomas, author of the #4 Most Challenged Book The Hate U Give
Thomas’ Twitter thread is in response to a tweet about a teacher instructed not to teach The Hate U Give in the classroom.
Here’s something I don’t think adults understand – when you tell teens or kids that they can’t read a book, it makes them want to read it even more. Every single time this happens, my sales go up in those areas. Kids want to read.
— Angie Thomas (@angiecthomas) April 10, 2019
When it happened in Texas, so many kids suddenly wanted the book. The ones who could afford copies lent them out. They made their own library system. I was just in that area recently. One of my biggest signings yet, and so many kids only knew about the book because of the ban
— Angie Thomas (@angiecthomas) April 10, 2019
Anyway, I’m going to keep writing “banned” books. Because the kids I write about deserve to see themselves whether their stories make YOU comfortable or not.
— Angie Thomas (@angiecthomas) April 10, 2019
Let me get back to work on this third book that will DEFINITELY get banned pic.twitter.com/eMlO5k8Wne
— Angie Thomas (@angiecthomas) April 10, 2019
Gayle Pitman, author of the #10 Most Challenged Book This Day in June
Almost half of the books on the Top 11 this year (including THIS DAY IN JUNE) were banned or challenged because they contained LGBTQ+ content. That is incredibly disturbing to me. Whether it involves removing a book from a shelf or burning a book in a trash can, all of these are attempts to erase, silence, and destroy our communities. This is an opportunity for all of us to stand up for the freedom to read, as well as for the right to see ourselves reflected in books and for our communities to exist without oppression.
First they came for the books. Then they came for us. https://t.co/91TEarrvAT
— Gayle Pitman (@GaylePitman) April 8, 2019
Mariko Tamaki, author of the #7 Most Challenged Book This One Summer
Back on this list. Not sure how we got off one year then back on the next. Either way, it’s sad how many LGBTQ books are challenged. Queer stories belong in libraries. These stories belong in libraries. https://t.co/vPzFQR8Fkr
— mariko tamaki (@marikotamaki) April 10, 2019
Jillian Tamaki, illustrator of the #7 Most Challenged Book This One Summer
THIS ONE SUMMER is back on this list for 2018. https://t.co/aUiAJfZESE
— Jillian Tamaki (@dirtbagg) April 10, 2019
Jill Twiss, author of the #2 Most Challenged Book A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
This makes me happy for Mr. Marlon Bundo but also sad for humanity. https://t.co/YIrYmnt7HU
— Jill Twiss (@jilltwiss) April 8, 2019
Also want to point out that the #1 most challenged book was “George” by @lxgino about a transgender child. It seems like a really great book to buy for a kid you know.
— Jill Twiss (@jilltwiss) April 8, 2019
Raina Telgemeier, author of the #5 Most Challenged Book Drama
Cool (aka Not Cool) https://t.co/YYT1EDZDXB
— Raina Telgemeier (@goraina) April 9, 2019
Ellie Diaz is the Program Officer at the ALA’s Office for Intellectual Freedom. With her journalism background and fierce devotion to the freedom to read, Ellie collaborates with experts on organizing ALA’s Banned Books Week and several other projects within OIF. As a biblio-writer, she enjoys exploring the intersection of advocacy and literature.
2 comments
As a queer person, it terrifies me how many LGBTQ* books are on this list. And it’s still haunting that Thomas and Alexie and Asher remain on the list. And that Judy Schachner appears out of nowhere on the list.
“Here’s something I don’t think adults understand – when you tell teens or kids that they can’t read a book, it makes them want to read it even more.” – Angie Thomas’ tweet
I wholeheartedly agree. Tell this, though, to authors like Kosoko Jackson and Amélie Wen Zhao, whose books won’t even see the light of day because of Twitter “outrage” regarding their books. We can’t have our cake and eat it, too. There’s no such thing as a book that’s going to please or delight all readers and that won’t be offensive to some or many, and we adults need to step up and model productive discourse: just because a book rattles one (or hundreds or thousands) of us, doesn’t mean teens and kids can’t decide or think for themselves (to say nothing of fellow adult readers of teen books). And if a book rattles one (or hundreds or thousands) of them, it doesn’t mean they get to decide for other people if the book is “problematic” or not.
Let’s get off our high horses and let artists and authors do their thing. Opinions will *always* be divided. A person can *always* find something disturbing or upsetting or unpatriotic or too liberal or culturally insensitive or tone deaf or triggering or anti-Christian or misrepresented or sexually abhorrent or immoral (shall I continue? I got hundreds more) in art – it’s how art works. And if it moves us to anger, great. Art can do that. If it moves you to a place of sadness, great. Art can also do that. If it moves us to euphoria, great. Art can also do that.