Danger: Books! 2010 Study Guide by Book-It Repertory Theatre

study Guide

A Celebration of Intellectual Freedom

Curriculum by: Brady Brophy-Hilton, Sara Lachman and Laura Ferri

Curriculum by Kelsey Hamilton and Sara Lachman Illustration • SpecialbyThanks to Seattle Library Jed Dunkerley • DesignPublic by Ken Holmes Special thanks to The Seattle Public Library Illustration by Jed Dunkerley • Design by Rachel Wilsey

Introduction to Book-It All Over Book-It All Over, the educational outreach program of Book-It Repertory Theatre, is dedicated to inspiring people of all ages to read. We tour a diverse range of stories to schools, libraries, and community centers throughout the Pacific Northwest, conduct long-term residencies in schools, offer teacher professional development for school staff, and present low-cost student matinées of our mainstage shows. What you will see and hear at a Book-It All Over performance is literature spoken by the characters as if it were dialogue in a play. The unique Book-It Style™ preserves the author’s voice by speaking both narrative and character dialogue— including the “he saids” and “she saids.” Book-It takes the written word back to its roots—storytelling!

Our Mission

To provide an interactive relationship between youth and literature through theatrical productions and educational programs that promote the joy of reading, embrace diversity, enhance student and teacher learning, and inspire the imagination. Shermona Mitchell, Cassandra Pittman, &Zach Adair in Catching the Moon, 2010. Photo by Chris Bennion.

Introduction to Danger: Books! The Danger: Books! program is a series of readings from books that have been banned or challenged in the United States. The chosen selections demonstrate some of the reasons these books have been banned or challenged. This program is a celebration of the First Amendment, specifically, the freedom of speech. The focus of this program is on why books are banned and challenged. The actors read the selections in the Book-It Style™ with a lengthy discussion following. The Danger: Books! program is slightly different from other Book-It productions; the actors read the selections—they are not fully staged. However, you will still hear the narration and dialogue come to life in the Book-It Style™.

How to use this Study Guide The Danger: Books! program explores the First Amendment through the issue of banning and challenging books. In this study guide you will find:

• Questions and facts that will prepare your students for the program. • A step-by-step classroom activity called “Challenge Your Own Text” where you and your students hold your own challenge hearing using a book you are reading in class. • A glossary worksheet to help students learn about key concepts and documents that are used at libraries for banned books training. • One-page informational summaries on the stories your students will see.

Take time to look over the worksheets before your Book-It All Over experience. Feel free to make copies to share with your students. Page 2

Pre-show Discussion Topics The First Amendment “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press, or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.” Visit www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/intfreedom/censorshipfirstamendmentissues/index.cfm

Banned Books vs. Challenged Books A Challenge

Anyone a book. The challenge process begins when someone objects to materials in a school dniM yM no ecan innchallenge A A eh T edraG ycnaN ehsilbup sah edaer edarg t rof sa llew oitcfi sa llew M no einnA hgih owt fo w evol ni llaf reh thguorb detnaw ehs fo tnorf ni raoB loohcS f dennab dna ni sevlehs rehto sa llew gih fo puorg p rieht dna t eus ot dah irtsid laredef koob eht teg d oT . s e v l e h s laisrevortnoc weiv gnieb ti tsom eht fo t rof nettirw .sraey

draGpublic ycnaN yb library collection. Once a book is formally challenged, it is taken off the shelf and reviewed libraryneor by ysrevortnoC e h T a committee, txeT eh T which may comprise librarians, parents, library users, board members, and teachers. Each individual library will determine whether the challenged book is made available to patrons of the library until a decision is reached.

ylsuounitnoc neeb sah koob sihT eht no dennab dna detcirtser dna sezicitnamor ti taht sdnuorg e h T .y t i l a u x e s o m o h s e t o m o r p evah ot sraeppa sasnaK fo etatS eht ot noitcaer tneloiv rehtar a desuod erew seipoc erehw koob ni denrub dna enilosag htiw levon eht 4991 nI .ytiC sasnaK seirarbil eht morf dennab saw hgih roines dna roinuj ynam fo ytnuoC sasnaK rehtona ni sloohcs e h t tah t del ur re dr o tr u o c a li tn u eht detaloiv dah tcirtsid loohcs osla saw tI .tnemdnemA tsrfi eht fo sevlehs eht morf devomer yrarbil loohcS hgiH AK ,etunahC stneduts ot detimil ssecca htiw .noissimrep latnerap htiw

levon sihT – 7 retpaHC elkcat ot tsrif eht fo eno saw a ni seussi naibsel dna yag citsilaer ,drawrofthgiarts l u f s s e c c u s a , a z i L .r e n n a m weN suoigitserp a ta tneduts s d n i f l o o h c s p e r p y t i C k r oY ,detirips eht ot detcartta flesreh rieht ,enecs siht nI .einnA citsitra sa ecnamor ot snepeed noitceffa kroY weN erolpxe slrig owt eht tcapmi eht ssucsid dna rehtegot rof sgnileef gninekawa rieht fo .rehto hcae

A Ban

A book that is banned is taken off the shelves forever—or until someone contests the ruling.

Top reasons for books to be challenged or banned: • sexual content • offensive language • unsuitable for specific age groups • witchcraft, Satanism, and the occult How do you react when you read material that includes any of these topics?

:secruoS moc.sneet4srohtua.www//:ptth /nedragycnan/moc.loa.srebmem //:ptth psa.ycnan-nedrag-ua/srohtua/moc.sdaerneet.www //:ptth

Questions: 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 6)

How do you feel about censoring books? Is censorship ever appropriate? Have you ever been hurt and/or offended by something you have read in a book? Are racist remarks acceptable to illustrate the racism of a character? Are racist remarks acceptable to represent a historical time period? Do situations written in books serve to encourage or discourage behaviors?

For more information on banning and challenging check out these websites. WASHINGTON STATE ACLU • www.aclu.org/Affiliates/SubsiteDetail.cfm?Subsite=Washington THE FREEDOM TO READ FOUNDATION • www.ftrf.org BANNED BOOKS WEEK • www.ala.org/bbooks INTELLECTUAL FREEDOM ISSUE • www.ala.org/oif/ifissues

Page 3

Challenge your own text After the show, put a text of your choosing on trial. Use the American Library Association website below to learn how a challenge hearing works, and see if you would ban your book.

Procedure for a Classroom Challenge Hearing Day One

1. Identify the text to be questioned. (Choose a book the class has read or is currently reading.) Curriculum by: Brady Brophy-Hilton, Sa 2. Read “Conducting a Challenge Hearing” at www.ala.org/Template.cfm?Section=dealing&Template=/

Illustration by Jed Dunkerley • D 3. Choose three or five students to be the Judge panel (use an uneven number to avoid a tie), Special thanks to The Seatt ContentManagement/ContentDisplay.cfm&ContentID=77094

then divide the class into two groups.

4. Assign the groups’ positions: one group wants the specific book banned, the other group does not want the book banned.

Day Two

5. Present the following time schedule. (This schedule fits a 50 minute class period. The teacher or an assigned student should serve as the timekeeper.) 15 minutes: Students prepare by searching the text to support their position. 10 minutes: Each group has 5 minutes to present their opening argument; the group listening should take notes to prepare for their opposing argument. 5 minutes:

Students confer and gather information to argue the opposing points.

6 minutes:

Each group has 3 minutes to present a rebuttal argument.

3 minutes:

Students prepare a summation (a hint: assign group members early to be writing this throughout the entire argument session, highlighting weaknesses of the opposition and strengths of their own side).

4 minutes:

Each group has 2 minutes to present their final argument.

3 minutes:

The Judge panel discusses the case (hint: take notes throughout the discussion).

2 minutes:

Judge panel presents their opinion. (Reminder: a judge’s opinion is not simply a decision about which side is right. The quality response includes an explanation of the topics and their implications, and maybe some suspense as the verdict is also revealed.)

Use these websites as a resource to see how a challenge is run at a library. You can also use them to learn more about actual cases that deal with banning and challenging issues.

CHALLENGES TO BOOKS & LIBRARY MATERIALS www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/challengesupport/dealing/default.cfm NOTABLE FIRST AMENDMENTS COURT CASES www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/oif/firstamendment/courtcases/courtcases.cfm STATUS OF RECENT CASES www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/affiliates/relatedgroups/freedomtoreadfoundation/ ftrfinaction/recentcasestatus/statusrecent.cfm

Page 4

Fact-Finding Glossary Libraries play an essential role in providing access to ideas and information. Below is a glossary worksheet to help students learn about key concepts and documents that librarians use for their banned books training.

glossary each word or term is used twice Censorship • Constitution • First Amendment • Freedom of speech • Intellectual freedom • Library Bill of Rights Fill in the blanks with the words listed above. An answer key is provided on the next page for teachers use. 1. A valued tradition in American libraries, information and ideas, protected by the First Amendment.

is the right of unrestricted access to

2. The is the fundamental law of the United States, written in 1787, which created three separate branches of government. 3. No bill of rights was included in the because it was considered unnecessary by its authors, but limitations on government control over individual liberties soon had to be spelled out in amendments. 4. is guaranteed in the U.S. Constitution and in the constitutions of all the states. The First Amendment gives it specific protection against infringement by the national government. 5. The says that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.” 6. The protection of free speech in the was extended by the 14th Amendment to the states and their agencies, including publicly supported libraries. 7. The meaning and content of are shaped by the courts, especially by the Supreme Court. Its derivative rights include freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and freedom of assembly. 8. As a basic library value, the principles of are applied in all areas of library functions—materials selection, reference services, protection of patron information, circulation, delivery and handling of materials, use of meeting rooms and bulletin boards, and collection maintenance. 9. Approved in 1939, the is the American Library Association’s basic policy on intellectual freedom. It was written in response to the banning of John Steinbeck’s Grapes of Wrath from libraries throughout the U.S. 10. consists of efforts to ban, prohibit, remove, label or restrict library materials, based on the belief that the materials will corrupt children, offend the unwary reader, or undermine moral values. 11. The American Library Association’s first protest against occurred in 1934. A pamphlet, You and Machines, was banned from usage in the CCC camps because of a belief that it would produce a desire to “destroy existing economic and political structures.” 12. The says that “Libraries should provide materials and information presenting all points of view on current and historical issues. Materials should not be proscribed or removed because of partisan or doctrinal disapproval.”

Page 5

y nswer e K lp a

r he d e e e Answer w if thKey ey n s n ebsite Glossary A Fact-Finding y Aw

eg h t g in

r t the AL a s k1. a Intellectual freedom

oo can l 2.

Constitution m o d e e Constitution 3. r f l a ctu ntelle ut4. ion Freedom of speech t i t s Con t5. tion First h Amendment u c i e t e s Con 6. of spFirst m t Amendment o n d e e m e of speech Fr 7. mendFreedom t n A e t s m d Fir 8. menIntellectual freedom A eech t p s s iF r 9. m Library f Bill of Rights o o freedom d e e r F 10. ctCensorship ual Rights e l l e 7. t In ill of B 11. Censorship y r 8. Libra Library 12. rship Bill of Rights o s 9. n Ce rship . ights o 0 s R 1 n f e o C l ry Bil a r 11. b i L 12.

Page 6

Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola

The Text

Strega Nona lives in the town of Calabria, and helps all the townspeople with their troubles. She can create a potion to make people fall in love, cure headaches, and more! However, she is getting old, and needs some help around her house. She hires a young boy named Big Anthony, and gives him only one rule: do not touch her magical pasta pot. One day, Big Anthony sees Strega Nona sing a magic song to the pasta pot. It mysteriously fills with all the pasta she can eat, until she sings another song to make it stop. Unfortunately, Big Anthony doesn’t see the final part of the spell—in order to make the pasta pot stop, Strega Nona has to blow three kisses. Big Anthony brags to everyone in the town about the pot, but no one believes him! Disobeying the one rule Strega Nona gave him, he shows everyone in the town the pasta pot’s magical powers. However, when he sings the song to stop the pot, it doesn’t work! The town slowly begins to fill with pasta, until Strega Nona comes home and finishes the spell correctly. Big Anthony learns his lesson when Strega Nona punishes him by requiring him to eat all the pasta that has filled the streets of the town.

The Author

Tomie dePaolo was born September 15, 1934 in Meriden, Connecticut. When he was young, his mother read to him every day. This nurtured his love of books and by age four he knew he wanted to write and illustrate books. He attended art school at the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York and received his first book contract several years later when he was hired to do the illustrations for a science book called Sound. A year later he wrote and illustrated his first book, The Wonderful Dragon of Timlin. He has written and/or illustrated over 200 books and has been recognized with the Newbery Honor Award in 2000 for 26 Fairmount Avenue and the Caldecott Honor Award in 1976 for Strega Nona. He now lives and works in a renovated 200-year-old barn in New London, New Hampshire.

The Controversy

Strega Nona, which was a 1976 Caldecott Honor book, has been challenged in schools because of references to witchcraft and supernatural content—the name “Strega Nona” in Italian means “Grandma Witch.” In response to a challenger who accused Tomie dePaola’s character of being a witch, Tomie replied that Strega Nona wasn’t a witch—she was Catholic. When the challenger asked Tomie how he knew Strega Nona was Catholic, he responded that he knew because he had made the character up.

Sources: http://www.tomie.com/about_tomie/faq.html http://www.tomie.com/about_tomie/bio.html http://boards.youthnoise.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/455299255/m/51410105663 Rights to read Strega Nona by Tomie dePaola are through the publisher: Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing.

Page 7

Totally Joe by James Howe Olive’s Ocean The Controversy The Text by Kevin Henkes

The Author

C H a p t e r s ‘ d i s f o r In 2007, an elementary school As a child, James Howe didn’t dating’ & ‘e is for e.t.’ in Bedford County, Virginia want to be a writer – he wanted – In the sequel to James Howe’s removed Totally Joe from its to be a jockey. His mom told novel, Martha’s The Misfits, shelves parentOcean complained him that thought be too Twelve-year-old family12-year-old is going on their an- after a Olive’s was the 59th mostshe banned andhe’d challenged Joe is required to write an A-Z that the material was “too tall to be a jockey, and suggested nual vacation to her grandmother’s house on the New book between 2000 and 2009, as well as the 3rd most biography for a class assignment. heavy” for elementary that he of be2007, a writer He England seashore. A month earlier, one of Martha’s banned and school challenged book dueinstead. to sexually He writes 26 chapters, each students because it discusses started by writing short stories classmatesbeginning (a girl named Olive Barstow) was killed in a explicit content and offensive language. with a different letter homosexuality. Because of the and plays, and eventually went to car accident. As Martha andand her family are leaving for complaint, the book Boston University and majored in of the alphabet revealing parent’s their trip,another Olive’s mother appears at their doordoes and not hands aspect of his life. Joe is circulate in any school theatre. After college, he moved Martha a openly page from Even though two in Bedford County. to New York and acted, directed gay, Olive’s and hisdiary. autobiography orthe library a young Henkes to draw and read. candidly details hisMartha experiences Totally the sequelchild, to theKevin plays, andloved became a literary girls barely knew each other, learns that OliveJoe isAs These passions combined perfectly when he became an with thewhole novel The Misfits (also by James agent for other playwrights thought she washis “thefirst nicestboyfriend, person in my entire want were to very Howe), a book that has also and Infirst thepicture 1970s,book, he author-illustrator at the agewriters. of 19. His class.” TheChristian discovery family that shewho and Olive similar stop the Gay-Straight Alliance been challenged because ofwritten its got theheidea for one of his most All Alone, was while was a freshman in college haunts Martha throughout her summer vacation as she at his school and his supportive homosexual themes. The Misfits popular books, and published in 1981. Since then heBunnicula. has written Since more comes to friends terms with thoughts death, growing and her family. In theabout chapter was challenged in Pleasant then, he has written many more than 30 picture books and novels. He has won many up, fallingDinislove the first andthe more.Valley Iowa, where for for Dating, Joetime, relates the parent Bunnicula books, and started awards, andreading his novel,writing Olive’s Ocean, wasina 1981. Newbery awkwardness and excitement of a 6th-grader who was full time After Honorcomplained Book. He livestwo with his wife and children of 31-33, the budding marriages andtwo a child, at 51-in In chapters Martha isrelationship just realizing herthe truebook in class Wisconsin. between himself aand Colin, that if sexualMadison, orientation was years-old, James Howe came out feelings for Jimmy Manning, boy on a neighboring a boy he has liked since fifth taught in classrooms, the Ten as a gay man. After coming out, property. Jimmy is making an experimental film and grade. In the next chapter, E is Commandments should also be he wrote Totally Joe for all the has asked for Martha to help. One part of the film is about E.T., Joe talks about how he taught. The parent submitted a teenagers like himself who are death, andsometimes Jimmy asksfeels Martha she thinks happensand the school board “totally who we are-and that's likewhat an alien, petition, when someone Unexpectedly, Martha herself even dies. in his own family. His finds agreed to not allow teachers to exactly who we should be.” spilling her guts aboutplanet how she feels about imaginary “Wisteria” is Olive’s read death, The Misfits aloud to their where he her feelstalking. completely at ease classes. while Jimmy films On the way home from which always reminds him of his filming, Jimmy holds Martha’s hand. The next day, the movie, E.T. When pair filmsfavorite again. After spending a longColin time asking each brings over the movie on one of other questions and talking, Jimmy kisses Martha on their first dates it solidifies their camera. As soon as heand finishes kissing connection brings them her, evenhe reveals that he only kissed her to win a bet with his brothers. Martha closer.

The Text: Chapters 31-33

The Controversy

The Author

runs away from Jimmy and begins to cry.

Sources: Source: http://www.kevinhenkes.com/novels/author.asp http://www.bcplonline.org/kidspage/kids_howe.html http://www.collegiatetimes.com/stories/2007/10/30/editorial__free_speech_applies_to_school_libraries http://www2.scholastic.com/browse/contributor.jsp?id=2221 http://www.tolerance.org/teach/magazine/features.jsp?cid=641 http://www.education.wisc.edu/ccbc/authors/henkes/main.asp http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/frequentlychallenged/challengedbydecade/2000_2009/index.cfm Rights to read an excerpt from Totally Joe by James Howe are through his agent Amy Berkower of The Writer’s House Inc. http://www.usatoday.com/news/education/2008-10-22-challengedbooks_N.htm

Page 8

The Land by Mildred Taylor

The Text: Chapter “East Texas”

okay?” A committee of parents, teachers, librarians, and administrators eventually voted to donate the book to the middle-school instead of keeping it on the elementary school’s shelves.

The prequel to Mildred Taylor’s award-winning Roll of Thunder Hear My Cry, The Land is the story of PaulP re -show s cussion T oPics Edward Logan. Paul-Edward’s fatherD is aiwhite plantaMildred Taylor was born on September 13, 1943 in tion owner, and his mother is a black slave. Paul runs Jackson, Mississippi. However, due to an increase in away from home after a family betrayal with the hopes The First Amendment of owning his own piece of land. He eventually arrives in racially-motivated violence in Jackson, Mildred’s family to Toledo, Ohio three weeks after her birth. The Mississippi and finds thatrespecting being a half-black land owner of moved “Congress shall make no law an establishment religion, or prohibiting the free Taylors took many trips to the south during Mildred’s is more difficult than he thought it would be. segregation, racism, and prejudice exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of thechildhood, press, orand thethe right of the people witnessed there provided a basis for many of the In this passage, Paul is entreated by athe white man namedfor ashe peaceably to assemble, and to petition government redress oflater grievances.” novels she wrote. While attending college at the Ray Sutcliffe to ride a horse for him in a race. After hagUniversity of Toledo, Mildred spent much of her time Visit www.ala.org/ala/oif/firstamendment/firstamendment.htm gling over prices, he finally agrees to do it for four times writing. She emulated the styles of Charles Dickens and the normal pay for a rider. Paul wins the race for Ray, but when he tries to get his pay from Ray he is told that Jane Austen before finding a voice of her own. After college she joinedBooks the Peace Corps and taught history in Banned Books Challenged he has to wait, and attacks Paul with avs. stream of racist Ethiopia. She also worked as a Peace Corps recruiter, a speech. Ray’s friend Mitchell decides to take the money study skills director for the Black Education Program, A Challenge : Anyone canand challenge a book. The challenge process begins when someone from the dishonest man by force, as a result the two and a journalist for Life magazine (though her article was objects to materials a school a friends are forced to accept a kindly woman’sinhelp. She library or public library collection. Once never published). In 1975 she won contest sponsored book is formally challenged, it is reviewed by a committee, which mayabe offers to pay Paul to ride horses for her, and hides the comprised of librarians, parents, library users, board members, and teachers. by the Council on Interracial Books for Children for her two underneath the seats on the train to prevent their Each individual library determines piece, whether challenged willbook, be Roll of ThunSongthe of the Trees. Herbook second arrest. made available to patrons of the library during process. der, Hear Mythis Cry,review won the Newbery Award. She went on to win the Boston Globe Book Award, the Jane A Ban: A book that is banned is taken off the shelves forever-or untilHorn someone Addams Book Award, the Coretta Scott King Award, contests the ruling. and the Christopher Award. She now resides and writes The book was removed from the Turner Elementary in Colorado. School media-center in New Tampa, Florida after beTop for books challenged or banned: ing reasons deemed age-inappropriate due to ato racialbe epithet. A parent filed a formal challenge to the book, stating sexual content “I do not want any child to have to read this offensive offensive language language in an elementary school. They’ll get enough unsuitable specific of it in society as they grow. But for the for school systemage groups to actually nurture this, to have these books out there, witchcraft, Satanism, and the occult where these kids actually take tests about them, is that

The Author

The Controversy

How do you react when you read material that includes any of these topics?

Questions : Sources:

1) How do you feel about censoring books? http://www.gradesaver.com/author/mildred-taylor/ 2) Is censorship ever appropriate? http://www.olemiss.edu/mwp/dir/taylor_mildred/ 3) Have you ever been hurt and/or offended by something you have read in a book? http://www.ala.org/ala/issuesadvocacy/banned/bannedbooksweek/ideasandresources/free_downloads/2009banned.pdf 4) Are racist remarks acceptable to illustrate the racism of a character? http://www.tampabay.com/news/education/k12/article456689.ece 5) Are racist remarks acceptable to represent a historical time period? 6) Do situations written in books serve to encourage or discourage behaviors? Rights to read The Land by permission of Dial Books for Young Readers. The Land © 2001 by Mildred Taylor. All rights reserved.

For more information on banning and challenging check out these websites.

Page 9

WASHINGTON STATE ACLU • http://www.aclu.org/Affiliates/SubsiteDetail.cfm?Subsite=Washington

On the Devil’s Court by Carl Deuker

The Text: Pages 70, 76-78, 91-93

Joe Faust is the only child of an artist and a scientist, and he feels like the only way he lives up to his parents’ expectations is by playing basketball. Unfortunately, when his family moves to Seattle and Joe has to start at a new school, his basketball game begins to suffer. While Joe is practicing on the court by himself, a strange experience makes him think he might have sold his soul to the devil in exchange for being able to play a perfect season of basketball. Joe doesn’t believe in the devil, but when his basketball game and grades begin to improve, he thinks that a force bigger than himself must be at work. In this passage, Joe’s English class discusses the play they are reading, which happens to be Doctor Faustus. The teacher asks the class what they would sell their soul for, and they have a conversation about whether or not it would be worth the consequences. While the rest of the class is talking, Joe thinks about how he’d be willing to sell his soul for one perfect season of basketball. Later, while he’s playing basketball by himself, the court begins to fill with a strange mist and he starts making every shot he tries. Feeling like there’s some sort of outside force at work, Joe vocalizes the fact that he wants to trade his soul for a perfect basketball season.

The Controversy

In 1999, On the Devil’s Court was challenged at the Virginia Run Elementary School. The book was thought to be inappropriate for children and preteens due to its discussion of the devil and hell. The school board denied a parent’s request to remove the book but decided to move it to the Young Adult section of the library.

The Author

Carl Deuker grew up in Redwood City, California. As a child and youth he played many sports and “lived and died” with his favorite team, the San Francisco Giants. Carl attended UC Berkeley where he majored in English and participated in many Vietnam War protests. He also continued playing sports in college intramural teams. After college he became a teacher and currently works in the Northshore School District outside Seattle. He now lives in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle with his wife and daughter.

Sources: http://www.members.authorsguild.net/carldeuker/bio.htm http://web1.ala.org/ala/alonline/currentnews/newsarchive/1999/august1999/ALA_print_layout_1_20545_20545.cfm http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=271045&paper=63&cat=180 Rights to read On the Devil’s Court by Carl Deuker are through the publisher: Little Brown and Company.

Page 10

Cut

by Patricia McCormick

Alice The Text: pages 35-39, 49-53the The Brave Author

bycaused PhyllisherReynoldsAccording Naylor to Patricia McCormick she “grew up in a Because of the pressure of thinking she brother’s illness, 15-year-old Callie begins to a cycle of rather bland suburban development, not unlike the setThe Text The Controversy The Author self-injury which includes cutting herself. Because of tings in [her] books. It was a place that, perhaps because abyssinian sobbings The Alice series by Phyllis Phyllis Reynolds Naylor was this, she is sent to a psychiatric hospital called Sea Pines. the Reynolds samenessNaylor of allisthe houses, [her] feel and otHer stuff – of The number 10 often born made on January 4, 1933, in book in Phyllis Reynolds in the list of 100 most She Indiana. She has been writing At first, Callie is unable to speak, butseventh after counseling different, outALA’s of place and lonely.” left those bland Naylor’s immensely popular frequently challenged books in ever since she was a child, and and therapy, she finally begins to break herseries silence and suburbs to attend first getting Alice follows Alice through America from college, 1990 to 2000. It whenher shebachelor’s was 16 she published the summer before she enters the was oneRosemont of the ALA’s 10 mostand herthen firstgoing story in come to terms with herself and her dysfunctional family. degree from College, onher to church’s 8th grade. All of Alice’s friends challenged books for 2001, 2002, magazine. She went to college get a masters in journalism from Columbia and a master spend most days going to Mark 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2006 to become a clinical psychologist In this part of the story, Callie is in a Stedmeister’s group therapy finefor artssexual fromcontent, The New School. Her fourherbooks have school pool, but Aliceofhas offensive and paid way through a secret – she is afraid of deep language and being unsuited for by writing. After college, session when a new girl named Amanda arrives. When won her numerous awards and accolades, including a Phyllis water. She spends as much time it’s age group. The American decided she wanted to become Amanda is asked to explain why she’sasthere, shein takes Booklist Editor’s Choice Award, on full thetime American she can the shallow end of Library Association received 458a spot a writer and has since reports regarding requests more 115 books off her sweatshirt to reveal a series of the cutspool onand herplaying arms.badminton, Library Association’s top tento have list of published best books ofthan 2006, but sooner or later, Alice knows Phyllis Reynolds Naylor’s Alice for children and adults. She has When she explains that she can control hergoing cutting, Caland Gustav-Heinemann Peace in 2009. she’s to have be brave or the series removed from libraries in Prize won many awards,She including the will discover her fear. It 2003lives alone. Brave was her Newbery Award for her popular lie’s own reason for being at Sea Pinespeople is revealed. Later, currently inAlice NewtheYork with husband, children, seems to Alice that all of her challenged in 2004 by the mother book Shiloh. Phyllis now lives while in her room, Callie uses a pie plate to cut her and cats. friends are able to conquer their of a fifth grader at Pirrung in Bethesda, Maryland, with her own wrist. For the first time ever, shefears tries–to stop the Elizabeth overcomes her Elementary school in Mesquite, husband Rex and has two grown of she’s kissing, and Pamela gets Texas, who said “This kind of sons named Jeff and Michael. bleeding, and goes to show the nurse fear what done to a new boyfriend – but can Alice book scares me.” Her complaints herself. gather up the courage to overcome were with the book’s descriptions her own? In this chapter, Alice, Elizabeth, and Pamela are having a sleepover, and Elizabeth has snuck over a book from her parent’s house – Arabian Nights. Cut was the 86th most banned and challenged book Elizabeth is usually incredibly between 2000 and 2009. Parents anduncomfortable teachers have around anything expressed concern that the book could incite readers involving sexuality,toso the girls are surprised when she begins to engage in self-injurious behavior. read aloud the racy passages.

The Controversy

of sexuality and the fact that the main character obsesses over her father’s relationship with her teacher.

Source = Robert P. Doyle book http://www.bookslut.com/banned_bookslut/2004_10_003480.php http://www.simonsays.com/content/feature.cfm?sid=510&feature_id=450 http://www.simonsays.com/content/book.cfm?sid=510&isbn=0689800959 Rights to read an excerpt from Alice the Brave by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor are through her agent William Reiss of John Hawkins & Associates, Inc.

Sources: http://www.pattymccormick.com/index.php?mode=objectlist&section_id=111&object_id=166 McCormick, Patricia. Cut. New York: Scholastic, 2000. http://www.mrsmad.com/book001450.asp Rights to read Cut by Patricia McCormick are through the author herself.

Page 11

TTYL

by Lauren Myracle

The Text: Pages 150-165, 176-177

Zoe, Maddie, and Angela are in 10th grade, and have been best friends since forever. Chronicling the beginning of their 10th grade year from September through November, this book is told entirely in a series of instant messages. The girls’ issues with boys, parties, new friends, and each other are all revealed as the three friends chat with each other via the Internet. In this section of the book, Maddie has just attended a party at her friend Jana’s brother’s fraternity. She has consumed too much alcohol, and made a fool out of herself by taking off her shirt and dancing on a table. Maddie tells Angela and Zoe each a part of the story— but what the two other friends don’t know is that she’s told them different parts. When Angela and Zoe accidentally tell each other Maddie’s secrets, they become worried about their friend. They find out that their worrying is justified when they discover that Jana had taken photos of Maddie at the party and emailed them to everyone in the school.

The Author

Lauren Myracle was born May 15, 1969 in Brevard, North Carolina and grew up in Atlanta Georgia loving to read and write. Though she always knew she wanted to be a writer, she did not begin writing seriously until she was 22. Her first published novel, Kissing Kate, came out ten years later. She has written 14 books, several of which have been New York Times bestsellers. Sources: http://laurenmyracle.com/QA.html http://www.ala.org/ala/newspresscenter/news/pressreleases2010/ april2010/mostchallenged2009_oif.cfm http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/williamson/TTYL_pulled_ from_school_libraries

Rights to read TTYL by Lauren Myracle are through the author herself.

The Controversy

TTYL was challenged but retained at both John Muir Middle School in Wausau, Wisconsin and Ponus Ridge Middle School in Norwalk, Connecticut. The book drew negative content because of its sexually explicit content, foul language, and poor grammar (the book is written entirely as a series of instant messages). Additionally, the Round Rock Independent School District in Texas pulled the book from middle school shelves in 2008 because of its discussion of sex, pornography, drinking, and inappropriate teacher/student relations. Lauren Myracle has responded to critics, stating, “The book’s dialogue about sex and alcohol is frank, but the characters criticize those who engage in those behaviors”. TTYL and its sequels TTFN and L8TR, G8TR were the most challenged books of 2009.

Page 12

Rainbow Boys by Alex Sanchez

The Text: Chapter 17

The Author

Where Willy Went

Sanchez’s novel is the story of three gay teens during Alex Sanchez was born in Mexico City and moved with their senior year of high school. Even though Nelson his family to the United States when he was five. Alex Glassman is out, he is secretly in love with his best knew at an early age that he was gay, and found junior friend Kyle Meeks. Kyle doesn’t look or act gay, but high and high school difficult and painful. He was he’s friends with Nelson and therefore often getsText teased. mistreated forThe being Controversy different while also having to lie Author The The Kyle, in turn, is in love with Jason Carillo. Jason still living and deny he was toWent stay was safe.challenged In college he wrote Allan is a Willy is ais sperm insidewho Where Willy Nicholas in the closet and has a girlfriend while secretly yearning his first (unpublished) children’s book before going on book au Mr. Browne. He and his arch- at the Chandler Public Library children’s nemesis Butch train every day System in Arizona for being illustrator for boys. In chapters that rotate between all three boys’ to receive his master’s degree in Guidance and Counsel-who has w for the big race -- a competition in inappropriate for its intended thirty books for you point of view, Nelson, Kyle, and Jason deal with forming. His first novel, Rainbow Boys was inspired by his which all the 300 million sperm audience. The library board He was born in Brig ing a gay-straight alliance at school, an HIV dueof to own struggles with coming out. considering He has won numerous livingscare inside Mr. Browne will reviewed the book, went to Brighton Coll unprotected sex, coming out, and being race in love. and he and hisit books havechildren’s been described as the Slade Sc for the chance toawards get to Mrs. moving from the attending Browne’s egg first. “agent[s] In school,of social section of the library to the adult to study painting. E change”. Willy is not very good at math, section. he published The Hef In this passage, Nelson hasn’t shown up for school in but he is very good at swimming. 1989, Nicholas has be three days. Kyle stops by his house to seeWhen if he can the figure day of the big race Greg McClay, a librarian who and an illustrator Sources: rollsfinds around, on his writes a blog called “SHUSH: Many of his books, out what’s wrong. After some probing, Kyle out Willy puts http://www.alexsanchez.com/Alex_Sanchez_bio.htm swimming goggles and prepares a website for the conservative Where Willy Went, h that Nelson had gone to meet a guy he spoke to online, to face his rival sperm.http://www.alexsanchez.com/WhoIsAlex.htm He swims librarian” wrote about the book best-sellers in Eng and ended up sleeping with him. Nelsonasadmits fast as to he Kyle can – andhttp://www.alexsanchez.com/Banned_Books/banned_book_1.html at the end in a section of his blog in which is also the author that they didn’t use a condom, and that he’s terrified he disappears! 9 he discusses books he believes such as The Queen’s of the race, Willy months later, Mrs. Browne gives should be banned. He wrote, Demon Teddy, Cin has been infected with HIV. Rights to read Rainbow Boys are by permission of the publisher:

by Nicholas Allan

birth to a baby girl named Edna “To say this picture book is Bum, and Jesus’ C & Schuster. RAINBOW BOYS, published Simon &Nicholas Alla for itsby Party. who grows up to be Simon terrible at completely inappropriate age group doesn’t even begin Schuster. Copyright © 2001 by Alex Sanchez. math -- but she is an excellent won numerous awar to describe it. Possibly a great books and animation swimmer. gag gift at wedding and baby the Children’s Nati showers but that’s about it.” Award for Demon Ted Rainbow Boys was challenged at Owen-Withee Junior Sheffield Children’s B and Senior High School in Owen, Wisconsin and at for The Queen’s Knic

The Controversy

the Montgomery County Memorial Library System in Montgomery County, Texas. In both of these cases, the book was challenged because of its sexually explicit content and homosexual themes, and in both cases it was retained. The book was also removed from the Webster Central School District (Webster, NY) summer reading list due to its sexually explicit content, however due to protests from teachers, students, parents, and librarians it reappeared on the list the following year.

Sources: http://www.nicholasallan.co.uk/about_the_author.htm http://bookshelvesofdoom.blogs.com/bookshelves_of_doom/2007/09/more-book-chall.html http://www.shush.ws/2005/091805_092405.htm http://www.amazon.com/Where-Willy-Went-Nicholas-Allan/dp/0375830308?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1190294390&sr=1-2

Page 13 7