Better than Sherwood Forest: Robyn Hood Black's Blog! And Banned Books!

Hi, all! The fabulous Robyn Hood Black asked me to visit her blog and answer a few questions about Autumn Winifred Oliver and Hope McDaniels. Please pop over and say hello! (There's an excerpt of SELLING HOPE there, too. Hope you enjoy!)

AND: Next week is Banned Books Week (Sept. 25 - Oct. 2). With all the love being poured forth from the kidlit community for Laurie Halse Anderson's Speak (follow the conversation on Twitter with the hashtag #speakloudly), I'm feeling inspired to discuss the importance of reading/discussing Banned Books. Who's with me?

According to the American Library Association, here are the Top Ten Banned Books of 2009:

1. ttyl, ttfn, l8r, g8r (series), by Lauren Myracle
Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs

2. “And Tango Makes Three” by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson
Reasons: Homosexuality

3. “The Perks of Being A Wallflower,” by Stephen Chbosky
Reasons: Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Anti-Family, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide

4. “To Kill A Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee
Reasons: Racism, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

5. Twilight (series) by Stephenie Meyer
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group

6. “Catcher in the Rye,” by J.D. Salinger
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

7. “My Sister’s Keeper,” by Jodi Picoult
Reasons: Sexism, Homosexuality, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Religious Viewpoint, Unsuited to Age Group, Drugs, Suicide, Violence

8. “The Earth, My Butt, and Other Big, Round Things,” by Carolyn Mackler
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

9. “The Color Purple,” Alice Walker
Reasons: Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

10. “The Chocolate War,” by Robert Cormier
Reasons: Nudity, Sexually Explicit, Offensive Language, Unsuited to Age Group

Check them out, read them, make certain they are available to any reader who wants them. ALL OTHER BOOKS, TOO. Support freedom through reading!

I READ BANNED BOOKS!