In honor of Freedom To Read Week, watch these thirteen writers weigh in on book banning, and celebrate your freedom to read!
"I can't imagine there's a writer out there who is in favor of banning books," says author David Handler.
Handler's sentiments are echoed by fellow writers Mark Rowlands, Sue Harrison, Brian Garfield, Walter Mosley, Joseph Olshan, Patricia MacLachlan, Elana Dykewomon, Fred Bowen, Jonathan Carroll, Joseph Caldwell, and Steve Erickson.
Kids and curiosity go together. Sometimes the books that challenge the minds of children the most are the books that some people feel are inappropriate for them. Children are thinkers, and they can only grow if we give them the opportunity to read all types of literature.
It's important for each parent to decide what's appropriate for their child to read. Unfortunately, removal of books and other library resources based on the objections of a few restricts access for everyone. Libraries must provide resources for the interest, information, and enlightenment of all people of the community.
What is special about books? What does reading novels teach us? Markus Zusak, author of The Book Thief, talks about the importance of books and the freedom to read what we want.
Some days, I feel like this should be mandatory training for students. I had students from a grade student class who, in all seriousness, didn't know what an encyclopedia was nor the vaguest concept of how it was arranged. After a demonstration I kept thinking, but you know how to count and the alphabet, HOW are you not understanding this? In the end, I THINK I got through to them by explaining that it was a really, really big book that was broken into chapters so that someone could lift it. If the power ever goes out during a research project, I will be seen as a genius for possessing the ability to find information in paper form. Until then, I have a pretty, 28 volume paperweight. With pictures.
What a cool idea! Intermixing journal entries and a video diary to tell a story. This feels as though it was inspired by the Blair Witch Project. The format feeds the tension and suspense. No third party narrative to foreshadow or explain beyond what the Ryan ans Sarah know.
Skeleton creek is broken into two parts - Ryan's text in the book, and Sarah's videos on a special website, with links and passwords given throughout the story. Skeleton Creek is a book and a movie at the same time. The format contributes greatly to the series appeal.
Carman uses suspense and fear to drive the plot. The concern that housebound Ryan has for Sarah as she investigates alone creates the urgency this story needs. The grainy video provides a horror movie feel (although the acting could be much better!). The special effects are effective. In fact, they may be too much for younger, more sensitive viewers. The back and forth from text to video also feeds the urgency of the situation by echoing the emotions of the main characters. As they hide their searching from their families and wait for 'safe' moments to send messages, the readers need to switch from reading to firing up the computer echo those actions.
A great mystery ghost story for middle school to teen readers!
Book 1: Skeleton Creek
After an eerie accident leaves Ryan housebound and forbidden to see Sarah, their investigation takes two tracks: Ryan records everything in his journal, while Sarah uses her videocam in the haunted woods beyond Skeleton Creek.
Ghost in the Machine
Clues from Ryan’s journal and Sarah’s videos all point to one thing: someone will do anything to stop them from uncovering the deadly truth. 200 pages, nine videos, and a shocking end to the story that started a revolution in reading.
