THIS YEAR’S REPORT
FREE PEOPLE READ FREELY:
CHALLENGED AND BANNED BOOKS IN TEXAS PUBLIC SCHOOLS, 2010-2011
Read or download the whole report at http://www.aclutx.org/reports/bb2k11.pdf
The 15th annual Banned Books report features the popular Young Adult genre. When it comes to book-banning the Young Adult genre is the most frequently targeted. This year’s report features exclusive interviews with two popular YA authors, Francesca Lia Block and Phyllis Reynolds Naylor who share their inspirations for the topics of their books and discuss the importance of keeping young people reading.
Young Adult is the hottest genre going in the publishing world. This category includes the Harry Potter series, Judy Blume’s work, the Captain Underpants series and many novels full of more vampires, dark angels and zombies than you can shake a stick at (or a clove of garlic?). When it comes to challenges and, unfortunately, banning books in school libraries, the YA genre is most frequently targeted, taking the lead among the books reported.
Since the late 1990s, our Texas team has kept watch on what our school districts are doing when it comes to making the classics—and new book releases—available to young adults. Are they stepping up to the challenges and choosing to support freedoms of expression, ideas and speech on behalf of all young readers? Or, are the ISDs choosing to remove a book from the shelf, denying parents and students the opportunity to decide for themselves whether to access?
The good news is that, according to the 750 school district reports received for this past school year, banning has gone down from 20 to 17 books. The bad news: book banning is still going on in Texas.In this report, we share the thoughts and writing background of two bestselling Young Adult authors, Francesca Lia Block and Phyllis Reynolds Naylor, both of whom had books banned in Texas school libraries. These women noted they write “the truth” from their hearts and minds; and, as parents, respect that other parents have the right to guide their own children’s paths through the literary world—not one parent or school district speaking for all young adult readers.
We welcome you to join our efforts to promote freedom of speech, and Banned Books Week, Sept. 24 – Oct. 1, 2011, in your community.