A Window into Book Challenges
There's a story on the New York Times web site today about the Brooklyn Public Library's response to book challenges. The story mentions my book Looking for Alaska in passing:
"The 11 written objections to Brooklyn's collection include complaints about "Beloved," by Toni Morrison (sexual content), and "Looking for Alaska," by John Green (obscenity and denigration of religion)."
First, let me just say what a pleasure it is to appear in the same sentence as Nobel laureate Toni Morrison. Anyway, the
"The 11 written objections to Brooklyn's collection include complaints about "Beloved," by Toni Morrison (sexual content), and "Looking for Alaska," by John Green (obscenity and denigration of religion)."
First, let me just say what a pleasure it is to appear in the same sentence as Nobel laureate Toni Morrison. Anyway, the
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People can be so riduculous. "Looking for Alaska" helped me through such a hard time in my life, and I recommended it to all my friends as a book every teen should read. I can't remember off the top of my head any anti-religious anything in that novel, and even if there was, so what? Doesn't someone or a character have the right to believe or not believe whatever they choose?
If you treat children and young adults like they're dumb, they'll be mortified when they're jettisoned into the real world. Come on, people! You need books like "Looking for Alaska" to deal with real life conflicts, because honestly, that shit happens.
....Sorry, this turned into a rant instead of a praise. Mr. Green, if your writing makes sparks fly up (wow that was terrible...) that much among parents and teachers and other "parental authorities", I would take that as further certainty that you've written fantastic novels.
John Green: 1
Stuffy Adults: 0