Preparing for the NCTE/ALAN Panel on Banned & Challenged Books

I'll be on a panel about banned and challenged books: "Tiles That Challenge and Are Challenged" on Monday, Nov. 21 from 2:05-2:50 with a group of fantastic authors: Lauren Myracle, Paul Yee, Andrew Smith, and facilitator David Gill.

I've already got my 3-minute speech down pat (I think, I hope–I get nervous doing public speaking), and was just preparing a short handout on banned and challenged books, so I thought I'd share it here.

Some of my favorite banned and challenged books:

And Tango Makes Three by Peter Parnell and Justin Richardson

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

Crank by Ellen Hopkins

The Great Gilly Hopkins by Katherine Paterson

Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle

Blubber by Judy Blume

The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton

Deenie by Judy Blume

Annie on My Mind by Nancy Garden

Don't Look Behind You by Lois Duncan

My responses to SCARS being challenged, and some community support:

My Response To the Specific Challenge

Some great community support on SLJ

Authors rarely hear about their own books being challenged, so, after all of this process, I am grateful that I learned about Scars being challenged AND experienced the wonderful support of the book and writing community.

My banned and challenged books video (encouraging readers to read challenged/banned books).