I reread Shiver and Linger early this week because they’ve been my final reread of your books before passing them in appropriate order, on to my granddaughter. She was thrilled at receiving The Scorpio Races Owl Crate for her 12th birthday last month.
Book banning is appalling at any time but Shiver especially surprises me. The depiction of Grace’s parents neglect (abandonment) and abuse (the car) are the only plot points I can see upsetting adults. How embarrassing for them if the shoe fits.
At 17 I was in the military headed overseas. While people mature at different rates, the Shiver series are such gentle books. I was reading Jack London by 3rd grade. Thank god they weren’t “protecting” me from life lessons and philosophy before I actually needed them.
It is interesting to hear from someone on the list, I would never have guessed one of your books would be. Most of the time I can’t figure out why the book is even banned.
Taking away choices is a fear-based action that doesn't work well. When people trust themselves to make good personal choices, they don't need to create institutions to do it for them or for their children. It works better to share the media that we find good (even create institutions to support those things! Like bookclubs or focused bookstagrams or Newbery awards) than to ban the media we find to be bad. People listen to the voices that align with their values; like-minded people WILL find each other. We are too nuanced for blanket rules anyway. Wise parents gradually let their children make more and more choices for themselves. It's an adding rather than a taking away. Raising children with the ability to make good choices is the GOAL. If we take away their choices, we limit their potential.
I just had a conversation about this last night with a friend. We are both teachers in elementary school and struggle any time we hear about books bans. Obviously we both believe there is a time and a place for a book and the same books you would find in a high school should not be in an elementary. However, most of the books that are banned don’t even make sense. The state we are in just passed a law requiring schools to remove some books from libraries and things like this just seem to make education an even more difficult field to navigate.
I hate this list... There's an obvious theme and it pisses me off that there are so many small minded and ignorant people in this world... censorship is not keeping people safe.
I reread Shiver and Linger early this week because they’ve been my final reread of your books before passing them in appropriate order, on to my granddaughter. She was thrilled at receiving The Scorpio Races Owl Crate for her 12th birthday last month.
Book banning is appalling at any time but Shiver especially surprises me. The depiction of Grace’s parents neglect (abandonment) and abuse (the car) are the only plot points I can see upsetting adults. How embarrassing for them if the shoe fits.
At 17 I was in the military headed overseas. While people mature at different rates, the Shiver series are such gentle books. I was reading Jack London by 3rd grade. Thank god they weren’t “protecting” me from life lessons and philosophy before I actually needed them.
It is interesting to hear from someone on the list, I would never have guessed one of your books would be. Most of the time I can’t figure out why the book is even banned.
I've never actually met a book banner, so I'm full of curiosity as to their thinking.
I’m guessing that in Texas, I have probably unknowingly crossed paths with one or two. I’m sure I would be horrified to hear their reasons why.
Taking away choices is a fear-based action that doesn't work well. When people trust themselves to make good personal choices, they don't need to create institutions to do it for them or for their children. It works better to share the media that we find good (even create institutions to support those things! Like bookclubs or focused bookstagrams or Newbery awards) than to ban the media we find to be bad. People listen to the voices that align with their values; like-minded people WILL find each other. We are too nuanced for blanket rules anyway. Wise parents gradually let their children make more and more choices for themselves. It's an adding rather than a taking away. Raising children with the ability to make good choices is the GOAL. If we take away their choices, we limit their potential.
This reminds me - it’s time to put the Shiver series on my daughter’s Kobo. She’s 13 and loves an aching, bittersweet vibe. 😎
As a library employee, I cringe every time I see those lists go out. So sad!
I just had a conversation about this last night with a friend. We are both teachers in elementary school and struggle any time we hear about books bans. Obviously we both believe there is a time and a place for a book and the same books you would find in a high school should not be in an elementary. However, most of the books that are banned don’t even make sense. The state we are in just passed a law requiring schools to remove some books from libraries and things like this just seem to make education an even more difficult field to navigate.
Weird to focus so perversely on the danger of students reading. It’s dangerously myopic. My 13yo finds Shiver a bit racy but she’s loving Raven Boys.
I hate this list... There's an obvious theme and it pisses me off that there are so many small minded and ignorant people in this world... censorship is not keeping people safe.
It's wonderful of you to address this.