Banned Books Giveaway Hop

Banned Books Week is sponsored by the American Booksellers Association; American Booksellers for Free Expression; the American Library Association; American Society of Journalists and Authors; Association of American Publishers; Comic Book Legal Defense Fund; the Freedom to Read Foundation; National Coalition Against Censorship; National Council of Teachers of English; National Association of College Stores; People for the American Way; PEN American Center and and Project Censored.  It is endorsed by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress.

The Banned Books Week Giveaway Hop is sponsored by BookHounds and I Am A Reader. This is my 5th year participating.

I am against other people telling me what books I can read or buy. If you disagree with a book, don't read it. You don't have the right to tell a bookstore or library that they can't sell or offer a book. There are many reasons why a library or school might not carry a book but it should be their choice based on whatever their criteria are and patron requests.

It gets trickier when a parents has problems with a book that schools require for reading but education is about learning how to think and being exposed to concepts and ideas, particularly those that go against what we already know or believe. If a parents has concerns about a book, they should talk to the teacher. But trying to say that a whole class or school can't read a book? No, that is not right. I was fortunate that my mother, an English lit teacher, and my father, an Air Force officer, didn't restrict my reading or that of my siblings. They didn't always agree with our choices but they made sure they knew what we were reading and were open to discussing what we read. I don't recall if anyone ever challenged the books we read in school but I like to think that my school would not have bowed to pressure.

For more info, check out these links: http://www.ala.org/bbooks/, http://www.ala.org/bbooks/bannedbooksweek, and http://www.bannedbooksweek.org/

There's also a good list of Books Challenged or Banned in 2014-2015 over at the Illinois Library Association site.

I'm giving away one print book, the winner's choice of any of the books below. Please make sure that the Book Depository ships to your country before entering. If the winner ends up not being in a country where TBD ships, they will be disqualified and a new winner chosen.

These books have been challenged or banned at various times over the years.

The Handmaid's Tale by Margaret Atwood - this is a favorite of mine and one that's overdue for a re-read. 

Go Tell It On the Mountain by James Baldwin

Animal Farm by George Orwell

The fine print: No purchase necessary. You must be 18 years old or older to enter or have your parent or guardian enter for you. VOID where prohibited. Open to any country where the Book Depository ships. Please read my Privacy Policy and Giveaway Policy.

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