Banned Book Review: Audio of Are You There God, It's Me Margaret

Title: Are You There God, It's Me Margaret
Author: Judy Blume
Pages: 160
Rating: 5/5

"Are you there God? It's me, Margaret. I can't wait until two o'clock God. That's when our dance starts. Do you think I'll get Philip Leroy for a partner? It's not so much that I like him as a person God, but as a boy he's very handsome. And I'd love to dance with him... just once or twice. Thank you God."

A move from the city to the suburbs, sixth grade in a different school, a new group of friends. But Margaret handles it...in her own funny, endearing way (judyblume.com).

Growing up, I read...A LOT.  I went to the library every Tuesday and took out stacks and stacks of books.  I started with Ramona, moved on to The Baby-Sitters Club, and finally landed at Judy Blume.  And I fell in love.  I couldn't read these books fast enough.  I sailed through Just as Long as We're Together, Blubber, and Starring Sally J Freeman as Herself; but none touched me as much as Are You There God, It's Me Margaret.  I read this book over and over and over again, wearing at the library's dog eared and much loved copy.  It was my go to read through later elementary and middle school.  Imagine my shock, as when I was researching banned books that I saw it's name high on the list.  And why was it banned?  What was so wrong with Judy Blume?

Are You There God? It's Me Margaret has been criticized by certain groups for being controversial in dealing with puberty and religious indecision. According to Blume, a woman called her in the early 1980s, and after confirming she was the writer of the book, called her a Communist, and hung up the phone. To this day, no connection between communism and the topics in the book has ever been made, but it was the start of her unfortunate battle with censors.

Having listened to this again, I still see no reason why every girl shouldn't have to read this book.  It's a coming of age story.  What girl doesn't agonize over her first period, her first boy girl party, and buying that first bra.  To me Judy Blume's books are a comfort, like a warm blanket on a rainy day!  I absolutely adored listening to this book again!  I cracked up laughing at work, getting odd stares from my co-workers, as I imagined the PTS's practicing their bust enhancing exercises..."I MUST...I MUST...I MUST INCREASE MY BUST."  I felt like I was 10 years old again, making the discovery of Judy Blume all over again.

Blume currently has five titles on the ALA list of most frequently banned books:  Forever, Blubber, Are You There God, It's Me Margaret, Deenie, and Tiger Eyes.  You can see Judy Talking about her books and censorship here:

Review: Speak

Title: Speak
Author: Laurie Halse Anderson
Pages: 198
Rating: 5/5

Melinda Sordino busted an end-of-summer party by calling the cops. Now her old friends won’t talk to her, and people she doesn’t even know hate her from a distance. The safest place to be is alone, inside her own head. But even that’s not safe. Because there’s something she’s trying not to think about, something about the night of the party that, if she let it in, would blow her carefully constructed disguise to smithereens. And then she would have to speak the truth. This extraordinary first novel has captured the imaginations of teenagers and adults across the country (Cover Blurb).

 I've been pretty quiet for the past two weeks, and my reading has certainly been suffering.  The baby shifted and is sitting on my sciatic nerve making it painful for me to do much of anything, especially sitting and reading.  However, despite that, I pushed on and finished Speak late last week.  I am so glad that I did.  This book was breath taking.  Never, in all my years reading, has a book made me truly "feel" like Speak did.  In my life, I've never experienced anything nearly as traumatic as Melinda.  I've never been forced into doing something I didn't want to do.  However, despite this disconnect with the situation, I was able to fully connect with Melinda and every feeling she had.  I felt her separation, her fear, and her loneliness.  I understood her pain, and I wanted to take it away from her.  That's how powerfully this book was written.

I originally started this book due to Banned Book Week.  Speak has been all over the Internet lately due to an article written by Dr. Wesley Scroggins.  You can read the article here.  Personally, I think the article is a bunch of donkey doo.  I'm beginning to wonder if this Dr Scroggins and I read the same book, because in the book I read, the rape scenes were written with great care so as not to be disturbing but instead show how emotionally devastating the act of rape can be.  This book is an excellent tool to teach young girls to speak up, speak out, and to be heard when things happen to them.  If I ever have daughters this is definitely a book I would want them to read!

This is the first book I've read by Laurie Halse Anderson, but it most certainly will not be my last.  I've had Wintergirls sitting on my shelf for months now and I look forward to picking it up and giving it a try.  Thank you Banned Books Week for showing me another wonderful book and author!!

Banned Book Review #3: A Light in the Attic

Title: A Light in the Attic
Author: Shel Silverstein
Pages: 176
Rating: 4/5

Here in the attic of Shel Silverstein you will find Backward Bill, Sour Face Ann, the Meehoo with an Exactlywatt, and the Polar Bear in the Frigidaire. You will talk with Broiled Face, find out what happens when Somebody steals your knees, get caught by the Quick-Digesting Gink, hear a Mountain snore, and see Them Put a Brassiere on the Camel.

From the creator of the beloved poetry collections Where the Sidewalk Ends and Falling Up, here is another wondrous book of poems and drawings (goodreads.com)

Attempts have been made to ban the book from some libraries, parents claiming that the poem "How Not To Have To Dry The Dishes" encourages messiness and disobedience.  The poem "Little Abigail and the Beautiful Pony" led to more criticism for describing the death of a girl after her parents refuse to buy her a pony. This led the book to be banned by the Fruitland Park Elementary School in Lake County, Florida.  The decision, however, was later reversed by an advisory committee of parents and teachers. Other complaints included the mention of supernatural themes, including demons, devils, and ghosts.

Growing up, I loved Shel Silverstein's books.  I borrowed both A Light in the Attic and Where the Sidewalk Ends from the library so much, I'm surprised anyone else ever had a chance to read them.  I always found the illustrations to be funny and the poems always gave me the giggles.  Reading them again this past week, had the same affect.

I've always felt that Shel Silverstein has one of the most creative minds I've ever seen.  The way he writes his poetry and illustrates really pulls the reader in, plus I think it opens a doorway for younger children to be introduced to different genres of literature.  Do I think some of the illustrations are maybe a bit inappropriate for younger readers?  Maybe...there is a few pictures with bare butts...but then again, we all have butts.  I certainly don't see this as a reason to take these books away from our children.  Furthermore, I found it absoultely hilarious that parents were blaming the poems in this book for causing and encouring "messiness and disobiendence.  I know I read these books a ton during my developing years, and I never knew them to stop me from having to do the dishes or keeping a messy room (I wish it would have been that easy!).

After re-reading A Light in the Attic, I'm super excited to re-read Where the Sidewalk Ends.  I also have a copy of Silversteins Falling Up that I'm looking forward to taking a peek at.

Banned Book Review #2: Bridge to Terabithia

Title: Bridge to Terabithia

Author: Katherine Paterson

Pages: 163

Rating: 3/5

Jess Aarons' greatest ambition is to be the fastest runner in his grade. He's been practicing all summer and can't wait to see his classmates' faces when he beats them all. But on the first day of school, a new girl boldly crosses over to the boys' side and outruns everyone.

That's not a very promising beginning for a friendship, but Jess and Leslie Burke become inseparable. Together they create Terabithia, a magical kingdom in the woods where the two of them reign as king and queen, and their imaginations set the only limits (goodreads.com).

The novel's content has been the frequent target of censors and appears on the American Library Association list of the 100 Most Frequently Challenged Books of 1990-2000 at number eight.  The censorship attempts stem from death being a part of the plot; Jess' frequent use of the word "lord" outside of prayer; concerns that the book promotes secular humanism, New Age religion, occultism, and Satanism; and for use of offensive language.

I chose this book to read for BBW because I was positive I had read it as a child.  After reading it, I'm positive that I never read it as a child and this was the first time!!  That having been said, I thought it was a good book, but not a favorite.  I can also see why a lot of the kids reviews on Amazon stated it was "boring." 

The story itself is very character driven, definitely not plot driven like most books written for younger audiences.  This book also dealt with some rather heavy emotional issues, that would be tougher for some kids to handle (do I see this as a reason to ban the book...ummm most certainly not).  I do think that this book is an important book for older children and young adults to read.  It definitely should have its place among required reading in schools, as it does show children that life is not always roses and lollipops.

I'm definitely glad I read the book, especially for banned book week.  It was interesting to read the books, and then see why they were banned.  Some of the reasoning is completely asinine.  Also, it helped me to reacquaint myself with books that I haven't even thought about in years!

Banned Book Review #1: James and the Giant Peach

Title: James and the Giant Peach
Author: Roald Dahl
Pages: 126
Rating: 5/5

When poor James Henry Trotter loses his parents in a horrible rhinoceros accident, he is forced to live with his two wicked aunts, Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker. After three years he becomes "the saddest and loneliest boy you could find." Then one day, a wizened old man in a dark-green suit gives James a bag of magic crystals that promise to reverse his misery forever. When James accidentally spills the crystals on his aunts' withered peach tree, he sets the adventure in motion. From the old tree a single peach grows, and grows, and grows some more, until finally James climbs inside the giant fruit and rolls away from his despicable aunts to a whole new life. James befriends an assortment of hilarious characters, including Grasshopper, Earthworm, Miss Spider, and Centipede--each with his or her own song to sing. Roald Dahl's rich imagery and amusing characters ensure that parents will not tire of reading this classic aloud, which they will no doubt be called to do over and over again! (goodreads.com)

James and the Giant Peach is a famous work by Roald Dahl. This book has been frequently challenged and banned for its content, including the abuse that James experiences. Others have claimed that the book promotes alcohol and drug use, that it contains inappropriate language, and that it encourages disobedience to parents.

I first heard the story of James and the Giant Peach when I was in kindergarten.  Each night my mom would read me a few chapters before bedtime.  In this way, I was introduced to great children's "classics" like Charlotte's Web, Stuart Little, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  When I started looking into Banned Books Week, I was astonished to see JATGP on the list.  I immediately called my mom.  I asked her if she ever found anything "offensive" within the book.  Here response - "How can a children's book about a giant peach be considered offensive?"  My thoughts exactly.

At the beginning of the book we are introduced to James, a young boy who was orphaned when his parents were killed in a tragic accident.  He is sent to live with his horrible Aunts Spiker and Sponge.  James' aunts are lazy and treat him with little to no respect.  He is made to work hard jobs and when the giant peach appears he is locked in his room with no food.  It is this abuse that caused parents to try to ban the book.  However, in my mind, how is the abuse received by James any different than the abuse caused by the evil step mother in Cinderella - a fairy tale that almost all young girls in America know by heart.  What makes this book different?

Another compliant by parents was the use of offensive language.  I found two instances in the book where the centipede uses the term "ass."  Given the time period that the book was written and the context in which the term was used, I can pretty much infer that he was referring to a sense of stupidity like that of a donkey, not that of a human body part.  I'm also pretty sure that if talk to your children and explain the meaning behind the words, there are much worse things that can be said than the word "ass."

Despite the controversy, I still loved and enjoyed every bit of James and the Giant Peach.  Dahl's writing was smooth and flawless and, as always, his characters were wonderful.  I can't wait until my own son or daughter is old enough to enjoy this book and I get the chance to share the story of James with them.