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[CCBC-Net] GLBTQ books
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From: Sally Miller <derbymiller>
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 11:39:39 -0500
Someday This Pain May Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron is a good example of a book that shouldn't be classified as primarily GLBTQ literature, but surely should be available to teens who are concerned about discovering themselves and understanding their gender preferences. I think it's a beautiful book and one that should be available in any library that serves teens.
The following is easy for me to say, since I am neither teacher nor librarian, but I worry when I hear that someone is hesitant about making a book available because someone else has complained. I know we have to choose our battles in life, and I know that choices aren't always black or white, but I think we all need to be aware that censorship comes in many forms--of which, burning books is the most egregious and noticeable -- but that censorship by omission is still something we should all be aware of: when we don't respond to a racial, ethnic, or religious slur; when we don't provoke parents or school boards or library trustees by offering worthy but controversial books, when we are silent in the face of bigotry.
Illustrations can be censored too. I heard a college education major say that he would worry about using "Let's Get a Pup" said Kate by Bob Graham because in one spread the "hippie" father is standing at the open door of the house with his trousers only half pulled up. (He's in a hurry for a very good reason.) And in that same class I heard this student's professor talk about the importance of "previewing" a book to be read aloud so that the teacher can omit or change words or passages that might be "objectionable."
We need to remember that "objectionable" means only "open to objection," not always "worthy of objection." It's sort of like books should be presumed to be innocent before being found guilty, isn't it?
Okay, down off my soapbox. Thanks for your indulgence, everyone. Sally Derby
Coming in September "No Mush Today" from Lee&Low, illustrated beautifully by Nicole Tadgell.
Received on Tue 20 May 2008 11:39:39 AM CDT
Date: Tue, 20 May 2008 11:39:39 -0500
Someday This Pain May Be Useful to You by Peter Cameron is a good example of a book that shouldn't be classified as primarily GLBTQ literature, but surely should be available to teens who are concerned about discovering themselves and understanding their gender preferences. I think it's a beautiful book and one that should be available in any library that serves teens.
The following is easy for me to say, since I am neither teacher nor librarian, but I worry when I hear that someone is hesitant about making a book available because someone else has complained. I know we have to choose our battles in life, and I know that choices aren't always black or white, but I think we all need to be aware that censorship comes in many forms--of which, burning books is the most egregious and noticeable -- but that censorship by omission is still something we should all be aware of: when we don't respond to a racial, ethnic, or religious slur; when we don't provoke parents or school boards or library trustees by offering worthy but controversial books, when we are silent in the face of bigotry.
Illustrations can be censored too. I heard a college education major say that he would worry about using "Let's Get a Pup" said Kate by Bob Graham because in one spread the "hippie" father is standing at the open door of the house with his trousers only half pulled up. (He's in a hurry for a very good reason.) And in that same class I heard this student's professor talk about the importance of "previewing" a book to be read aloud so that the teacher can omit or change words or passages that might be "objectionable."
We need to remember that "objectionable" means only "open to objection," not always "worthy of objection." It's sort of like books should be presumed to be innocent before being found guilty, isn't it?
Okay, down off my soapbox. Thanks for your indulgence, everyone. Sally Derby
Coming in September "No Mush Today" from Lee&Low, illustrated beautifully by Nicole Tadgell.
Received on Tue 20 May 2008 11:39:39 AM CDT
