Banned Books Week: I Support the Freedom to Read!

Banned Books Week is an annual event that promotes our freedom to read by not censoring.  As a future educator and a lover of the written word, I support this amazing cause in promoting books from all walks of life - no matter how "different" they may be.

Reading can open a mind and inspire a person way beyond what's written on the page.  The idea that a book should be banned because it is considered troubling, filthy, frightening, disturbing, inappropriate, twisted, anti-christian, or has homosexual undertones is something I do not support.  Reading should be a personal choice, and not something that is taken away from you based on someone else's opinion.

I support the freedom to read. Do you?

image source: here

For more information about Banned Books Week, visit the ALA website.

Also, check out this timeline for 30 years of Liberating Literature.

Popular "banned" books from the last 30 years.

Banned Books Week HOP + GIVEAWAY

Did you know there are people out there who actually want to BAN books from young readers?? I know, crazy right?!  I am shocked & appalled by this fact - so that is why I am a HUGE supporter of celebrating the freedom to read during BANNED BOOKS WEEK.

We, as Americans, have the right to read what we choose to.  No one should take that privilege away from us.  As a soon-to-be-teacher I can not express enough the awareness of how important it is to educate the mind in all works of literature.  Books are an eye-opening experience that no child should be turned away from.

I decided to pick a few of my favorite books that have been heavily censored in years past to be given away to one lucky winner!  Please get involved by spreading the word about BANNED BOOKS WEEK!

Speak by Laurie Halse-Anderson: Since the beginning of the school year, high school freshman Melinda has found that it's been getting harder and harder for her to speak out loud: "My throat is always sore, my lips raw.... Every time I try to talk to my parents or a teacher, I sputter or freeze.... It's like I have some kind of spastic laryngitis." What could have caused Melinda to suddenly fall mute? Could it be due to the fact that no one at school is speaking to her because she called the cops and got everyone busted at the seniors' big end-of-summer party? Or maybe it's because her parents' only form of communication is Post-It notes written on their way out the door to their nine-to-whenever jobs. 

While Melinda is bothered by these things, deep down she knows the real reason why she's been struck mute: Andy Evans. He's a senior at Melinda's high school, and Melinda hasn't been able to speak clearly since the Incident with him at the senior party last August. {taken from goodreads.com}

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky: This is the story of what it's like to grow up in high school. More intimate than a diary, Charlie's letters are singular and unique, hilarious and devastating. We may not know where he lives. We may not know to whom he is writing. All we know is the world he shares. Caught between trying to live his life and trying to run from it puts him on a strange course through uncharted territory. The world of first dates and mixed tapes, family dramas and new friends. The world of sex, drugs, and The Rocky Horror Picture Show, when all one requires is that perfect song on that perfect drive to feel infinite.

Through Charlie, Stephen Chbosky has created a deeply affecting coming-of-age story, a powerful novel that will spirit you back to those wild and poignant roller coaster days known as growing up. {taken from goodreads.com}

*** THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED! THANKS TO ALL THOSE WHO ENTERED. ***

Banned Books Week HOP is hosted by I Read Banned Books & I Am A Reader, Not A Writer.

Hop on over to the following blogs for more GIVEAWAYS.

I receive a small commission from books purchased through the Amazon links provided.