Oddly enough, given that this is banned books week, I learned yesterday that the parent of a fourth grader was beginning a petition to have Alice MacLeod: Realist at Last removed from her child’s school library. She referred to the book as “pollution” and to prove her point, pulled out several of what she felt were controversial lines. These included a reference to a condom and the mention of the word “gay”. Now, I’m the first to admit my books are not aimed at a fourth grade audience. They are generally intended for grades seven and up. But I’m quite confident they won’t cause actual harm to any younger child who picks them up. (Except, perhaps, if that kid gets caught reading them and is grounded.)
Thankfully for my faith in humanity, a parent who values intellectual freedom wrote a thoughtful and considered response and I weighed in with my own ideas:
To whom it may concern,
I was alerted to the controversy surrounding my book, Alice MacLeod: Realist at Last. I am saddened to hear that a work produced with the best of intentions has become the focus of acrimony. It might help to explain a little bit about what the book is about and for whom it is intended.
Alice MacLeod, Realist at Last is the third in a series of books about a young girl growing up in a small, northern British Columbia town. Alice has an unconventional family and quite a difficult time at school. The books are comedies with a serious subtext: i.e. that it’s difficult to be true to yourself in the face of intense pressure to conform. The series takes Alice from age 15 to 17 and covers issues such as bullying, fitting in, standing out, career goals, relationships and sexuality, though there is no graphic sexual activity. The books are intended for readers in Grades 7 and up. I hear often from precocious younger readers (ages 11 and 12) but they are not the main audience.
As a child, I reveled in a wide variety of books. These ranged from books published for my age group to those written strictly for adults. I read books that I now recognize that some people, including my parents, would have considered wildly inappropriate and I am pleased to say that I am none the worse for wear. That said, I respect the right of parents to monitor and control the books their own children read. I do not think, however, that one parent or one set of parents should control what all children read. This is a matter that can be handled using good judgment rather than censorship.
It is the rare child who has not been exposed to some element of risqué or violent popular culture through television programs, music videos and video games, not to mention comic books and music. In my series, Alice reflects on and digests elements of popular culture in her individual (and intentionally humorous way) as she develops her own set of values. In this same spirit, it seems to me that not every book should be required to toe the same line. Indeed, the impulse to make books do so can only result in stifling the vibrancy of literature for young people. A sure way to make sure kids don’t read is to force publishers to publish only books that everyone considers appropriate. Another way is to intimidate school libraries into second-guessing their choices or carrying only uncontroversial books. Our literature should be a reflection of our society and the vast experiences contained therein. If it isn’t, it will no longer be a vital component of our cultural life.
On a more personal note, I’m dismayed over the vehemence of the objection to my book. It’s alarming to have one’s work referred to as “pollution”. I find myself wishing that some of that energy might be channeled into outrage over the fact that there are children in the world who do not have enough to eat or a place to live.
I am grateful that my book was included in the library and I appreciate very much the support of parents who advocate for the freedom to read and the freedom of young people to choose books that speak to them. This is certainly a debate worth having.
I wish everyone a Happy Banned Books Week.
Sincerely,
Susan Juby
Author of Alice, I Think, Miss Smithers, and Alice MacLeod: Realist at Last
On this note, I hope anyone attending the Calgary Writer’s Festival will join my Canadian editor, Lynne Missen, and I for a panel we are on called “Toeing the Line”. It will be held Thursday, October 11 from 5:00 until 6:15 at the Vertigo Theatre Studio. The genesis of the panel was some early controversy that surrounded my appearance at the festival. As I’ve mentioned before, a few teachers and librarians were offended by some content in Another Kind of Cowboy and for a while it looked as though I wouldn’t be able to attend. The festival found me other audiences and developed this event so Lynne and I could have a forum to talk about what the line is and how far over it our cowboy boots are willing to go. heh. Personally, I don’t think Cowboy is within spitting distance of any “line”, unless it’s near a starting line in the race to see more and more GLB-themed literature published for young readers. But that’s just me. I’m line-blind.
If you are interested in issues of censorship and intellectual freedom, I hope you will join us.