Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Banned Books Week



Banned Books Week starts on SATURDAY. This Saturday. It goes (this is where the week part comes in) until Saturday, October 2nd.

"What's banned books week?" I hear you saying.

Banned Books Week is a national event that celebrates your freedom to read whatever you want to read. The freedom to choose NOT to read, and the rights granted all Americans by the First Amendment of the Constitution.

Many people think that no one prohibits books anymore, but every year hundreds of books are challenged, restricted or removed from libraries nation-wide.

To see a list of all books (well, those that were reported) challenged in the last year click here.

Recently, several books have come to wide attention as people attempt, and in some cases, succeed, in removing books mostly from schools. You've probably heard of some of them:



Books can be challenged for seemingly frivolous things like they "Encourage children to break dishes so they won't have to dry them" (A Light in the Attic by Shel Silverstein). The original version of Where's Waldo had a small topless sunbather on one of their pages, so that created quite a fuss back in the early 90's (article) .

They can also be challenged with much more serious accusations, such as the above Speak being accused of being "soft pornography" because the main character was raped.

What are you going to do to support the freedom to read during Banned Books Week? Will you read one of the challenged books? Will you participate in the Lynnwood Library Banned Books Week Scavenger Hunt for a chance at the $20 to B&N? *end shameless plug* Will you wear a t-shirt (I'll be sporting this one). Will you send a letter to one of people who are challenging a book?

Comment with what you'll do to celebrate your freedom to read by midnight on October 2nd, and one commenter will win the oft-challenged Gail Giles's new book Dark Song.*

*Winner must be in grades 6-12 and able to pick up their winnings at one of the 21 Sno-Isle Libraries.

Librarian's Choice Winner


We have a winner! Michael D. from the Clinton Library for his excellent review of Neverland:

Describe the book: A gruesome tale of a normal family vacation/reunion gone to the madhouse. It begins with two cousins, Beau and Sumter. Sumter has christened an old shack Neverland. There, they worship a “god” that Sumter calls Lucy. Neverland becomes their drug, their escape. Until things spiral out of control, and truths reveal themselves. Peter Pan and Tinkerbell do not dwell in this Neverland.

What did you think: This book, this horrifying book, gripped my interest until the very end. It made me visualize Beau’s fears like they were my own. Douglas Clegg has now become, just from this one book, my second favorite horror author, comparable to Stephen King. I never have nightmares about books, no matter how terrifying a book is. This book was the first. It invaded my dreams.

Who would you recommend it to:
Adult horror buffs & brave teens would enjoy this.

- M.D. (age 16) from Clinton Library



Michael's review was selected from over 4000, narrowed down by librarians at each library nominating their favorites, then voted on by teen librarians. This process took longer than we anticipated, so I apologize for keeping you all in suspense for so long!

Michael will be presented with the iPod Touch at his local library soon.

This contest was generously funded by the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation.

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Write an Essay and Win Money for College

Have you ever been inspired by an elected official who demonstrated political courage? Write an essay about them, and you could win up to $10,000 towards college!

Check out the John F. Kennedy Profile in Courage Essay Contest page to see how to enter your 1000 word or less essay.

For inspiration, check out JFK's book Profiles in Courage to see who inspired him!

Sunday, September 12, 2010

Based on the Book

It's Kind of a Funny Story by Ned Vizzini


Flipped by Wendelin van Draanen


Legend of the Guardians (many of you probably grew up reading the series this is based on, Guardians of Ga'Hoole by Kathryn Lasky):


While It's Kind of a Funny Story looks, um, funny, I think I'm more excited about Flipped. It's a sweet book and one of my favorites. I'm not quite sure what to think about Guardians, though. What do you think?

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Can you believe it’s September?


That is what every other person has been asking this morning. They say time is relative...so I’ve decided that today is actually August 7th. That being said, if it was August 7th I wouldn’t have read my favorite books of the summer yet: Mockingjay, Kings of Clonmel, and Linger.
Ann won Some Girls Are by Courtney Summers for her comments on her favorite summer books. Ann said... “My favorite book of the summer was North of Beautiful! It was the last book I read before the summer ended (September 1) but Mockingjay would probably be my favorite if I had read it...which will be soon!”


Congrats Ann, please email me jbixby [at] sno-isle [dot] org with which Sno-Isle Library you'd like to pick up your copy of Some Girls Are!

And the Grand Prize Winner is...


Congratulations to Timothy Gunter of Monroe who is the winner of the grand prize in our Teen Summer Reading Contest! His review of Sleeper Code by Tom Sniegoski was lucky review number 1130 (as selected by the handy dandy Random Number Generator). Timothy will receive his VAIO W Series mini notebook computer in a ceremony at the Monroe Library later this month.

The Librarian's Choice Award winner of the iPod Touch will be announced here on Friday, September 10th, 2010.

Much thanks to the Sno-Isle Libraries Foundation for donating our wonderful prizes and making this contest possible