Hot Topic Tuesday: Speak Loudly Against Censorship

By now everyone has heard about what I'm calling the Wesley Scroggins Crazytrain Manifesto coming out of Republic, Missouri. Lots of readers, authors, librarians, and other book lovers (many from Missouri! Non-whackos represent!) have come forward to show support against the proposed ban of Speak, Twenty Boy Summer, and Slaughterhouse Five, and for that, thank you!

I've already shared my thoughts-slash-rants on the Twenty Boy Summer issue over here, but I also have a few words about Speak, and why free access to it is so important for teens. Check it out.



The Contemps Speak Loudly

Here are some additional thoughts from fellow Contemps on the Speak Loudly fight:Your Turn

After Scroggins made this fight public this weekend, so many people have stepped up to fight back. If you'd like to share anything in the comments about your own personal stance, about your thoughts on Speak, or about any other books that helped you overcome something difficult, please do so! And don't forget to enter the Wesley Scroggins Filthy Books Prize Pack giveaway for a chance to win a copy of each of the challenged books and some very naughty dark chocolate!

One more thing... can we get a group hug? You guys rock.

14 comments:

Jo Knowles said...

Great post Sarah!! We WILL overcome!

xoxo

Jo

Jennifer Hoffine said...

Thanks for sharing your story, Sarah!

Claire Dawn said...

Thank you for your stories, here and in your books.

PS, I'm going to be giving away a stack of "banned" books on my blog tomorrow. Feel free to sopt by.

http://aclairedawn.blogspot.com

Lisa Schroeder said...

Yeah, let's see your dad go head-to-head with Mr. Scroggins. :)

Thanks for sharing your story, Sarah. We must all continue to speak loudly!!!

Melissa Walker said...

Group hug!

Mindi Scott said...

HUG!!!!

kristen tracy said...

Great post. I followed your tweet to the Scroggins' letter. So outrageous. And so disappointing that he's a teacher at a university. You've had a powerful and articulate response to his mischaracterization of your novel. (I've never encountered anybody who so gleefully ignores context.) I stand behind you and your book 100%.

Micol Ostow said...

Thank you so much for sharing and speaking out, Sarah! Frankly, I find Scroggins' attitude to be inappropriate. But maybe that's just me.

Tahleen said...

What a moving piece. Thank you so much for posting this.

April Henry said...

I would love for one of my books to be put in the same category as Slaugherhouse Five.

Ashley @ Book Labyrinth said...

I have a button that says "Free people read freely" and I totally believe that. As a future librarian, I believe that everyone has the right to read what they choose. It doesn't matter whether I think a book is appropriate or not: it should still be available for those who want to read it.

I've really loved reading all the responses on Twitter and blogs supporting 'Speak', 'Twenty Boy Summer', and the right to read in general.

Anonymous said...

(((HUGS))) It's bad enough that he wants the book banned, but what really scares the bejeepers out of me is that he is a college professor. Shame on him! He should know better!

Anonymous said...

I'm so moved by the way this situation has pulled so many people together. I an inspired by the bravery so many authors and bloggers have shown to tell their own story. I've written about this on my own blog ( http://sommerleigh.com/?p=1136 ) and I've been talking to anyone who will listen to me about what's going on. My husband, a high school english teacher, and I have been having long, wonderful, heartbreaking discussions about this topic. I love Speak and I love Twenty Boy Summer and honestly all I want to do is put these books into the hands of everyone who wants them.

It kills me that people like this seem to forget that maybe it’s not a story for him, maybe it’s not a story for his kids. But it is a story for someone.

Anonymous said...

I read Speak a year ago and I never really had any interest in Twenty Boy Summer. After I read Scroggin's letter I thought I'd give it a try.

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