2008 Woodie Awards
Yet another good book attacked by conservative librarians
Kalen Wheeler
Issue date: 3/1/07 Section: Opinions
Patron told the New York Times that the anecdote, in which the word was used, was actually based on an experience of one of her friends. She also pointed out that Lucky is "preparing herself to be a grown-up" and thus, this type of language and knowledge is very important to her, as it should be to most 10-year-olds.
This type of ban is a prelude to the type of censorship that occurs later on in textbooks and in classrooms. People in this country are scared to talk about anything on the periphery of sex. No one wants the burden of explaining subjects that may make them slightly uncomfortable. There needs to be a shift in mentality so that we no longer suggest that our bodies are something to be uncomfortable about - or even further, that sex is.
Additionally, we need to reevaluate the power that librarians have to decide what our children can and cannot read. The library, in many cases, is the only means by which a child can access books. It is unfair to limit a child's ability to search for knowledge, and it is unfair that the word "scrotum" is what will cause many children to miss out on this year's Newbury Award-winning book.
This type of ban is a prelude to the type of censorship that occurs later on in textbooks and in classrooms. People in this country are scared to talk about anything on the periphery of sex. No one wants the burden of explaining subjects that may make them slightly uncomfortable. There needs to be a shift in mentality so that we no longer suggest that our bodies are something to be uncomfortable about - or even further, that sex is.
Additionally, we need to reevaluate the power that librarians have to decide what our children can and cannot read. The library, in many cases, is the only means by which a child can access books. It is unfair to limit a child's ability to search for knowledge, and it is unfair that the word "scrotum" is what will cause many children to miss out on this year's Newbury Award-winning book.
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